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Katherine Town Council has closed the 50 metre lap pool at the Katherine Aquatic Centre as a result of cracks being found in its pool shell.

While the Council had been planning to refurbish the 43-year-old infrastructure at the facility, having earlier this month secured a $10 million funding agreement from the Federal Government, it advised via social media that the cracking of the shell “happened sooner than we would have liked or were prepared for”.

As a result, it advised that the pool will now be closed for much of the year, noting “we are still waiting for confirmation of the timeline but do anticipate it will be several months before swimming will recommence.”

Having received the Federal Government funding, the Council had earlier advised via its website that “the future looks bright for a renovated 50-metre pool, an additional 25-metre pool, with new pumps and filtration systems as just part of the planned upgrade.”

It had also appointed Berrimah-based construction firm Sitzler as the contractor to the complete renovations.

Announced the closure via its social media channels earlier this month, the Council advised “we understand that closing the pool will cause some upset for a while, but we do have some significant work to do to bring it up to standards.

“Please remember it was built 43 years ago and it has finally failed.

“Whilst we would like to have given more notice of the official close day, we have been talking about this for two years now.”

Katherine Mayor Elisabeth Clark told the NT News that the $10 million in Commonwealth funding, but it would not stretch as far as any in the community would like in light of ongoing material and labour inflation within the construction sector.

She said the grant would likely cover repairs to the shell, compliance upgrades to the wading pool, a new, heated 25 metre with diving facilities and new plant.

Mayor Clark added that it remained unclear how long the pool would be closed for, adding “we’re not sure how long it will take. We’re hoping by the end of the year, but you just don’t know, there are so many variables depending on the wet season.”

During the closure, the Katherine ‘Turtles’ Swimming Club has relocated to the pool at RAAF Base Tindal.

Images: Katherine Aquatic Centre. Credit: Katherine Town Council.

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