Port Macquarie Aquatic Facility: revamp set to cost almost $100m, expected to run at a deficit

A plan to replace a public pool is expected to cost ratepayers up to $99m, but council officers have confessed the new facility would run at a deficit for ten years.

The proposed Port Macquarie Aquatic Facility is one step closer to becoming a reality — with councillors resolving to progress with staging options for the possible construction of the multimillion-dollar centre.

Deputy Mayor Adam Roberts said something has to be done about the “substantial issue” of a new aquatic centre, which has been talked about for the past 20 years.

“The current pool is showing its age, it’s leaking water at a significant rate,” Cr Roberts said.

“It’s an aging piece of infrastructure, built around the middle of the last century or thereabouts – at some point, we’re going to need to upgrade and invest in a new pool.”

Cr Roberts believes repairing or replacing the existing Gordon St pool would be a “patch job” which he said would be equivalent of kicking the issue down the road.

He admitted council “may not be able to afford the bee’s knees of aquatic facilities right now” given other significant local issues.

“But we definitely need to make smarter investments and decisions to cater to our growing region, no matter what the project or what the peripheral issues may be,” he said.

“We need to be aware of what a full-scale project and a nice-to-have facility could look like, but we need to be mindful that we don’t put our community’s finances at risk.”

Cr Nik Lipovac spoke in support of the motion, telling councillors: “Let’s get on with it”.

Cr Lisa Intemann also demonstrated her support for the motion, but said additional bells and whistles will come with a huge price tag — reminding councillors of the suggested first stage of the Macquarie Park facility, which is estimated to cost $40m.

A report on construction staging options and how this will impact the business case will be presented back to councillors in November.

EARLIER

A northern NSW council has revealed ambitious plans for the development of a new public pool — expected to cost an eye-watering $99m — warning the new facilities expected to run as a deficit to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars in ratepayer funds every year.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council earmarked the replacement of the Port Macquarie Olympic Pool site with a new regional aquatic centre, with varying options proposing the inclusion of a new 50m outdoor pool, an indoor 25m pool, spectator seating, a gym and group fitness rooms, an outdoor splash pad and leisure pool, a slide tower, a cafe, a club room, water polo facilities, and a diving board.

In a newly-completed preliminary business case, council suggested four options to replace the outdated facility, with costs ranging from $91.8m to $99.6m.

Option A

Option B

“The Port Macquarie Olympic Pool … has served the community well for over 50 years, however it has come to the end of its functional life due to its poor structural condition, noncompliance with current health and access guidelines, and undersized facilities for its user base,” a council planner said.

“A new facility is needed to meet the current and future needs of the community now and over the next 50 years.

“The proposed Port Macquarie Aquatic Facility aims to significantly increase visitations, improve accessibility and provide a fit-for purpose modern facility.”

However, despite council claiming that “visitation levels are forecast to increase to over 430,000 attendees per year due to improved facility quality and service offerings”, the new-and-improved pool “is estimated to operate at an annual deficit to council”.

“(This proposal) has a 10-year average annual operating deficit of $650,000,” the planner said.

“All options prepared to date moderately increase the operating deficit, however significantly improve the value for money when considered against the additional 300,000 plus annual visitations.”

Council’s preferred concept, option A, is the most affordable of the four designs, but includes fewer upgrades.

“Option A includes a 50m pool, 25m pool, program pool, leisure pool and splash pad with associated facilities,” council said.

“Also included is a gym at level one which reduces the flood mitigation requirements for the site (and) includes a slide tower.”

Option B includes all of the same renovations, with the additions of a higher roof over the 25m pool and FINA-compliant diving facilities.

Option C

Option D

Option C includes all of the above, plus FINA-compliant water polo facilities to the 50m pool.

Meanwhile Option D outlines an eight-lane outdoor 50m pool (to the minimum water polo standard), a warm-water 25m pool indoors, a pool without spectator seating, gymnasium and group fitness rooms, a program pool, an indoor leisure pool, an indoor splash pad, an indoor slide tower, a cafe, and a club room.

Council officers said investigations into the suitability of an upgrade were conducted, with findings used to inform the four proposed options.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council is expected to address this item at their ordinary meeting on Thursday.