The current debate over the proposed aquatic and leisure facility is one our community has seen many times before through attempts to upgrade the facilities in Tamworth. For years, we’ve been discussing the development of a year-round facility that addresses the community’s needs. We’ve now reached a crossroad.
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The time has come to make a decision regarding the development of a new aquatic and leisure facility in Tamworth – one that will service generations to come. This is a conversation the entire community needs a voice in, not just the vocal minority.
There are many factors driving the need to make a decision for the future now. A key consideration is the ageing condition of Tamworth’s two current pools, which have serviced the community well for the past 50 years and are now coming to the end of their life.
Council has conducted extensive research on financially viable models of aquatic and leisure facilities. This research has confirmed that Tamworth’s current facilities are simply not sustainable, nor do their footprints bode well for expansion and redevelopment. Parking is certainly a major issue for the current pools if we are to deliver on the community’s expectations for a multi-purpose indoor facility.
This time last year, Council consulted with the community to better understand its aspirations for a new aquatic and leisure centre. The feedback was overwhelming that a new facility should be considered, especially one with both indoor and outdoor pools, and inclusive of a children’s leisure and splash play area. Council has now developed and costed some concept designs based on this feedback and are asking the community to tell us what it thinks.
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Council has long said that to fund a modern, year-round facility it will need to sell the two existing pools. Put simply, Council has to be in a position to go to the table with its share of funding if it is asking other levels of government to contribute.
If the community tells us it doesn’t Council selling the two pools, Council will struggle to find an alternate funding source outside of a rate increase or unless gate entry charges increase dramatically. Should the community wish Council to retain the existing pools and discard plans for a purpose-built indoor facility, it needs to understand that it will still cost millions to bring the pools back to a minimum standard capable for serving generations to come and we will be left with seasonal outdoor pools only.
Council believes building and locating a new aquatic and leisure facility within the Northern Inland Sporting Centre of Excellence ticks a number of important boxes. All essential services are located on site; there is a sufficient footprint to accommodate a large aquatic facility; there are great synergies with the Sportsdome, and having it located within a precinct dedicated to sporting excellence, is likely to attract more funding opportunities.
In recent years, the Northern Inland Centre for Sporting Excellence has become home to a number of notable sports. Netball, basketball and hockey have all relocated from locations considered to be more central to the CBD and public transport, and yet participation numbers have grown, not declined.
While there is still a lot of work to be done ironing out the details and some of the complexities of this development, Council is committed to planning for future generations and the growth of our region. It is Council’s firm belief a new facility will bring enormous benefit to our community.
For more than 12 months we have been working towards a final decision and Council intends to resolve the way forward, one way or the other before the end of this calendar year. Right now, we need everyone to speak up. The whole community needs to tell us if you want this facility to go
ahead, and if so, which concept design you prefer. If this project is to be shelved yet again, it should be at the hands of the majority so please engage and have your say at yourvoice.tamworth.nsw.gov.au.
Mayor Col Murray