Dubbo Aquatic Leisure Centre manager Nick Wilson is publicly floating the idea that the facility in Victoria Park is so much more than a place to go on a hot day.
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It’s not that the so-called “Olympic pool” doesn’t provide much-needed relief when the city is in meltdown mode.
But there’s proof on the books at the centre of its value to the community above and beyond a cool dip.
Bookings made in the first month of operation this swimming season range from presentation days for the St John’s and Eastridge junior rugby league clubs to Christmas parties for Juvenile Justice staff and workers at Fletcher International Exports.
Talks are under way with management and netballers in the city about the centre hosting a “training day”
“There’s a lot of team activities you can do in the pool,” Mr Wilson said.
“You can do so much more here than swim laps.”
Everything’s been going swimmingly at the centre this week with 2000 tickets changing hands.
“The heat and the school holidays have brought them in,” the manager said.
Since the facility opened on September 8 about 5000 people have made use of it for one purpose or another.
That’s “about normal” for the centre annually propped up by ratepayer dollars.
An anticipated maximum temperature of 33 degrees Celsius today may boost early attendance figures along with the “fun day” scheduled for October 14 including free rides on the waterslide and the installation of a 16-metre inflatable obstacle course in the pool.
“We hope to have four fun days this year,” Mr Wilson said before urging parents to join in the good times.
Children under the age of 10 years must be in the company of an adult, he said.
Mr Wilson is also gearing up for the arrival of a jumping castle that will be erected near the children’s pool at weekends.
“We’re trying to do everything we can to cater for everyone,” said the manager who was happy to report that ticket prices had remained the same as in 2006.
kim.bartley@ruralpress.com
