Operation of the Tea Gardens swimming pool will be managed by YMCA for the 2021/22 season, allowing it to reopen as a supervised swim centre in time for summer.
The move comes as a result of last week's Council meeting, where it was acknowledged that continuing to operate the pool under the existing model would see it closed to the general public for a second consecutive swim season.
"With YMCA providing a supervised service at Tea Gardens, as it currently does in Taree, Forster and Wingham, we can open the doors to the general public under the state's current health orders", explained Dan Aldridge, MidCoast Council's Executive Manager of Community Spaces. "This is a positive step forward for the Tea Gardens community as we head into the hotter weather".
The pool is currently open only to user groups who have their own insurance and COVID safety plan, based on a booking system with MidCoast Council. Reopening to the general public under YMCA supervision is scheduled to take place in early December, but will be confirmed as details of the contractual agreement with YMCA are finalised.
"Once opened, like with all our facilities, visitors will be required to follow current health orders including checking-in using the Service NSW app", Dan said.
Other YMCA-operated pools in the region are also getting ready to open their doors for summer, with pools in Taree's Manning Aquatic Leisure Centre and Forster 's Great Lakes Aquatic and Leisure Centre reopening next Monday 4 October. The Wingham Memorial Swimming Pool will reopen on Monday 18 October, allowing repairs to damage caused by flooding earlier this year to be completed.
Public swimming pools in other areas of the MidCoast region which are unsupervised will not reopen for general attendance, but will be available from Saturday 2 October in most cases to organised swim groups who make a booking directly with Council, demonstrating they have insurance and an approved COVID safety plan in place. These include pools in Bulahdelah, Nabiac and Stroud. Krambach pool will remain closed at this point in time.
