Hervey Bay Aquatic Centre to be redeveloped

An Olympic-sized funding boost for the Hervey Bay Aquatic Centre is being pitched as a win for families and aspiring sporting stars. VIDEO.  

A major facelift of the Hervey Bay Aquatic Centre has been given a $3.5m funding boost.

The funding is part of a $86m local infrastructure pledged to 80 Queensland projects in the recently handed down state budget.

Speaking to reporters at the aquatic centre on Wednesday, Deputy Premier and Minister for Local Government Steven Miles said upgraded pools would not only be used for “fun” but also by the sporting community and swimmers looking to train for the 2032 Olympic Games.

“We want that dream to be in the hearts and the minds of young people in every single part of the state, one way to do that is to make sure they have world-class facilities so that they can see themselves training here in squads here and one day competing for their country at the Olympics in their home state,” he said

Futuristic video shows what the new centre may look like.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles announcing the $3.5m funding to upgrade the Hervey Bay Aquatic Centre.

It will feature a new splash pad, water-play areas, lagoon pool water slides and upgrades to the viewing decks and change rooms.

The undercover 25m pool and surrounds of the 50m pool will also be upgraded.

Fraser Coast mayor George Seymour said the funding would help take the pool to “the next level”.

“I always say tell people if you want to get a sense of community, if you want to see the heartbeat of a community, go to your local pool,” Mr Seymour said.

“Swimming and physical activity keeps you healthy... swimming and physical activity here at a public pool where there’s birthday parties, there’s learning to swim, there’s competitions and just people enjoying the outdoors and keeping fit, is so very very important for our community,” Mr Seymour said.

Hervey Bay Humpbacks Master Swimming Club President Paula Hewett at the Hervey Bay Aquatic Centre on Wednesday.

President of the Hervey Bay Humpbacks Master Swimming Club Paula Hewett told reporters while the current centre was lovely, it needed better facilities.

She was most looking forward to upgrading the pool’s splash area.

“At this stage having seen the plan, the future is great,” she said.

“I understand that when they update the splash area, that the water from the splash area won’t circulate through the main 50 pool... so I think the solar heating in the 50 pool will work better once it’s not going into that shallow area, so that is something we are looking forward to.”

Originally published as Hervey Bay Aquatic Centre to be redeveloped