AT LEAST one school will cut back its swimming carnival, as the council looks to manage a burst activity at the city's single pool.
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It also has sparked a new call to establish a new aquatic centre in Tamworth.
The Scully pool will host 19 school swimming carnivals in the next month on top of regular usage through the remaining swim season.
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The council entered uncharted waters this year opening just one of its two city pools while enforcing level 5 water restrictions.
The council's drought management plan advises pools remain closed under level 5 measures.
After lobbying from local sporting clubs, a compromise was struck and the council opted to open Kootingal and Scully pools using bore-water instead a potable supply.
St Edwards primary school advised its families this year's carnival was only for 50-metre swimmers.
"This is a suggestion from Tamworth Regional Council to help assist with the quality of water, current water restrictions and the implications they have on our local pools," the school posted on social media.
Tamworth city swim club president Grant Simm said it had been tough, at times, with so many users sharing the one facility.
"The water has been a bit cloudy at times," he said.
"It hasn't stopped us swimming, we're just making the best of a bad situation."
Mr Simm said it highlighted the need for a new year-round aquatic centre.
He said more lane space in the proposed aquatic centre would help carnivals run quicker and ensure events could be run during inclement weather and at night.
"This situation has illustrated how one pool in Tamworth isn't enough," he said.
"We are just happy to have water to swim in, we were staring down the prospect of travelling out of town to train." The council was contacted for comment.
Jacob McArthur
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
