Kylie AdorantiParramatta Advertiser
PARRAMATTA pool will be moved from its O’Connell St site to make way for the new $300 million stadium.
A design brief put together by PricewaterhouseCoopers for the 30,000-seat Parramatta Stadium shows the Parramatta War Memorial Swimming Centre will need to be demolished in order to fit the development.
State Sport Minister Stuart Ayres briefed Parramatta Council on the design brief’s findings this afternoon (Tuesday).
Parramatta Lord Mayor Paul Garrard said he would prefer the pool stayed at its current location but would work with the government to find an alternative site.
“If the pool has to go, well I hope that the minister has a plan and we want to work with them,” Cr Garrard said.
“The golf club site does leave a lot of options open for future use but the zoning on that land will need to be changed. That’s an issue that will need to be looked at.”
When asked whether the government should pay for the pool’s relocation costs, Cr Garrard said “of course.”
“I think if they take the pool away then there needs to be compensation.”
He said construction of new swimming facilities started from about $25 million.
“At the end of the day I expect the government to be very responsive to the community’s requirements and to formally discuss our concerns,” he said.
The pool received a $7.8 million upgrade in 2007. The refurbishment included new filtration systems for four pools and waterslides, a new entrance, new change rooms, kiosk and program room, major repairs to the 50m pool, waterslide repairs and bench seating for 460 spectators.
The centre was opened in 1957.
Parramatta state Liberal MP Geoff Lee said he would like to see a new pool constructed on O’Connell St.
“My view is, whatever happens, however it is funded, we should get a world-class facility,” Mr Lee said.
“I’d like to make the whole of O’Connell St a sporting precinct.
“This is an opportunity to work with council. It is just the start of the process.”
Mr Lee said the design brief was not yet completed and was unable to say whether the government would help the council pay for the pool.
“I will push the State Government to give as much as it can to Parramatta.”
