New pool popular

 • Local lifeguards of the Scottsdale Aquatic Centre preparing for the grand opening. 

By Taylor Clyne,
December 08, 2021

More than 600 locals flooded the gates of the Scottsdale Aquatic Centre on Saturday eager to make a splash in the spiffy new pool and wet play area that was officially opened by Premier Peter Gutwein earlier that week.

Mr Gutwein said without a doubt the facility was the best regional aquatic centre in the state with the largest outdoor water playground.

“The conversation for this development started in 2015 with a vision to create something really special here in this region,” he said.

“The fact that it will be free entry for not only the people that live here, but everyone will really increase activity and become a real tourism draw card for the region too.”

The $7 million redevelopment was thanks to a $3 million election commitment from the state government and $4 million from Council’s cash reserves.

Mayor Greg Howard said the new pool was an investment into the health, well being, and amenities of the residents of Dorset and visitors to the area.

“It’s a grand plan and it’s taken a while to come together.

“As you can see it’s a magnificent complex, we have a couple of people primarily to thank for that, one of them is Peter Clayton, who is our project manager who has delivered it on time and on budget,” he said. 

“Also, to Fairbrother’s for their attention to detail, diligence, and preparedness to work in difficult conditions over a couple of wet winters and wet springs – we’ve seen them here on the weekends, public holidays and after hours just trying to get it done.

“We promised the public that they would only miss one summer of swimming, and we’ve delivered on that.”

The new pool has a full-scale competition lap pool, a learn to swim pool, a paddling pool, and the wet play area, which adds a little something special to make the space a genuine tourism attraction.

“One of the best things is it still won’t cost you a single thing to come to the pool, we are one of the few pools in the state that doesn’t charge people to visit,” Mayor Howard said. 

“When we first introduced that we went from 5000 visitors to 14,000 in one year.

“That shows there is a large demographic who couldn’t afford to use the facility, so now they can.

“A good thing also is there is disabled access into all the pools, and we will be running programs for the elderly and disabled at separate times to the general public.

“Over the years the North-East has produced some really talented swimmers many of whom have represented the state, now they have a facility where they can train and progress their skills without having to leave.” 

The new aquatic centre’s opening times are on this page.