City of Parramatta’s new $88.6 million swimming facility named the Parramatta Aquatic Centre

Following the consideration of a number of proposed names, the City of Parramatta has named its new $88.6 million facility, the Parramatta Aquatic Centre.

At a Council meeting this week, the naming of the 50 metre outdoor pool at the facility was confirmed as the Memorial Pool in recognition of the former Parramatta War Memorial Swimming Centre.

Other names put forward for the facility included Parramatta Aquatic Recreation Centre, Barramada Aquatic Centre, and a combination of Parramatta Pool and the Dharug name for the land it sits on.

The project is being co-funded by Council and the NSW Government, which is investing $38.5 million from the Restart NSW Fund.

The centre is rapidly taking shape, with indoor and outdoor pool sites excavated and over 9000 cubic metres of concrete poured.

Anticipated to be completed in early 2023, the centre will include a 10-lane, 50m outdoor pool; 25m indoor pool; indoor learn-to-swim pool; indoor water playground; spa, steam and sauna facilities; café; fitness centre; multipurpose community rooms; and parking spaces. Together the three pools will hold more than 2.5 million litres of water.

Designed by Grimshaw Architects, Andrew Burges Architects and McGregor Coxall, and built by construction company Lipman, the new aquatic centre will sit seamlessly in Parramatta Park’s lush surrounds. The centre’s roof will feature solar panels, generating around 273 Megawatts per hour in energy savings annually.

Parramatta Lord Mayor Donna Davis advised “we know the people of Parramatta are eagerly-awaiting the opening, so we have around a hundred workers on site daily, working hard to deliver our new aquatic centre.

“This multifunctional centre will be a place where our community can exercise, learn to swim or simply have fun with family and friends all year around. I look forward to seeing it be enjoyed by our community for many years to come.”

The community is now invited to vote for the names of the centre’s program rooms and outdoor areas. The suggested names feature Dharug language with many inspired by nature, such as Barra Ngurang (Eel Room). The next round of consultation runs until 27th July.

Community members can provide feedback by visiting Participate Parramatta.

Image: Concept for new Parramatta Aquatic Centre