Push to save Wyong Pool

Watanobbi resident Ken Greenwald is urging others to join him in protesting Central Coast Council’s plan to eventually close Wyong Olympic Pool.

In its Draft Leisure and Aquatic Strategy, which closed for for community comment on July 3, Council outlines a plan to build a new aquatic facility at Warnervale in the next 10 years and close down the Wyong pool once it is completed.

Greenwald says with a projected increase in population, Council should retain the pool, along with the new Warnervale facility.

“By 2035, based on the population figures shown in the strategy, the Coast will have about 27,000 extra people living here with a large number in the north,” he said.

“That is a town of about the size of Armidale or even Lismore tacked on to the Central Coast.

“So we need all the services we already have, including the Wyong Memorial Olympic Pool, and new services as well.

“Nothing should be closed.”

Greenwald said the strategy did not recognise the pool’s status as a war memorial.

“The pool is in fact named the Wyong Memorial Olympic Pool,” he said.

“Not just a pool but a living useable war memorial to our fallen servicemen, opened in 1967.”

Greenwald is correct, with a sign at the pool naming it Wyong Memorial Olympic Pool, although operationally within Council it is known as  Wyong Olympic Pool.

“Council took over management of this facility in the 1970s, I believe, with a facelift with an upgraded grandstand, changerooms, painting, tiling and repairs occurring in 2023,” Greenwald said.

He said the pool was used by residents of the area and schools, and for water polo and swimming training and is centrally located.

“It sits bang in the middle of a location that is the major rail terminus for the area,” he said.

“It is one of the most connected bus route interchanges in the whole northern area with regular services transporting people from all areas far and wide, unlike other locations in the north of the Coast.

“I am not saying Warnervale should not have a new indoor leisure centre with a heated pool – it should, but Wyong Pool should stay too.

“We have an ever-growing population in the northern part of the Coast and deserve more facilities – certainly not the closure of a facility in one area to gift it to another.

“Wyong is growing too and now is part of a growth spurt with medium and high-density housing replacing old single house properties.

“It is part of the Wyong-Tuggerah CBD and deserves to have facilities to serve the people who live here.”

Greenwald said a new aquatic centre at Warnervale should serve planned growth in that ever-growing area and the suburbs to its north.

He said Wyong Pool should be overhauled to provide a more modern reliable year-round facility.

A Central Coast Council spokesperson said Wyong Olympic Pool was 65 years old and nearing the end of its useful life.

“It is faced with challenges such as ageing infrastructure and ongoing costly maintenance requirements, low participation across programs and a reduced appeal due to its seasonal operation and lack of heating,” Council said.

“The development of a new facility will require significant capital investment and ongoing operational and staffing cost.

“It would not be financially feasible for Council to construct and operate a new contemporary modern facility and continue to operate and maintain Wyong Olympic Pool due to its ageing infrastructure.”

Council said the draft Central Coast Leisure and Aquatic Strategy was a 10-year long-term plan, to provide direction on the current and future leisure and aquatic needs of the community, the upgrade and renewal needs of the existing facilities, and plans for future population growth.

“The northern region of the Central Coast has the highest population catchment out of the existing leisure and aquatic locations, and significant population growth is expected to continue,” it said.

“To meet future demand, Council needs to commence long-term planning for a new leisure and aquatic facility in the northern region, that will operate all year round and meet the need of the growing population.

“This would be part funded by development contributions collected from the Greater Warnervale District Plan, and Warnervale has been identified as the most suitable location due to is central locality and accessibility.

“It is proposed that once a new facility is built in the northern region, Wyong Pool would cease to operate and the recreation precinct would be developed in line with the Baker Park Masterplan, which is currently under development, and aims to enhance sport and recreation opportunities around the vicinity.”

Although public feedback on the Draft Leisure and Aquatic Strategy has now closed, Greenwald has urged readers to contact their ward councillor to make their views known.

Terry Collins