$14.6m funding could be allocated for Merrylands Swimming Centre

For a suburb filled with apartment dwellers, its swimming pool is one of the biggest drawcards in summer and now the decaying facility could be getting a ‘vital’ upgrade.

Merrylands Swimming Centre has been open since 1968.

Its neighbouring pools have scored funding for upgrades and now Merrylands Swimming Centre could be next in line for a cash splash to deliver a much-needed refurbishment.

Cumberland Council is due to discuss the issue at its meeting on Wednesday when it will vote on a staff recommendation to use $14.6m to refurbish the facility, which opened in 1968.

Merrylands Amateur Swimming Club president Graham Edwards said the upgrades were vital with only minor repairs carried out on its major pool over the past five decades.

“Merrylands (pool) is a great community asset – in summertime there are hundreds of people using that facility,” he said.

“A lot of people don’t have swimming pools in their backyards so this is the major water facility for Merrylands.

Youths revel in some fun at Merrylands Swimming Centre.

“You look at the new apartments being built in Merrylands Town Centre – these people are going to be looking for water facilities in summer and people don’t want to travel too far so having that local swimming facility in Merrylands will be a godsend.’’

The Merrylands pool funding suggestion comes almost a year after councillor Michael Zaiter called for a report to look into funding for swimmers who “deserve a pool that doesn’t flood when there is heavy rain”.

Cr Zaiter said the council was ascertaining what refurbishments were required and how much they would cost.

“It needs it because the population growth that occurred in that particular area is significant, and as we have more people moving into the area, we want to have the infrastructure to cater for the population increases,’’ he said.

Merrylands swimmers celebrating the club’s 45th anniversary.

He nominated a splash play area, new change rooms, a modernisation of the existing 50m pool and heat pumps for the upgrade.

“In the colder periods it’s very hard for swimmers to go in there without freezing,’’ he said.

Mr Edwards would also like a 25m pool to assist some of the club’s 120 members to train in winter.

The potential upgrade for the tired but popular centre follows the $12.2m makeover at Wentworthville Swimming Centre which was completed in March 2021.

Last year, Guildford pools scored $14.6m in WestInvest funding for a revamp. Under that project, it will receive a new 25m pool and eight-lane 50m pool with ramp access, pool deck showers, a water play park, a community room and change rooms.

If supported, the Merrylands funding will be used from the council’s $22.3m budget for swim centres.

Cr Zaiter said the Merrylands upgrades could take about three years because priority was given to first complete Guildford, where critical maintenance work to the roof of the indoor pool was under way.