Community members are encouraged to share their thoughts about the Port Macquarie aquatic facility layout design.
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The aquatic centre project is progressing to the community consultation phase with the facility layout design to go on public exhibition to seek feedback for a minimum of 28 days.
The preferred facility option includes an outdoor 50-metre pool, indoor program pool, outdoor water play, outdoor slides, cafe, gym/fitness area, program rooms and outdoor recreation areas for mixed use.
The aquatic facility planning was discussed at Port Macquarie-Hastings Council's meeting on Wednesday (May 19).
Cr Rob Turner said the aquatic facility was the council's highest non-road strategic infrastructure project.
He said the council needed to keep the project moving forward, because as time went by, the risk of some kind of failure to the existing pool got higher and higher.
"Not only that, it doesn't really cater to the capacity that the community requires," Cr Turner said.
Mayor Peta Pinson stressed the importance of listening to the community and getting feedback.
She said there were some "really wow" additions that our community could look forward to.
"I think we also need to remember that a poor man pays twice, so if we are going to cheapen this project, then we will be outgrowing it in a short space of time," Cr Pinson said.
"We need to think about our growing community and we need to think about this facility really catering for that growing community, and the influx of our kids that live here and that come to visit here, and also the kids at heart too."
Deputy mayor Lisa Intemann congratulated the staff on the process they had undertaken and also the consultant Co-op Studios.
"We have three good options to go to the community," she said.
The council engaged Co-op Studios to undertake a demand analysis, options assessment, concept design, business case and development application.
A report is due back to the July 2021 council meeting to outline community feedback provided during the public exhibition period.
The concept design phase, with any amendments identified, comes after the community consultation.
Macquarie Park in Gordon Street is the preferred site for a new aquatic centre.
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