NSW Government refuses additional funding for new Parramatta pool

The NSW Government has declined a request from the City of Parramatta Council for extra funding for the planned new aquatic centre that will replace the demolished Parramatta War Memorial Swimming Pool.

According to a report in the Parramatta Advertiser, NSW Minister for Sports and Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres has refused to provide an additional $10 million to match the the Council’s business case for a new facility beyond $30 million already committed to the new facility.

In a letter responding to the Council’s request, Minister Ayres advised “the $30 million promised by NSW Government is a capped amount which will not be increased.”

He went on to say that “no further contribution to the new Aquatic Leisure Centre will be made”, adding “any increase in the scope and therefore the cost of (the pool) … is a matter for the Council to determine and to fund.”

Designed to replace the former Parramatta Swimming Pool, demolished to make way for the new Western Sydney Stadium, the Council plan a contemporary facility that would include a 10-lane 50 metre pool, aquatic play facilities and a gym. It has been costed at $75.2 million.

Members of Parramatta Memorial Swimming Club, who have been denied a facility since April last year, are calling on the Council to expedite the building of a new facility as the project timeline has blown out to June 2020.

Club secretary Katherine Scriven advised “the Council had the opportunity to gauge public opinion … the vast majority just want what we had ... that being an open-air, outdoor facility with grass surrounds and accessible to the community.

“I have so many swim students that are missing out on swim school because we have no other options.”

Construction at the new facility, on the site of the former Parramata Golf Club, is scheduled to begin this year.

Images show concepts for the new Parramatta Aquatic Centre.

28th February 2018 - PLANNING ADVANCES FOR NEW PARRAMATTA AQUATIC LEISURE CENTRE 

27th December 2017 - PARRAMATTA COUNCIL DEFERS AQUATIC CENTRE DECISION UNTIL FEBRUARY 2018

16th November 2017 - COMMUNITY FEEDBACK SOUGHT ON PLANNED NEW PARRAMATTA NEW AQUATIC CENTRE

25th September 2017 - CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON NEW WESTERN SYDNEY STADIUM

6th September 2017 - FUTURE OF FIVE SYDNEY AQUATIC CENTRES TO FEATURE IN COUNCIL BALLOT

5th July 2017 - NEW PARRAMATTA POOL UNLIKELY TO OPEN BEFORE 2020

31st March 2017 - NSW GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES $30 MILLION FUNDING COMMITMENT FOR NEW PARRAMATTA POOL 

1st March 2017 - PARRAMATTA STADIUM DEMOLITION MAKES WAY FOR NEW WESTERN SYDNEY STADIUM

20th January 2017 - PARRAMATTA COUNCIL FACES FUTURE WITHOUT YEAR-ROUND SWIMMING POOL PROVISION 

22nd June 2016 - FORMER GOLF CLUB TO BE REDEVELOPED AS SITE FOR NEW PARRAMATTA AQUATIC CENTRE

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