Clarence Valley Mayor Ian Tiley optimistic despite Olympic Pool and Yamba Community Precinct cost blowouts

The redevelopment of the Grafton pool and Yamba’s new community centre are some of the largest projects in the Clarence, but residents will have to wait quite a while to take advantage.

Mayor Ian Tiley says Clarence Valley Council has been doing all it can to get the much-anticipated new Grafton Olympic Pool built – but it may not open until 2025.

The redevelopment, which is in the works after the gates to the old Grafton pool were closed in September 2022, is also expected to cost the council more than originally planned.

It’s a similar story with the new Yamba Community Precinct, with both projects ticked off by the state planning panel impacted by “higher than anticipated” tenders.

Cr Tiley said the developments were some of the largest tasks the council will tackle this term,

The council is looking at borrowing up to $21 million to complete both projects.

It’s another hitch in the road for the precinct and pool projects, which have been mired in controversy.

An image of the Grafton Olympic Pool redevelopment master plans.

More than 1800 Grafton residents signed a petition to save their beloved old pool, but could not stop its closure.

Costs skyrocketed 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 – as a bid for residents to “own a piece of history”.

Cr Tiley said the initial cost projection for the pool upgrade was in the ballpark of $20 to $25m.

He also said no deadline was locked in to open the pool, with varying projections ranging from the end of next year to sometime in 2025.

The council auctioned off items from the old Grafton Olympic Pool. Picture: Odessa Blain.

Likewise, the demolition of the 22-year-old Yamba Treelands Drive Community Precinct (TDCP) for the new Community Precinct, has also sparked fierce debate among residents and councillors.

The precinct is mostly funded by a grant of more than $11m under the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery program, but the council may need to borrow up to $2m.

One bone of contention at a council meeting earlier this year was whether program money could be spent only on the precinct, or also used to expand – and avoid the sale of – a council property at 45 Wooli St, Yamba.

An artist impression of the planned new Yamba Community Precinct.

Despite the setbacks, Cr Tiley said he was confident the council was in a position to complete these two ambitious projects.

“We can do this,” he said.

Mayor Ian Tiley.

Cr Tiley said the council has not borrowed money since 2015 and it put them in a sound financial position, but he said the organisation would remain conscious of rate rises.

“We’ve got the capacity to do this, it’s just the matter of getting the right deal for our community,” he said.

Cr Tiley holds out hopes for a possible $6.5m grant for the pool.

The council voted to decline current tender offers and to not invite new tenders for both the pool and the precinct at last week’s meeting.

Negotiations will be left to council’s general manager and the result will be put to the council at a later date.