Local management committee secures contract to operate Katanning Aquatic Centre

The Shire of Katanning has awarded the tender the contract its Katanning Aquatic Centre to the Katanning Aquatic Sports Committee, returning the facility to local management for the first time in seven years.

Advising that the Aquatic Sports Committee is keen to ramp up programs and get more people swimming at this facility this summer, Centre Manager Serena Sandwell told the Great Southern Herald “it’s really hard for out-of-town people to run the right programs for Katanning because they don’t know what’s needed.

“The last three years the centre was managed by Belgravia Leisure, the four years before that was YMCA, and prior to that it was managed by the Shire.

“Even though we have had local pool staff, it’s the first time we have had a local manager in seven years.”

The Katanning Aquatic Sports Committee was formed two years ago by local residents who wanted to encourage more people to use the pool.

Committee Chairwoman, Lisa Forman explained “when we saw the management of the centre was up for offer we decide to apply.”

Forman noted “all our staff this year live locally.

“The centre is offering job opportunities for the young people in town.”

Facilities on offer include a toddler’s pool with a water fountain, a learn to swim pool, 50 metre lap swimming pool, pool hoist for people with disability and change rooms along with a kiosk, a free barbecue area, picnic facilities and a children’s playground.

Sandwell added “the biggest thing we are looking at this season is to get the programming running, because if it’s cold, nobody comes, but if they are booked into a program, they come anyway.

“We have our swim club, our swimming lessons, aqua aerobics for all ages, we are going to have water polo if we can get there, underwater hockey, and synchronised swimming all going on.”

The Centre will also be focusing on running swimming lessons to improve swimming ability across Katanning’s multicultural community.

Image: The 50 metre pool at the Katanning Aquatic Centre Credit: Katanning Aquatic Centre.