Council begins consultation on sites for a new Port Macquarie aquatic facility

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has commenced public consultation on the site for a new aquatic centre in Port Macquarie.

Having identified six potential sites for an aquatic facility to meet the region's future needs community engagement will run from today (22nd July) until Sunday 18th August.

The six potential sites identified are Macquarie Park (Gordon Street), Dixie Park (Aston Street), Findlay Park (Findlay Avenue), Upper Oxley Oval (Pacific Drive), Thrumster Sporting Complex (College Drive) and Wayne Richards Park (Koala Street).

The other option is to upgrade the Port Macquarie Olympic Pool site.

The new pool project would cost about $40 million to $50 million while refurbishing the existing facility would have an estimated $8 million to $10 million price tag.

The Port Macquarie pool, built in 1966, has been identified as approaching its use-by date with structural, accessibility, programming and maintenance issues identified as barriers in providing quality swimming facilities into the future.

Welcoming the consultation. Port Macquarie Aquatic Centre Committee spokesperson Greg Freeman told Port Macquarie News "we all understand this is a long-term project but it needed some serious momentum and the site selection was always the first big step.

"I do think people will have points of view on all the sites."

Port Macquarie Swimming Club President Warren Phillips said the club was happy to see the matter progressing, adding “it's been a long time coming and hopefully things will continue on at a bit faster pace

Phillips feels the pool needed to be built to FINA specifications, while an indoor 25-metre pool for training would make a huge difference, not just for the swimming club members but for all pool users.

The Council engaged specialist consultancy service Otium Planning Group in mid-2018.

Otium, in developing the Port Macquarie-Hastings Aquatics Strategy, identified and recommended the key components needed to meet the aquatic needs of the community for the next 50 years.

Those elements include a 50 metre and 25 metre pool, children's aquatic play space, program pools, and fitness and wellness elements.

The site identification was based on the past community engagement and the Otium report findings.