Anzac pool closure fast-tracked to make way for Bundaberg aquatic centre

Bundaberg council appears set to go back on its word to keep the old Anzac pool open until the $45million aquatic centre is built, and people are not happy. Read what they had to say:

Anzac Pool expected to close on April 17, 2022.

Anzac pool is expected to close earlier than expected on April 17, 2022, so development can begin on the $45million Bundaberg Regional Aquatic Centre, scheduled to open in 2024.

According a recent Facebook post by Mayor Jack Dempsey, due to the condition of the 99-year-old pool, the number of pool-goers was low in the 2020-2021 season and there were only 2869 child visitors.

In October 2021, Bundaberg Regional Council received a $5 million grant from the Federal Government for the Anzac Park redevelopment.

A condition of the grant was the redevelopment must be finished by the end of December 2023.

In June 2021, the State Government announced its contribution of $13 million towards the development of the aquatic centre and asked that it be finished by 2024.

The NewsMail asked swimmers what they thought about the Anzac pool closure.

Swim instructor Jeanette Cox said she uses the pool for exercise and swimming lessons.

“I think it’s a terrible shame that we’re losing such a beautiful pool, beautiful atmosphere and an absolute asset to the community,” she said.

“I’ve been coming here for 30 years. Why can’t we keep it? Cause it means we’re going to be down to one pool for many years,” she said.

“The most disappointing part is the council said it would stay open until the other pool was operational and they’ve gone backwards on that.”

Cathy Findlow added “it needs to be kept open, otherwise it’s going to be quite a challenge to find somewhere else that we can swim”.

Daniel Little said he also used the pool with his kids, and that it was often packed out on hot days.

“It will be good to see it stay open,” he said.

Foster carer Dianne Sier said Anzac pool had space to move around, and would make it hard teaching children to swim when there might be only one pool, Norville, available.

“It’s also convenient. There’s two pools so instead of everyone all heading to the one pool and especially with Covid around, you can spread yourselves around the two different pools.”

The NewsMail asked swimmers what they thought about the Anzac pool closure.

Michele Pearson, former Australian Olympian, said she just wanted the pool to stay open.

“As a community of 100,000 people we don’t think that one council pool can cater for all of the different swimming communities needs,” she said.

“That’s our main concern is that we’re going to be without a pool, but also the way the council has gone about it,” she said.

Mr Dempsey said he understood regular users of Anzac Pool had an emotional attachment to the site, but said there was no deception over the closure.

“There was no deception regarding the closure of Anzac Pool,” he said.

“Most of the public statements from council referred to ensuring a smooth transition and minimising disruption.

“Up until late 2021, I believed the new aquatic facility would be built before the Anzac Park redevelopment.

“That necessarily required a review of the planning and time frames for both projects.”

Originally published as Anzac pool closure fast-tracked to make way for Bundaberg aquatic centre