An Upper Lachlan Shire council report has revealed that the two outdoor pools in Crookwell are non-compliant with today's safety and environmental standards.
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The Crookwell Pool complex has two outdoor pools - a 70-year-old 33-metre pool and another one for toddlers.
Both these pools require a new filter system, a new pump with a new pump station, along with a new chemical dosing and control system in a new enclosure.
Tiling on the toddlers' facility needs to be replaced as it does not meet the public pool standards.
"My arrival, five months ago, coincided roughly with the closure of the pools because of COVID-19. Shortly after the pool was closed this year, I was informed that the pool was leaking, which was followed with a thorough investigation of all aspects of the pools," Colleen Worthy, Upper Lachlan Shire Council general manager, said.
"As noted in the report, the pool is 70 years old. Council performed repairs and new paint in 2016 and now, another four years on, we conducted a further assessment under current standards. The assessment occurred this year by staff with the assistance of pool specialists, who made recommendations.
"I believe this is an opportune time to build an exciting new pool complex in line with those recommendations for our residents, as we hopefully enter into a recovery phase over the next few years, from this viral pandemic."
Upper Lachlan councillors will discuss the matter at July's council meeting and deliberate on possible solutions, whether to repair and upgrade the pools or build a new complex.
It is planning to utilise funds worth $1,203,048 million received through a federal grant for Local Roads and Community Infrastructure.
More funding for the project will be sought from both state and federal governments.
Upgrading the pools is estimated to cost between $1 million and $1.5m. Building three new pools and ancillary infrastructure will cost between $4m and $5m.
Meanwhile, the repair and upgrade of the 33-metre concrete pool may be tricky as "it is difficult to determine or estimate the extent of the works and costs required to fix the current leak...or meet standards until preliminary works can be undertaken."
The effect of the repairs on the pool's structural integrity can't be determined at an early stage. This is further complicated because the pool is 33 metres long with a join at 25 metres, council report states.
"The building of the pool provides an opportunity to not only resolve ongoing issues with the current (facility) and meet current standards but to provide a better facility with a broader range of much-needed amenities," the report states.
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