THE scorching start to the new year has reignited a push for an outdoor public pool in Griffith.
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With the average daily top in 2013 nudging 38 degrees and Griffith’s indoor pool offering little respite, residents are being forced to drive to the tiny towns of Barellan and Darlington Point to access an outdoor facility.
A Facebook campaign for a new pool has been building in recent days and the Griffith Swimming Club has joined the call for action.
“It would definitely be a good thing for a town the size of Griffith to have a 50-metre pool, but just how we fund it is the several million dollar question,” swimming club president Craig Tilston said.
“It would allow Griffith to try and get events such as the Riverina School Championship and other larger carnivals that currently end up at Wagga, Albury or Leeton.”
Griffith’s former trouble-plagued Olympic pool was filled in more than a decade ago to make way for the Griffith Regional Aquatic and Leisure Centre (GRALC).
Concept plans and costings for an outdoor extension of the current indoor pool were put to the GRALC committee in 2010 but never adopted into council’s long-term strategic plan.
Former deputy mayor and GRALC committee member Dom Testoni, who last year proposed an outdoor pool, wave pool and beach area for the precinct, said the centre needed to incorporate a fun, family component.
“The money’s just not there at the moment but the community needs to let council know if this is a priority,” Mr Testoni said.
“The current centre is more about fitness than recreation and it can be absolutely stifling in there during summer.
“You just look at the sheer numbers of people that go to Narrandera to swim now and you can see it’s an issue.”
GRALC committee chairman Cr Mike Neville said there was “no doubt” the community wanted an outdoor pool, but it would almost certainly have to be funded by a rate rise.
“If the community really believes this facility is more of a priority than our other urgent infrastructure needs, then they should petition council and call for a three-year rate variation,” Cr Neville said.
“The other possible option would be to apply for some funding.
“I thought at the time just putting a 25-metre indoor pool in was shortsighted and I think that’s been proven correct.”