Lismore Memorial Baths reopens early due to summer heat at limited capacity after months of flood repairs

It’s not Lismore as we know it without the Memorial Baths drawing in sweaty residents and visitors for a dip. Now, the iconic war memorial has finally reopened after the horrific 2022 floods in something of a milestone.

Lismore’s premiere CBD watering hole has reopened after months of painstaking restoration work in the wake of the 2022 floods catastrophe.

The Memorial Baths was prioritised in the massive flood recovery rebuild because it was recognised as crucial to the “overall health and wellbeing of the community”.

It’s not 100 per cent complete, but it’s off to more than a swimming start.

Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg said the council wanted to have the pool open by the holidays leading up to Christmas, albeit with reduced hours and swimmer capacity.

Work continues to have the pool fully staffed and operational by January.

The update on the iconic baths comes after Lismore City Council struck a welcome deal in September for a community organisation – Lismore Lake Incorporated – to take on management of the beloved and neglected South Lismore Lake Precinct and Pool.

Long neglected, that pool is set to be revived and complement the baths.

Before and after aerial shots of Lismore Memorial Baths by Nearmap, with Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg (right) at the official opening of the refurbished pool on Wednesday.

Cr Krieg said the community was “busting” to get in and use the Baths this summer.

The Lismore Memorial Baths have been an important part of the community since 1928, when it was built as a monument, honouring the lives of 200 men tragically killed in World War I.

Cr Krieg said another summer without a swimming pool was unthinkable.

“We’ve still got work to do, we’re still training our lifeguards, but don’t have enough qualified ones to extend the hours. And our kiosk is still not up and running yet, so there’s little things like that will come along in the next month or two,” he said.

“We will celebrate the Baths being open to full capacity early next year with a free community day in late January.”

A crane delicately removing the old solar heating tubes from the roof.

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin said the opening of the Baths showed the city was moving forward almost two years after the February-March 2022 flooding.

“Being able to swim laps, hang out with friends, take the family to the pool – it’s all part of a regular Aussie summer and this helps us feel that life is getting back to normal,” she said.

The Baths has been fixed thanks to a $36 million state and federal flood recovery package.

Contractors Bennetts Construction will be moving on to other public assets, such as the Lismore Museum, Art Gallery, City Hall and Library.

All pools were drained and cleaned, bathroom amenities including showers were restored and damaged roofing, ceiling and solar panels were replaced.

Tony Duffy, the council’s manager of liveable and active communities, said getting the pool ready was a “herculean effort”.

“We anticipate we will be at full operating capability by January, but in the meantime we knew the community would value having the facility open before Christmas, even at reduced hours,” he said.

Workers have chipped away at refurbishing and floodproofing the pool for more than a year.

The biggest task was replacing 20-year-old sand filters with a revised, state-of-the-art system.

Page MP Kevin Hogan, Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg, Lismore MP Janelle Saffin, grandson Gabrielle, a nd Lismore councillors Vanessa Ekins, Jeri Hall and Andrew Bing.

Brett Lee, project manager of flood recovery at the council, said the Baths was the first of the larger flood recovery projects now opening in the regional city.

“We’re about to commence on the CWA Hall and the old council municipal building. We’re starting on the Library and are currently working in the Art Gallery,” he said.

The Baths will be open seven days a week from 11am to 5pm, but with a maximum of 150 people allowed at any time to ensure swimmer safety.

Inflatables are not allowed until the facility is fully staffed.

The pool will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.