Aquatic Centre to have climb-on inflatables installed to increase play fun

Orange City Council has spent $33,000 on the inflatables which include a 21-metre long obstacle course called 'Crazy Race' in the 50-metre pool and a six-metre 'Zoom-Extreme' slide.

It will let people slide from the five-metre high middle level platform of the diving tower into the diving pool.

Two giant inflatable tubes will be set up in the indoor 25-metre pool.

Pool users will have to pay extra to use the equipment but the fee is yet to be set.

Mayor Cr Reg Kidd said he expected they would be a hit.

"We realise with the drought and constant warm days, we needed to entertain pool customers," he said.

Council's sport and recreation committee chair Cr Jason Hamling said they would not hamper lap swimmers or water polo.

"These new installations aren't permanent and can be uninstalled quickly and easily," he said.

Council spokesman Nick Redmond said the centre had been popular over Christmas.

"The numbers are still being tallied but on the three days immediately after Boxing Day more than 1000 people came through the turnstiles each day. It's good to see young families making use of the indoor pool when the weather is hot," he said.