POOL PLANS: Orange Aquatic Centre’s Lochy Heather putting the final preparations in place for the opening of the outdoor pool. Photo: JUDE KEOGH 1019pool3
Maintenance, painting of the grandstand and the installation of a new gas-powered water heater is finished and now the 50-metre outdoor pool at the Orange Aquatic Centre could be opened for the summer season as early as tomorrow.
When the outdoor pool is up and running, one of the biggest user groups, school students, will be able to take advantage of a reduced $2 ticket price when learning to swim with their school.
Originally, students were slated to pay $3.60 each to swim with school groups, a 10 per cent discount on the normal $4 entry. But councillors unanimously agreed to reduce the group ticket price further to $2.
Council spokesman Nick Redmond said staff were working to heat the outdoor pool from 18 degrees, as of Friday afternoon, to 27 degrees before it was opened.
“The indoor pool will definitely be open and there’s a good chance the 50-metre pool will be open this Sunday. At the latest it will be Monday but we’re hoping for Sunday if we get the weather,” he said.
Mr Redmond said the diving pool would be opened next week after painting was finished.
“It was a mish-mash of colours, this will make it more consistent. People will also see some changes to the gardens.”
The Aquatic Centre is open from 6am to 6pm today and every weekday and from 8am to 6pm on Sundays and public holidays.
clare.colley@fairfaxmedia.com.au
