Wauchope Community Heated Indoor Pool

We are losing swimmers to other Clubs, as they need to train all year round. Swimming is a very technical sport and it takes swimmers three to five years to develop their technique. Currently, Wauchope’s talented swimmers have to train elsewhere in order to realise their potential.

Due to the fact that the pool is leaking heavily, it is not feasible to heat it without undertaking major reconstruction. Currently, the water temperature is reliant on a spell of hot weather to bring it up to a comfortable temperature of around 24 to 26 degrees. This temperature is only achieved between late November and early March, give or take a hot spell or the odd wet week.

Children with health problems, or adults with arthritis or muscular complaints will tell you that below 22 degrees they lose body heat and the therapeutic benefits of swimming can be lost.

Marianne Kilmurray, our Head swim coach, has over 25 years experience. She is also the holder of a bronze licence and level 2 Skills Qualification.

Marianne has expressed difficulty in maintaining regular staff, as few people want to work for only six months in a year. This big turnover in staff affects the quality of teaching, as new staff are constantly needing to be trained.

A person with a mild disability can climb down the stairs and swim, however, at the start and end of the season their joints and muscles chill down and it becomes difficult to climb out and may even result in muscle cramps in the water.

For the people who can only train before work or at lunchtime, there are no power points to plug in a hair dryer, an essential for women.

What was once a roomy facility, and the very best that the community of Wauchope could build, something that was rightly a focal point for all members of the township and surrounding areas, has become overcrowded due to population growth.

Currently, the facility is being used for Baby Learn to Swim, swimming squads, Swimming Club, Water Polo, diving training, aquarobics and all schools in the area, including schools from Port Macquarie.

The people who swim laps for fitness and general health have to fit in between all this.

With the building of Sovereign Hills this overcrowding will grow, as to quote one resident of Thrumster, “…..it is just as quick and more relaxing to drive to Wauchope”.

People who need to swim more than 3 to 4 or more days a week not only have a big fuel bill, but must allow up to 2 hours out of their day. Many decide to include shopping and eating out to make the trip worthwhile, money that would be better spent in Wauchope. Many, simply because of cost and time, give up swimming.

The Committee has as its Mission Statement –

“To build a 25 metre heated indoor pool with disabled access and spa in Wauchope”

There is plenty of space at the current pool and the Pool Manager, Brad Holt, has offered to make himself available for technical advice. Staff from Council, Mark Vaile and Andrew Stoner’s office have also offered their assistance.

Until we have drafted plans and sought estimates we will not be able to give an exact cost, but we anticipate we will need at least one million dollars. Kendall raised three hundred thousand dollars and gained a facility worth 1.5 million dollars. They were further down Council’s works program than we are(currently behind Port’s Aquatic Centre).

Due to exciting new advances in solar heating, power generation and eco-friendly design potential, we can attract a number of new types of grants and have a truly cutting edge facility that will keep running costs low and minimise our impact on the environment.

To gain Government Grants we must have raised a portion of the sum required ourselves. The Committee is currently exploring fundraising options. We are seeking support from the entire community, particularly service clubs and businesses.

Many major companies and financial institutions have funds set aside for community based projects. The Committee is compiling a list of prospective contributors.

We want to inform you of the establishment of the Committee and seek your in principle support for its objective. It is important we have the whole community behind the project.

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