City turns up the heat on inland pool upgrades

Swimmers will be able to dip more than just a toe in the water during the cooler months of the swimming season with water heating upgrades planned for Wallsend and Mayfield Swimming Centres.

Thirty kilowatts of rooftop solar panels and heat pumps will be installed at both Wallsend and Mayfield pools to regulate pool water temperatures to around 25 degrees.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said City of Newcastle is committed to maintaining and investing in our local swimming pools to ensure the community members, sporting clubs and visitors can continue to enjoy the highly valued recreational facilities each year.

"Newcastle’s aquatic facilities play an important role in our community and City of Newcastle is committed to investing in quality upgrades to our local pools," Cr Nelmes said.

"Our inland swimming centres are utilised 30 weeks per year, from the start of the September school holidays through to the end of the April school holidays, and enhance the lives of community members, sporting clubs and visitors that enjoy our facilities for sporting and leisure, active living and social connection."

Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said City of Newcastle is committed to using renewable energy for its inland pool operations, working to achieve net zero emissions by 2030 as part of the City's adopted Climate Action Plan.

"Currently, the pool heating systems at Wallsend and Mayfield Swimming Centres are ageing and ineffective, which impacts the way patrons utilise our facilities throughout the season," Cr Clausen said.

"City of Newcastle is investing $400,000 in pool heating upgrades as part of projects approved in this year’s budget. Rooftop solar panels generate electricity, which support the power needs of the heat pump, as well as supply additional power to the facility's energy needs, with any excess energy returning back to the grid."

The installation of rooftop solar panels and heat pumps at Wallsend and Mayfield Swimming Centres are scheduled for completion before they reopen in September.

City of Newcastle remains committed to providing high quality aquatic facilities at Lambton, Wallsend, Beresfield, Mayfield and Stockton. The City continues to advocate to the NSW Government and Opposition for funding for a year-round aquatic facility, requesting that both sides of Government commit funding to match the significant pool announcements made elsewhere in NSW in recent weeks.