It is a revelation to read of the massive effort of Gunnedah residents to build an outdoor and then construct a heated pool, the first in country NSW, as documented in the ‘The Way We Were’ page 175.
The outdoor pool was first used in 1955. The heated pool opened n 1972 and later fully enclosed and then opened by Samantha Riley in 1996.
Since 1972 the heated pool has been available for all members of the public. What an incredible record. Now use is geared to active and lap swimmers only as council is adopting best practice temperature for this group. This suits council’s current cost cutting measures. The pool is now too cool for residents for pre and post operation therapy, stroke and arthritic suffers, asthmatics, the handicapped and the portion of the population, mostly elderly, who benefit from exercise to keep mobile.
Council lost a considerable number of patrons and income with the loss of an accredited aqua and swimming teacher over two years ago. Aqua was taught for over 25 years. I was told by a council employee ‘the pool is still here, go and do your own thing’ as if our loss was insignificant.
The pool is not a hydrotherapy pool which is hot in comparison, and users have benefited by only 2.8 degrees warmer than the lap swimmer ideal. The warmer temperature has not been detrimental to the active.
Council administration posting in the Gunnedah Times’ article (May 22) that the pool has operated at 30.8 degrees at the request of a few. It has been satisfactory for all since 1972 – not just a few. Council also states mid-summer temperature in the 50 metre pool is between 24 and 26 degrees. People look to cool off in summer especially in the sun.
Our heated pool will have reduced use to the detriment of the population and will further restrict income to council. Users have come from other towns and villages, which has benefit for the business district.
The heated pool was built for the use of the community by the community – why not now?
M.A Vincent (Snr), Piallaway
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