New Tasmanian aquatic centre set for spring opening

After 20 years of planning, the new Oatlands Aquatic Centre is set to open as of next month.

Located in the historic town of Oatlands in the Tasmanian Midlands, the new $10 million indoor facility includes a 25m x 12m six lane pool, a 12m x 5m indoor children’s pool and a community activities.

It replaces an outdoor pool that had only opened during the summer months.

Advising that after unavoidable delays - it had been due to open in March - the new aquatic centre would most likely open in mid to late September, Southern Midlands Council General Manager, Tim Kirkwood told Tasmania’s The Mercury “we’ve had delays because of Covid, the flu, access to building materials and the availability of subcontractors.”

Oatlands Aquatic Centre Pool Co-ordinator Adam Briggs said the builders should hopefully be able to handover the site to staff in late August, noting “there will be a week of us coming in, setting up what we need to … and hopefully by the second week of September, we’re up and running.”

Southern Midlands Council Mayor Alex Green expects that the Centre will be well used, adding “it has probably been in the planning stages for in excess of 20 years.

“It is an indoor facility that will be open all-year-round - seven days per week.”

Mayor Green said the new Centre would offer “enhanced opportunities” for essential learn to swim programs and would be a key recreational facility.

Oatlands has a population of about 6200 and is noted for having Australia’s largest collection of sandstone Georgian buildings.

Image courtesy of Zoggs.