MOUNT Gambier’s 34-year-old aquatic centre will close its doors tomorrow to pave the way for the proposed $39m community recreation hub.
The imminent closure of the city’s iconic outdoor pool has triggered mixed emotions for regular lap swimmers who will be left without a council-owned facility for 18 months.
While it is an end of an era for the outdoor aquatic complex, the Olympic size swimming pool will be refurbished and incorporated into the proposed state-of-the-art community hub precinct.
The aquatic centre – which opened in November 1986 – will close one month earlier in the traditional swimming season.
The looming construction of the new facility follows 30 years of community discussion over the need for an indoor pool.
It will be the largest infrastructure project council has endeavoured to achieve.
Innovative Leisure Management director Peter Collins said yesterday some lap swimmers have been “emotional” in recent days about the closure of the facility given the long hiatus before the new centre opened.
“These swimmers are saying they are going to miss the camaraderie and sense of community within the lap swimming fraternity,” Mr Collins said.
He said the build time for the project was estimated to be 18-months, which meant there would no council operated pools opened to the public next summer.
“While this is very sad, the new project will be worth the wait. The new facility will be amazing,” Mr Collins told The Border Watch yesterday.
“We will have all year round swimming when the new centre opens.”
He welcomed council’s decision to retain and refurbish the outdoor Olympic size pool, which would give swimmers indoor and outdoor options all year round.
It is understood the outdoor pool will be refurbished to comply with national standards.
The aquatic centre attracts around 30 regular lane swimmers each morning, along with the swim club members who train at the facility.
“From 6am to 8am the aquatic centre is very busy,” Mr Collins said.
The aquatic centre traditionally records around 65,000 visitations per season, but attendance will tumble this year due to the facility’s early closure.
“This has where we have been sitting for the past three to four years.”
Reflecting on the pool’s legacy, Mr Collins said the aquatic centre had played a pivotal role in Mount Gambier’s leisure, sporting and recreational activities for many years.
While the site had evolved with the introduction of new infrastructure such as shade sails, he said the Olympic pool itself was still a great facility.
“The bodies of water of the current pools are just fantastic. Grey nomads, who are travelling across Australia and have popped into the pool, say the pool is amazing and one of the top in Australia.”
But he said the facilities at the aquatic centre were outdated and ageing.
Regular lap swimmer Courtney Day yesterday took her final plunge into water at the aquatic centre.
“I am so sad it is closing. I think it is around 18 months before I get to swim again,” Ms Day said.
“I love the pool is 50m and is outdoors.”
While disappointed with the lengthy closure, Ms Day she was absolutely thrilled a new modern facility would be built not just for swimmers but other sports participants such as netball.
She said an indoors sports/pool facility was needed given Mount Gambier’s cold and wet climate.
“I am also excited about having another 25 metre pool as well, which will be all year round,” Ms Day said.
A community barbecue will be held at the aquatic centre next Friday (March 6) to celebrate the aquatic centre’s history.
Current and former staff will gather at the site at 11am with the centre opening to the general public at noon with a closing ceremony planned for 1.30pm.
A photograph display capturing the centre’s history will also be showcased.
