The Narromine and Trangie pools are undergoing big changes, including to opening hours, prices and how they are run, which have left some residents feeling disgruntled.
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The works at the pools in both towns have also caused a delay in the opening dates.
Council general manager Jane Redden said works for the pools finished last week. pushing back the October long weekend opening date.
“We’ve had leaks at both the Narromine and Trangie pools, which are now fixed,” she said.
The council will open the pool for five hours a day on week days and six hours a day on weekends, but it has also opened the opportunity for clubs, schools and squads to use the pool outside these hours.
Council opening hours have changed and are 6.30am to 8am and 3pm to 6.30pm on weekdays, and midday to 6pm on weekends. There is potential for the hours to be extended.
“These are public access hours,” Mrs Redden said.
“Outside these hours sporting clubs can use the pool as long as they have a trained lifeguard. Schools already have their own qualified person. These groups have unhindered access to the pool, and there’s no lap swimmers in half the pool when your kids are trying to play.”
Mrs Redden said the council spoke to main users of the pool about the changes.
Mrs Redden and director of engineering Kerrie Murphy said this is the beginning of exciting changes at the local pools.
It's been run down for a very long time.
- Jane Redden.
“It's been run down for a very long time. We’re putting in new gates like the gymnasium so we can see times and have a look at hours next year,” Mrs Redden said.
“We’ve had to make some hard decisions but financially we couldn’t keep going the way we were going.
“The council’s commitment to the ongoing development of pool facilities includes over $350,000 in Trangie and $230,000 in Narromine, to be allocated from the State Government’s Stronger Communities Fund over the next year for improvements that will bring back long term benefits to our pools.”