Port Macquarie-Hastings Councillors to consider new aquatic centre plans

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council is advancing its plans for a new aquatic centre to replace its ageing facility at Macquarie Park.

Set to be considered at a Council meeting this week, newly released plans for an alternative to the ageing Mid-North Coast aquatic facility have been revealed that include an outdoor 50-metre pool, an indoor 20-metre program pool with floating/rising floor, waterslides and an outdoor water play area.

The new Centre would also include a commercial cafe and gym/fitness area, program rooms, and outdoor recreation areas with scope of for future expansion of the indoor facility.

The plan being considered Councillors this week, follows a motion in April that determined ‘urgent’ action was needed to replace the existing aquatic complex a few doors down.

Demand for a new aquatic facility was justified during an analysis which was undertaken by consultants Otium Planning, to identify usage patterns of the current Gordon St facility and to forecast annual visitation numbers up until 2031.

The report estimated that around for 427,000 people will visit the centre for aquatics and fitness use annually, while 1800 people will be enrolled in learn to swim classes.

Overall membership numbers are expected to hit 1700. The data indicates that following this period, these numbers are likely to plateau and will remain relatively constant for future years.

The report to be tabled at Wednesday’s council meeting that will seek councillors support to put the preferred option for a ‘demand driven facility’ out for community consultation.

It advises “the Port Macquarie Aquatic Facility project has been a longstanding item for council.

“It has been identified that the construction of a new aquatic facility would address several challenges including ageing infrastructure issues at the current pool that are presenting issues for operations and management, and to meet future community health and recreational requirements with the region’s rapidly expanding population forecast to reach more than 100,000 by 2030.”

The report noted that incorporating ‘commercial elements’ within the facility such as the cafe and gym/fitness area, in addition to the aquatic upgrades, was ‘common practice within contemporary aquatic facilities.’

The report states environmentally sustainable design solutions will also be incorporated into the project during the development of the concept design phase, to ensure responsible best practice design is developed.

Council has allocated a funding commitment to undertake the demand analysis, options assessment, concept design, business case and development application.

Additional funding will be required to finalise detailed design and construction of the facility.

If endorsed, the preferred option will be placed on public exhibition for 28 days for community feedback during May and June.

Image shows the concept for the Port Macquarie Aquatic Facility project.