TAMWORTH Regional Council staff have urged councillors to keep the Scully pool open through level five restrictions.
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If the councillors vote in favour of keeping Scully open it will be in contradiction of the council's drought management plan which states public pools won't be in service under level five restrictions.
Level five is Tamworth's highest level of water use restriction and it could be effect in a matter of weeks.
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A report before councillors at Tuesday night's ordinary meeting has called for the West Tamworth pool to be opened "on the condition that pool water is sourced from a non-potable supply from one of council's Riverside Sports Fields bores".
If the move is endorsed, the councillors will have to review the amendment to the drought management plan once Chaffey Dam hits 15 per cent capacity.
The council's manager of sports and recreation, Paul Kelly, highlighted a number of benefits to keeping the pool open this summer.
His report to council acknowledged he needs of local sporting groups, but also touched on the health benefits for the wider community.
It reported concern around "aspects of community health, wellbeing and resilience, relating to access to recreational use of aquatic facilities during hotter months, including Tamworth's reported high obesity rates".
Mr Kelly's report also noted the "potential danger of people having no safe public swimming areas and as a result could lead to the public swimming in other unsupervised water bodies including rivers and dams".
There is also a net saving of more than $93,000 to be gained if the Scully pool is opened, according to the council's report.
The savings would be spent on maintenance and repairs across the council's other pools.
Pools in Manilla, Nundle and Barraba look likely to remain open through the swim season.
Fight to keep Kooty open as well
The council could face a fight from the community if it closes the public pools amid worsening drought conditions.
The Tamworth Tri Club will lobby the council to keep the Kootingal pool open through level five restrictions with club member Kimberley Squires claiming the community's health and economy is at stake.
Huge triathlon events are regularly held at the Kooty pool during the swim season, with the village's roads lending themselves to the sporting fixtures which could have hundreds of participants.
Ms Squires will speak at this Tuesday's council meeting where she plans to implore the councillors to keep Scully and Kootingal pools open this summer, a move which would be in contravention to the council's own drought management plan which dictates the closure of public pools under level five water restrictions.
She said the pool played a big role in keeping the community happy, healthy and safe.