New equipment brings pool to Olympic standard

The Peninsula Leisure Centre’s new starting blocks

New starting blocks and an electronic timing system have been installed at the council’s Woy Woy pool making it the only aquatic centre on the Central Coast or Newcastle to have Olympic standard timing equipment available to swimmers.
The $135,000 funding for the purchase and installation of the equipment was made possible through Stronger Communities Funding, established by the NSW Government to provide merged Council’s with funding to kick-start the delivery of projects that improve community infrastructure and services.
Mayor Cr Jane Smith said she was delighted to see this investment in the Peninsula Leisure Centre, one of Council’s busiest leisure and recreation facilities.
“The Centre attracts over 440,000 patrons per year and the new equipment will make it an even more attractive option to the competitive swimmers in our community.
“The funding has enabled the installation of new starting blocks including a starting ledge for backstroke, a new electronic timing system and boards for both swimming and water polo competitions.
“Access to this Olympic standard timing equipment and new starting blocks means our swimmers will be doing their daily training under the same conditions as they will be competing at representative swim meets at venues like the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre,” Cr Smith said.
“This will allow them to be better prepared, comfortable and confident in how to use the equipment and could potentially lead to improved times and greater representation at State and National meets from Central Coast swimmers.”

SOURCE:
Media release, 22 Nov 2017
Jane Smith, Central Coast Council