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Tamworth Regional Council has moved forward its timetable for the development of a new aquatic centre by at least two years in response to the strong wave of community support.

With the Northern NSW Council having originally planned to have the planning and design completed by December 2020, it has now committed to have the project shovel ready by December 2018.

Tamworth Mayor Col Murray said council reassessed its priorities, after “strong and robust lobbying” from the Tamworth Aquatic Group, which represents all the pool user groups in the city.

Mayor Murray told the Northern Daily Leader “it’s a classic example of democracy in action (and it) is some comfort to me that we have firmed up a timeline for how the project might be progressed.”

Tamworth Aquatic Group (TAG) spokeswoman Michelle Bolte was thrilled by the news, adding “to put it in perspective, one of our members found newspaper clippings from 47 years ago, which said the club was consulting with council about an aquatic facility.

“The result ... is not only our hard work, it’s the community respond to wanting this and the past committees who have been pushing for this for decades.

“Now it’s about getting the design right and making sure the timelines are stuck to.”

TAG want the aquatic centre to have two 50 metre pools - one indoor and one outdoor - which would be large enough to host state and national level competitions.

The group also wants a 25 metre indoor pool with a ramp, which could be used for rehabilitation, learn to swim groups and disability groups, along with an indoor aquatic play area.

The proposed location for the new facility is next to the town’s Sports Dome.

Once the planning is complete, Council will begin seeking Federal and NSW Government funding for the project.

Mayor Murray added “to attract funding support from both the state and Federal governments requires robust propositions that are supported by detailed designs and strongly demonstrate community support.”

The Council has indicated that the city’s two existing public pools will have to be sold for the aquatic centre to go ahead.

The revenue generated from the sale of the ageing pools would form a major part of council’s contribution to the project.

Image: A concept drawing for the new Tamworth Aquatic Centre.

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