A brand new pool, a modernised front of house, and even a warm water pool is closer to reality for Inverell's Memorial Pool.
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With a whopping $25 million price tag, Inverell Shire Council have made up a plan to take money from as many places as they can, making sure the rate-payers won't feel the pinch.
Not set in stone yet, these plans to fund the Aquatic Centre revamp will soon be put out to the community for consultation.
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At their Ordinary Meeting on Wednesday, council voted to endorse funding plans for the precinct and open them up to the community to have their say about where the money should come from.
Mayor Paul Harmon said Inverell had done "better than others" with our Memorial swimming pool.
"We are in a unique situation where one of last [council areas] to have one of those pools constructed in that timeframe," he said.
"We are looking at renewing that infrastructure not just for today but for the future."
The Aquatic Centre Planning Sunset Committee endorsed a comprehensive Feasibility Study, explaining their recommendation to redevelop the Inverell Aquatic Centre.
Ageing amenities would be replaced, front house areas would be turned into new and contemporary multi-purpose spaces in their preferred plan.
There would also be a 50 metre, eight lane FINA pool, with the capacity to provide a 25 metre indoor facility in winter, and a 20 by 10 metre accessible indoor multi-purpose 'learn to swim' and a warm water program pool - with moveable floor - would be included.
"At this point in time the Aquatic Centre Committee is recommending to council to proceed to community consultation with the Feasibility Study," the report stated.
"Whilst this is still in the early stages of the redevelopment/strategy adopted by Council, it is considered important to also provide the community with an indication of Council's capacity to fund a project of the magnitude of the preferred option."
Based on the magnitude of money required for a project this large, and as noted in Council's 2021/2022 Draft Operational Plan, it is suggested that the money comes from a combination of internally restricted assets, revenue funds, grants and loan borrowings.
At council, it was explained that the loan amounts suggested would take council 20 years to pay back - but that the facility would support the community for "50 years into the future".
Councillor Di Baker found the "thorough" process very interesting and thanked the committee for their hard work in preparing the report.
"I'm hoping this ongoing process will get rid of any wrinkles, and add something to make it the greatest pool in NSW," she enthused.
For more information, head to Inverell Shire Council's website.
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