Cool change for indoor pool at Gunnedah

Residents left shivering after taking a dip in Gunnedah’s indoor heated pool will be bearing the cold for a little longer yet.

Swimmers have remarked about the unusually crisp temperature of the indoor pool this season.

Older residents have been particularly affected by the cool change, some hearing the adjustment was to “save money”.

The indoor pool recently re-opened to the public after a major refurbishment which included full replacement of the indoor pool ceiling, replacement of the front roof and gutters, new wiring in the ceiling, and a full epoxy coating of the indoor pool to extend the life of the facility.

Gunnedah Shire Council confirmed the pool temperature had been lowered.

The change was made after official advice about the ideal temperature for the “comfort and safety” of pool users.

“Ahead of the re-opening of the heated indoor pool, Gunnedah Shire Council sought advice from Royal Lifesaving Australia, Swimming Australia and Swimming New South Wales about the optimum temperature for indoor heated pools,” a council spokesperson said.

“Council was advised the optimal temperature for swimming is between 25 and 28 degrees Celsius to avoid dehydration, muscle cramps and overheating, and to ensure comfort and safety.

“The heated pool is now set at the highest recommended level at 28 degrees.

“In the recent past, the indoor heated pool in Gunnedah has operated

at 30.8 degrees – above the recommended level – at the request of a few users.

“Advice from experts who serviced the pool’s heat exchanger while recent work was done on the pool was that operating at the higher temperature was putting pressure on the equipment and would shorten its life. It was also using an unnecessary amount of power and adding to the cost of running the pool.

“It should also be noted that the current temperature of 28 degrees is the same or higher than the temperature of the 50m pool in mid-summer, which sits between 24 and 26 degrees.

“The indoor pool is not designed to be a hydrotherapy pool. It operates for a wide range of users.”

Gunnedah Shire Council also has a resolved position to “strive to achieve $930,000 of savings and efficiency gains” in light of its recently approved, 37.67 per cent Special Rate Variation which takes effect on July 1.