Published on Monday, 21 December 2020 at 3:20:00 PM
The Paltridge Memorial Swimming Pool (1966) located in the heart of Exmouth is home to the Exmouth Amateur Swimming Club and meets the needs of the AUSTSWIM education program whilst servicing the needs of the community and local diving operators alike.
It plays a vital role in encouraging physical activity and well-being in the community and hosts many regional swimming carnivals which have flow on economic benefits to the whole community. But the pool is ageing.
It requires a major redevelopment to address identified structural problems and to meet the new public aquatic facility health guidelines. Constructed in 1966 with a six-lane 50-metre pool and two smaller wading pools, it suffices to say that, due to the age of the aquatics facility, there is a significant operational risk due to the potential failure involving the pump room and filtration systems.
The Shire of Exmouth applied for the Community Sporting and Recreation Facilities Funding (CSRFF) Forwarding Planning Grant with the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural industries (DLGSCI) for the first stage of the much-needed upgrade and redevelopment. The first stage will involve bringing the pool facility up to Australian Standards by installing new wet decks and piping for the 50m lap pool and children's wading pools, a new pump room and equipment, disability access into the 50-metre pool and heating for the wading pools.
The second stage, which is not included in the 4.2 million redevelopment plans involves further upgrades to the existing amenities such as new change rooms and toilets, reception and kiosk and an upgraded manager's office and storage room.
COMMENTS ATTRIBUTED TO THE SHIRE OF EXMOUTH – DEPUTY SHIRE PRESIDENT BEN DIXON
"We're excited about the announcement and are looking very much forward to the upgrade to the aquatic facilities, which are heavily used by our whole community and surrounding areas."
"For a small remote town like Exmouth, an up to standards facility will ensure less time spent on maintenance and more time for staff to focus on improving engagement across all ages and encourage water safety awareness."
COMMENTS ATTRIBUTED TO THE SHIRE OF EXMOUTH – SPORT AND RECREATION MINISTER HON MICK MURRAY MLA
"The Paltridge Memorial Swimming Pool plays a vital role in encouraging physical activity and belonging in the Exmouth community.
"As the only public swimming pool within a 370 km radius of the town it gets a lot of use by a number of community groups, and this is a welcome refurbishment made possible by the McGowan Government."
Media available (8MB), pictured from left to right: WA Labor Candidate for North West Central Cherie Sibosado, Deputy Shire President Ben Dixon, Hon Mick Murray MLA, Councillor Gary Mounsey, Shire of Exmouth CEO Cameron Woods
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