Construction of a new accessible changeroom is underway at Wallsend Swimming Centre as City of Newcastle Council continues work to enhance its public swimming pool facilities for the new season.
Lord Mayor, Nuatali Nelmes said improving access to the city’s pools was a priority under Council’s adopted Inland Pools Strategy 2043.
“City of Newcastle is committed to maintaining and investing in our network of inland swimming centres to ensure they continue to meet the expectations and evolving needs of more than 320,000 people who visit them each year,” Lord Mayor Nelmes said.
“That’s why we developed our Inland Pools Strategy 2043, which sets out an investment plan for Newcastle’s network of public swimming pools to ensure they are fit-for-purpose in the long term and made accessible to all members of the community.”
Councillor Margaret Wood, co-chair of CN’s Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee, welcomed the addition of an accessible changeroom at Wallsend Swimming Centre.
“The new changeroom at Wallsend Swimming Centre will be a welcome addition to this popular community facility. This work will ensure all five of our inland swim centres provide accessible amenities, with more work to come including hoists for access to the pools,” Cr Wood said.
The Council has invested more than $5 million upgrading and $2 million maintaining the city’s public pool network during the past few years.
Work on the new grandstand at Lambton is expected to be completed in November, while additional tiered seating structures have been installed at Lambton, Mayfield, Stockton and Wallsend Swimming Centres.
A new playground has been installed at Beresfield, with a new shade sail to enhance the comfort and enjoyment of the community out of the water, while Stockton lap swimmers will benefit from new lane ropes this swimming season.
Plans to regulate the water temperature at the Wallsend and Mayfield pools are also moving forward. Council will increase its investment to around $1.5 million to allow for significant electrical upgrades to accommodate the heat pumps, which will be used alongside rooftop solar thermal matting to provide warmer water at the start and end of the swimming season.
Timelines for the project are subject to external approval for changes to the electrical infrastructure, however the upgrades are expected to be completed in coming months at Mayfield and early in the new year at Wallsend.
