Blue Mountains City Council looks to close Katoomba outdoor pool

Blue Mountains City Council is considering closing the outdoor pool at the Katoomba Sports and Aquatic Centre and replacing the seasonal pool with a children’s outdoor adventure playground.

According to the Blue Mountains Gazette, two meetings have been held in recent months with Councillors discussing the future of five of the local government area’s pools, which cost $7 million in total to operate annually, with Council subsidies totalling $2.91 million.

The Blue Mountains Gazette suggests while the Councils’ Glenbrook and Springwood pools pay for themselves, Lawson, Blackheath and Katoomba are considered a financial drain.

The information about the mooted closure is outlined in the final draft of the Open Space and Recreation Strategic Plan which will be part of the usual council business papers.

The plan informs the decisions for investment in future maintenance and planning of all council open space and recreational facilities – parks, sportsgrounds, aquatic and recreation centres, walking tracks and bushland reserves.

If Councillors approve the report at next week’s meeting it will be placed on public exhibition where full costings for the plan will be revealed and the community will have the chance to comment.

A Council source said the 45-year-old outdoor pool at the Katoomba Sports and Aquatic Centre was “very old and crumbling underneath” and would require a significant financial investment to repair.

Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill has advised “if Council was considering making any changes to services we would consult with the community first … we always endeavour to provide best possible services to meet the needs of the Mountains community within available resources.”

Image: The outdoor pool at the Katoomba Sports and Aquatic Centre.

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