Clarence Valley Council votes to accept tenders for Grafton Aquatic Centre, project goes to Hines Construction

The long-awaited Grafton Aquatic Centre has been given the green light after fierce debate – but residents won’t be taking a dip for a while yet. Here’s the latest.

Grafton Aquatic Centre masterplan.

A North Coast community is one step closer to receiving a long-awaited aquatic centre – but it’s a long way off being ready for residents to cool off this summer.

Clarence Valley Council has voted after a heated debate to accept tenders for Grafton Aquatic Centre’s redevelopment.

Subsequently, the $29.1 million project was awarded to Hines Construction.

The former Grafton Olympic Pool served the community for more than 60 years, but an asset management plan by the council found the public pool had “reached the end of its useful life” and it needed to be replaced.

An artist impression previously released of the new pool.

More than 1800 Grafton residents signed a petition to save their beloved swimming spot – but its gates shut in September last year.

Since then, the planned upgrade of the pool has not come without difficulties.

Costs have skyrocketed, particularly since the council’s $15 million application to fund replacement of the pool under the state government’s Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund was unsuccessful.

Earlier this year, council auctioned off items from the pool – ranging from change room cubicles to fibreglass umbrellas – allowing residents to “own a piece of history”.

Items from Grafton Olympic Pool which Clarence Valley council sold in June 2023.

At the most recent meeting last week, councillor William Day, seconded by councillor Greg Clancy, moved to only build a 50 metre pool because “the tenders received were higher than anticipated”.

Cr Clancy said he supported plans to build the whole aquatic centre, but the council needed to do it in stages because of the cost.

Councillor Bill Day.

Councillor Greg Clancy.

Councillor Karen Toms hit back, asking other councillors to explain “why this motion is procrastinating and leaving a very important decision” to the next term.

“Do you understand the actual consequences of this motion in terms of delaying the project to at least next year before we put a tender out,” she asked the mayor.

Cr Day said he supported building both stages one and two of the centre until a few weeks ago.

“This is going to impact way belong the city limits of Grafton,” he said.

“And even many Grafton residents are contacting council and saying ‘build the 50 metre pool’ and do the rest later.

Residents have been missing their pool.

“The cost estimates is over $30 million and interest rates are over six per cent. Government grants have all evaporated … (and) I now support a project that we can afford.”

Applause rang out from members of the public watching on when the motion to accept tenders was carried. Councillor Allison Whaites flashed a double thumbs up.

Only Cr Day and Cr Clancy voted against the motion.

Demolition work will soon begin and a new indoor and outside pool, as well as a grandstand, electrical substation, splash pad and indoor facility, are set to take shape.