Olympic pool crisis: Grafton’s stop-gap plan to get through summer

A splash pool and art classes will be offered as alternative activities for Grafton residents set to swelter through a scorching summer with the town’s Olympic pool out of action. Read what council has planned.

Grafton pool is in dire need of an upgrade.

With Grafton set to swelter through a summer without its beloved Olympic Pool after chronic problems forced the closure of the Oliver St icon, Clarence Valley Council has scrambled for a stop-gap in a bid to appease frustrated ratepayers.

The Olympic Pool is permanently shut and won’t be replaced without at least $21 million in funding - well more than what council can currently commit to by way of loans.

At its general meeting this week, Clarence Valley Council considered the allocation of funds to co-ordinate alternative activities for the summer in Grafton to the value of $70,000.

A splash pool at the Grafton Showgrounds for five days in January was confirmed, as well as art classes at the Regional Art Gallery and discounts to the touring Archibald Exhibition.

The waterslide at the current Olympic Pool will also remain open over the summer - at a charge of $2 per person - until construction on a new pool gets underway.

Artist impression of Stage One Grafton Pool redevelopment looking north to Turf St.

Clarence Valley councillors voted unanimously to fund the alternative summer activities.

The 63-year-old Olympic pool had fallen into such a state of disrepair that the decision was made in September to shut the pool to avoid a “catastrophic failure”, given it had “reached the end of its useful life”.

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

“These arrangements were now or never - it’s actually really exciting, because it means there’s progress on the new pool,” councillor Debrah Novak said.

“It’s fantastic, it still gives families a chance to cool off and come together and engage with the community.”

According to the condition report prepared for councillors in September, 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).

Stage one of the proposal to build a new facility - expected to cost $15 million - includes a new 50m eight-lane outdoor pool, grandstand and a 25m heated pool.

Clarence Valley Council’s reticence to borrow has meant that it is reliant on state or federal grant funding, which has “not been forthcoming”.