The new Wellington Pool complex will include an eight-lane pool and a heated learn-to-swim area, after the public showed a strong preference for the option.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Dubbo Regional Council is in the process of a $7.5 million redevelopment of Wellington Pool after it was found to be in a poor state.
A structural integrity assessment was undertaken on the pool complex last year. It found the pool was in “poor to very poor condition” and was within two years of its life expectancy.
Major structural defects were found in the Olympic pool, medium pool, and toddler’s pool, change rooms, the filtration building and systems, and the plumbing and reticulation system.
Three options were given to the public on the redesign of the pool. The overwhelming choice – with 72 per cent of the 508 votes – included an eight lane, 50 metre pool with disabled access, a large splash pad, and a heated toddlers and learn to swim pool. The main entrance will also be relocated to the north-west corner of the site.
Dubbo Regional Council director community and recreation Murray Wood said the community shaped the final plan.
One concern that arose from the consultation period was the loss of trees and grass Mr Wood said. As such, the design was rejigged to ensure more grass and trees were included, he said.
The Local Representation Committee also wanted to ensure space was left in the design to allow it to be expanded in the future. There views were also used to mold the final design, Mr Wood said.
Now the plan has been adopted, Facility Design Group will get the Wellington Pool Complex Master Plan to the development application stage. Due to the large scale of the project it will need to be approved by the Joint Regional Planning Panel.
Mr Wood said the DA needed to be developed quickly as the work on the pool needed to be completed by December 2019.
“It won’t be a hurried project but we have to do thing very, very rapidly and look to minimise delays where possible,” Mr Wood said.