Goondiwindi pool back with a splash in November

It may not be the best swimming weather this week - and the wet weather has also pushed back the opening of the Goondiwindi pool for the summer season.

More than $3.2 million in upgrades are currently under way at the Goondiwindi Memorial Swimming Pool, which is now scheduled to re-open in early November.

Cr Lachlan Brennan holds Council’s portfolio for lifestyle, including sport and recreation, and said ongoing wet weather, COVID-19 restrictions and supply shortages had caused delays throughout the project.

“Heavy rainfall and the impacts of COVID-19 restrictions have really impacted the timeline for the pool upgrades,” Cr Brennan said.

“Our contractor has been working extremely hard to bring in more resources to meet the original schedule. However, the fact is that the types of specialist skills needed for this project, particularly for the pool installation, are in very short supply – and have been particularly impacted by the restrictions around who can travel into Queensland.

“A nationwide shortage in construction supplies like steel has also added to the delay,” he said.

The upgrades at the pool include replacing the filtration system, refurbishing the shell, relining the pool in stainless steel and vinyl polymer, installing a wet deck area and access ramp. A new larger filtration room has also been constructed on the site.

The Goondiwindi pool closed at the end of February so work could begin during the offseason.

The final stages of the work are set to be completed this month, including the completion of the pool liner and access ramp, and upgrades to the power mains. 

Goondiwindi Regional Council will also continue to finalise some projects throughout November in addition to the main upgrades, such as renewing some sewerage mains and painting the swim club building. These projects will not impact the operation of the pool.

Mayor of the Goondiwindi Region the Honourable Cr Lawrence Springborg AM said the pool improvements would be worth the wait.

“I want to really thank the community for their patience while we carry out this major overhaul of our local pool,” the Mayor said.

“This final delay of a few more weeks will no doubt be disappointing for our many local swimming squads and school programs in particular who use the Goondiwindi pool,” he said. “This is, however, a 30 to 50-year investment. It’s really important not to rush these final steps, and I’m confident that the long-term benefits will mean the pool can continue to serve our community for decades to come.

"I also want to reiterate that I’m particularly proud of Council's success in securing external funding for this project,” Cr Springborg said. “Nearly $2.4 million in state and federal funding means we were able to vastly increase the scope of upgrades for the Goondiwindi pool while keeping ratepayer costs minimal,” he said.

The Goondiwindi pool has served the local community for about 60 years. The new upgrades complement various recent Council upgrades to the Inglewood and Texas pools.