Grafton riverfront pool pitch dismissed by Mayor Peter Johnstone, councillors and Clarence MP Richie Williamson

Clarence leaders have addressed mounting calls for a Grafton riverfront pool as the regional city’s public swimming facility remains shut. Have your say in our poll.

A flying boat at its mooring on the Clarence River, with the original Grafton river pool (safe swimming area) in the foreground.

Calls for a riverfront pool in Grafton have received a deluge of support from residents – but local leaders say they are focused on the new public Aquatic Centre development.

Clarence Valley councillors do not believe such a pool is a bad idea, but it’s not currently feasible after the $29.1 million centre was greenlit in recent days.

Clarence state MP Richie Williamson added there was once a riverside pool in Grafton – but it was replaced by the Olympic Pool, which is shut while the centre takes shape.

The image posted to Facebook by Sara Black, which drew hundreds of comments and reactions from the community.

Sara Black took to Facebook earlier this week, posted a photo and declared: “Grafton needs a river pool.”

An outpouring of support includes hundreds of reactions and comments.

“We did it in the thirties and forties (sic) at the end of Duke St and loved it,” one local wrote.

“If you build it properly the floods won’t ruin it, you can make concrete walls like the ones at the beach that have waves smashing into them all day (...) Grafton has nowhere for people to swim and cool off in summer,” another person responded.

A flying boat at its mooring on the Clarence River, with the original Grafton river pool (safe swimming area) in the foreground.

Mr Williamson said any movement on a riverfront pool should not take precedence over the new Aquatic Centre.

He said the Olympic Pool was built as a 1956 Olympics legacy project and was aimed at being safer than the river pool.

“It seems now we are back in the future,” Mr Williamson said.

“If you want to go for a swim in the river, go for it. But my priority at the moment is around the Grafton Aquatic Centre.”

The council voted last week to accept tenders for the new town pool and the project was awarded to Hines Construction.

The former Olympic Pool served the community for more than 60 years, but needs to be replaced.

It’s no wonder the river pool dreams are gaining traction. More than 1800 people signed a petition to save the Olympic Pool, but its gates shut in September last year – and now Grafton faces summer without a public swimming facility.

The former Grafton Olympic Pool is shut while the new Aquatic Centre is developed.

But councillor Debrah Novak said: “My worry is that not many people would use that riverfront pool.”

“Everything is now set in train to build three new pools for the aquatic centre — two indoor and one fifty metre pool,” she said.

“And we also need to ask how viable a riverfront pool would be in the next flood?

“There is even signage saying it is not safe to swim in that party of the Clarence River after three days of rain because it is just too close to drains.”

Recently elected Mayor Peter Johnstone echoed Cr Novak and said: “This isn’t the right time for Grafton to have a riverfront pool.”

“A lot of other places would like a pool too, but they are very expensive,” he said.

Cr Johnstone also pointed to the tragic death of 13 boys under the age of nine in the Clarence River almost 80 years ago.

The boys were visiting Susan Island on a Club Scout expedition.

“Safety considerations must be taken into account,” he said.