Reopened Ballina Shire Council pools welcome large crowds

Ballina Shire Council’s recent reopening of the Alstonville Aquatic Centre and Ballina Memorial Pool has been welcomed by locals with large numbers attending the opening days of the refurbished facilities.

The $14 million project included FINA-compliant 50 metre heated pools, access ramps, a children's wet play area, solar panels, a new cafe and dining area and seating for 300 people.

The Ballina facility also boasts new bathroom, shower and change room facilities and transparent fencing overlooking the Richmond River.

Ballina Shire Community Facilties Manager Craig Brown said while staff at the turnstiles weren't keeping count, the Council believed thousands visited each of the pools over the two days.

Brown told local newspaper The Northern Star “because of the free entry there was no record taken through point-of-sale staff but there was an estimation of a couple of thousand a day through each facility.”

Closed after more than 40 years of use at the end of the 2016/17 summer period, both facilities were comprehensively refurbished with each of their 50 metre pools demolished and replaced.

However, major power upgrades at both sites and bad weather resulted in the facilities not reopening, as originally planned for the 2017/18 summer season, and then missing a revised reopening in March this year.

Now operational, both pools will remain open through the spring, summer and autum, closing on 31st May next year.

For more information go to ballina.nsw.gov.au.