Grafton Olympic Pool set to stay closed for summer as maintenance costs skyrocket

Grafton is set to swelter this summer, with the ageing Olympic Pool likely to stay closed, while plans for a $15m Aquatic Centre founder, with grant funding running dry.

Summer in Grafton is set to get tougher, with a council report recommending the delayed opening of the city’s Olympic Pool being tabled this week.

The pool closes every winter and typically opens around the spring school holidays, but its dilapidated state has meant the risks and safety concerns are too much to bear.

The pool has served Grafton for over 60 years, but the asset management plan identified by council staff has found the pool has “reached the end of its useful life and requires replacement”.

Councillors at Tuesday’s meeting were presented with a condition report and a recommendation from council staff to not proceed with any maintenance owing to the risks and ongoing costs associated with the pool.

Water loss alone cost council $187,234 last financial year, up 153 per cent.

According to the condition report prepared for councillors, there is a cavity between the dive pool and Olympic pool that results in a leak which completely empties both within a fortnight (equivalent to the water use of 750 average households).

Councillor Karen Toms has been vocal about the need to provide aquatic infrastructure to the Grafton area, insisting that council “is just going to have to bite the bullet” and borrow money, in the absence of grants from state or federal government.

Artist’s impression of Stage One Grafton Pool redevelopment looking north to Turf St. Photo: Clarence Valley Council

Clarence Valley Council made an application for over $15 million to fund the proposed replacement Grafton Aquatic Centre under the state Government’s Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund, but was unsuccessful, according to a spokeswoman for state MP Chris Gulaptis.

“There are ongoing conversations between Chris, Kevin (Hogan, federal member for Page), and council, but there has not been a suitable funding program identified by council yet,” Ms Toms said.

A spokeswoman for Mr Gulaptis said council had long had a policy of avoiding borrowing, but after having paid down almost a third of its previous obligations, it was in a position to take out the loans necessary.

Ms Toms: “For these sorts of projects, we need grant funding, and it hasn’t been forthcoming.”