Getting in the swim of things

BYRON Bay Memorial War Swimming Pool has reopened with a bang, with hundreds of kids doing their nippers proficiency tests there at the weekend.

Fishheads director Ralph Mamone, who manages the pool, said the warm weather had led to the facility being busy since it reopened on September 16.

“The water’s been 22C, so it’s pretty warm,” he said.

“We had about 300 nippers do their swim proficiency here on Saturday, and in the next couple of months we have most of the major schools in the area coming here for their swimming carnivals.

“Aqua aerobics has started again and the swim club and learn to swim classes are starting in a couple of weeks.”

Mr Mamone said a new pump shed has been installed and a new vacuum to clean the pool has been purchased.

“It should be looking spick and span from now on,” he said.

But Mr Mamone is hopeful of major upgrades at the pool in the coming years, including another 25-metre heated pool, barbecue facilities and more shading.

“I’d like to see a large spa and a large ice bath, which is very therapeutic in this day and age,” he said.

The pool closes over winter each year as it is not financially viable to operate year-round, Mr Mamone said.

“It’s a case of supply and demand,” he said.

“Council needs to rationalise its resources to make it equitable for everybody.

“We get 80,000 people a year come to the pool, but in winter we only get the die-hard swimmers, and the costs to heat the facility can be prohibitive.

“The prices are coming down though so hopefully we can keep revisiting it and we may get to the point where we can open the facility year-round.”