The proposed Tuncurry water playground is expected to become a reality in time for the 2021-22 summer swimming season.
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"We are still hopeful to get it up and running this coming swimming season," MidCoast Council community spaces, recreation and trades manager, Dan Aldridge said.
At last month's March ordinary meeting councillors voted to proceed to tender for the design and construction phase and agreed that further community engagement would be undertaken following this process.
The project would be funded through a $400,000 Federal government grant and accumulated monies from MidCoast Council coffers.
In a report to councillors, recreation officer, Elysha Futterleib explained council had been allocating $70,000 annually from general revenue to undertake major repairs to the now closed Tuncurry swimming pool facility.
We are still hopeful to get it up and running this coming swimming season.
- Dan Aldridge
The pool was drained and formally closed in September last year.
Council's decision to repurpose the swimming pool into a children's water park came after a report in 2017 which determined costs to repair the aging facility - approximately $400,000 to replace the pool shell, up to $190,000 to refurbish amenities, $8000 to replace the pool fence along with $70,000 annual maintenance costs - were prohibitive.
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As the proposed facility would have zero water depth, a water playground model would allow children to play safely without the need for an adult or supervisor to enter the water.
Community consultation had been undertaken by council to seek ideas and feedback to ensure design needs met community approval.
Six items of play equipment - slide, watercourse, giant bucket, splash pad, hoops and water cannons - were identified the most popular items for the park.
The project, which also encompassed the wider Vincent Fazio Park upgrade - could also include shade or shelter, trees, picnic facilities and barbecues.
Mr Aldridge said once the design phase of the project had been complete, council would again consult the community for its input.
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