City of Parramatta has welcomed the State Government’s commitment to investigate locating a new aquatic centre on the site of the former Golf Course in Parramatta Park.

The State Government has confirmed the Parramatta War Memorial Swimming Centre will be closed to make way for the $350 million Parramatta Stadium redevelopment.

“Council has been working closely with the State Government to identify a new site for an aquatic centre near the heart of the CBD, which will service the immediate Parramatta area and beyond. While losing a much loved community asset, the building of a new centre presents an opportunity to design a swimming facility for the future,” City of Parramatta Administrator Amanda Chadwick said.

“The former golf course site, which is situated on Parramatta Park Trust land, will now be the subject of a State Government feasibility study and masterplan to determine its suitability and to provide greater clarity about the costs of developing the facility.

“Selecting a site for the new aquatic centre is an important first step in the process. Council will now continue to work with the State Government to explore funding options to ensure the vision for the swimming facility is realised.

“The pool is a very popular community asset with an average of 160,000 visitations per year. It has been serving the community since it opened in 1959 and we understand that many people have fond memories of the pool.

“Interim arrangements are being developed to reduce the inconveniences that we know the pool patrons, including the Parramatta Memorial Swimming Club, will experience. We will do what we can to help ensure important social, health and swim safety services continue during the construction period.

“We are working with the Government to investigate and negotiate arrangements for swim school users and other swimmers to access other facilities in the area.

“There will be short-term inconveniences for pool users, which we regret. However, in time Parramatta will be home to a world-class sports stadium and a modern aquatic facility.”

Council currently leases the land that the Parramatta Swimming Centre occupies from the Parramatta Park Trust on a month-by-month basis.

The State Government has indicated that the current Centre will be able to remain open throughout the 2016/17 summer season until the end of March 2017.