A multi-million dollar upgrade of the Gunnedah Memorial Pool has been given the final seal of approval.
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The project was approved by the Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP) last week with Gunnedah Shire Council issuing the final consent on Tuesday.
The decision means the project, which attracted no submissions or objections from the public, can now proceed.
Stage 1, which will cost $7.8 million, involves the demolition of the existing 50m pool and the construction of a new eight-lane 50m outdoor pool, new kids wet play areas, renewal work to the existing 25m heated pool, upgrades to the existing pavilion, a new plant room, two shelters, disabled access upgrades and landscaping.
The JRPP in its decision, determined that there was adequate parking spaces to meet peak usage, the project is not expected to generate additional noise, complies with the provisions of the LEP and statutory control and is well designed.
It also noted that the environmental safeguards are appropriate and the size, scale and position of the project are consistent with existing land use.
It is also “unlikely to have any unacceptable short or long-term inpacts and is likely to have a significant beneficial social impact for the local community”.
Council’s director of planning and environmental services Mike Silver said the approval was a major step forward and demonstrated that with no submissions from the public, the consultation process in the past 12 months had been very effective.
“This is a significant milestone for the project and now allows council to proceed to the tender and construction process.”
Stage 2, which will cost $7 million and is not yet funded, will include the demolition and construction of a new 25m heated pool, an enclosure for the kids wet area, tiered seating and landscaping.
Mr Silver said it is hoped the new outdoor 50m pool can be built in the winter months to lessen the impact on water activities, however if construction on Stage 1 begins in December as planned, the heated pool project may need to come first so as not to disrupt outdoor summer swimming.
Either way, the intention is that one pool will remain open while the other is being built.
“The intention is to mitigate as much as possible the impact of construction around public swimming.
“We will engage with all user groups.”
Mr Silver said the new pool complex will be a state-of-the-art facility and the eight lane outdoor 50m pool will allow for various competitions and sporting uses like water polo and diving. The diving board will be between one and three metres high.
The new kids area, to cost $700,000, will have buckets and sprays and have a depth of 250mm so there will be opportunities for toddlers to use it as a splash pool.
The front pavilion will be gutted and fully upgraded to include modern amenities like a cafe, lockable family cubicles, two disabled cubicles and male and female toilets.
Stage 1 will take 12 months to complete with tenders to go out in July.
Stage 2 is expected to go back to community consultation.