Council reveals major upgrade for Blacktown Aquatic Centre

It is the place where one of the country’s most famous Olympians broke records. And now, after 64 years, this tired western Sydney swim centre is set for its biggest ever refurbishment with a price tag floating towards nine figures.

Blacktown Aquatic Centre will undergo a major makeover.

While neighbouring public pools in Sydney’s west have been spruced up with multimillion makeovers replete with slides, splash parks, Olympic-sized pools and learn-to-swim facilities, it’s a project that has long alluded Blacktown Aquatic Centre.

But now, the tired facility, which opened in 1961, is set for a $77.19m revitalisation – the biggest overhaul in its 54-year history – and will include a new 50m indoor pool, refurbished 50m outdoor pool, new 25m program pool, extended splash pads, upgraded fitness rooms, new changerooms, a new cafe and reception area.

Like Mt Druitt pools, Blacktown state Labor MP Stephen Bali said Blacktown pools would be upgraded with the state government’s western Sydney infrastructure grants program.

“It’s a much needed modernisation of the pool because it’s a fairly old pool that needs to be replaced, and they’re adding a 20m program pool, which will be good for learning to swim,’’ he said.

The toddler pool will remain as part of the project, with construction due to begin next year and take 18 months.

Artist's impression for Blacktown Aquatic Centre.

Blacktown Mayor Brad Bunting said the upgraded centre would increase capacity from 2000 learn-to-swim students a week to 5000.

“We want to encourage people to learn to swim and enjoy the water close to home, and we can do that by providing a first class venue,” he said.

“Blacktown Aquatic Centre is the busiest of council’s five swimming venues so we want to make sure that when people come here there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy.”

Urakawa Jenkins Architecture have designed the aquatic centre, which was used as a training pool for the Sydney Olympics and where Kieran Perkins broke the 800m freestyle world record at the venue at the NSW swimming titles in 1992 when he was 18.

Blacktown Swim Club president Vaughan Irwin welcomed the plans.

“Our club provides for swimmers of a range of abilities and it’s great to see they will be catered for with these plans too,’’ he said.

The council’s plans follow last month’s announcement that Mt Druitt Swimming Centre will undergo a $40.6m spruce up with a state grant to be spent on its largest revamp for the 50-year-old facility.

Draft designs show it will include a 25m learn-to-swim pool for use all year, a refurbishment of the 50m outdoor pool, a new kiosk to serve patrons in the pool area and outside the venue, and landscape improvements.

The work is expected to begin on the Lippman Partnership-designed project in 2026 and will take about 18 months.

Architect Lippman Partnership is designing a modern facility within its natural landscape.

Originally published as Council reveals major upgrade for Blacktown Aquatic Centre