BY BELLA MIDDLETON/ OLIVIA DILLON
Public pools in Newcastle will offer more shaded seating and an upgraded playground as council continues its investment to enhance and improve its public swimming pool facilities.
Council has invested over $5 million in upgrading existing facilities and a further $2 million in maintaining the city's public pool network.
Speaking at Lambton Swimming Centre on Monday, Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes announced the latest suite of improvement projects taking place.
Eight temporary grandstands installed at Lambton Swimming Centre earlier this year will be permanently relocated with new shade covers to a number of different public pool facilities.
The Lord Mayor said council is committed to ensuring the facilities remain attests for local residents.
"Under previous councils, there's often been muted closures and attempted privatizations, but we have stopped that.
All pools not only will remain open, protected, and in public hands, but we are also investing in them," she said.
Beresfield Swimming Centre will also see the introduction of a new $140,000 playground, featuring a range of children's equipment, shade sails, wider footpaths, and picnic tables installed.
However, it's been assured this won't mean the cost of entry will rise for patrons.
"The cost of entry, interestingly, at City of Newcastle pools is the lowest of all council areas in the Hunter region and will reman the lowest.
We have kept Beresfield at $3.00 or under for over a decade, knowing that it's a really important community asset and we want to make sure it's as accessible as possible," Cr Nelmes said.
Moving forward, Cr Nelmes said council is looking into environmentally-friendly ways to heat Beresfield Pool during the lead-in season.
"We're really passionate, not just about saving Beresfield pool, which we've done, but we will also be looking in the coming years to do the heat pump and solar panels to increase the water temperature there," she said.
Councillors will vote tomorrow night to adopt the 'Inland Pools Strategy 2043' following feedback from the community.
The tender for the construction replacement of the Lambton Swimming Centre grandstand will also be considered.
