16 August 2019

Gunnedah Shire Council will trial an early opening of the outdoor facilities at the Gunnedah Memorial Pool Complex this year.

Prompted by public requests and predictions of a hot summer ahead, Gunnedah Shire Councillors this week voted to accept a proposal to open the outdoor pool from Saturday, October 5, 2019 – four weeks ahead of the usual annual date.

Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey said the results of the trial would help decide the opening dates for the summer season in the future.

“Over the years, we have received requests for the outdoor pool to open early,” Cr Chaffey said.

“We now have a new, amazing outdoor pool that is ideal for beating the summer heat. Our advice is that the Australian Bureau of Meteorology has predicted a hotter-than-average summer, so we think this is the ideal time to trial this change.

“If people want to see this become a permanent change, we urge them to come along and use the pool complex.

“There are, of course, significant costs associated with having the pool open for an extra month, and we will need to see that people are taking full advantage of this longer outdoor swimming season.”

The new outdoor pool and facilities at the complex were opened in December 2018. The upgrades included a new 50m pool, a children’s wet play area and new dry playground, a new pavilion, new amenities and kiosk, a new water filtration system, refurbishments to the existing amenities in the 25m pool enclosure, and improved disability access across the complex.

Photo Caption: The opening of the new outdoor facilities in December 2018.

ENDS

Media Contact: Eliza Gallen (02) 6740 2100.