An 'ideas wall' has been set up for Lambton pool users to share their views on the delivery of an indoor public pool at the swim centre.
Lambton Park War Memorial Swimming Centre reopened for the 2024/25 season on August 19 and an ideas wall was set up during the winter break for users to have their say on a proposed indoor facility.
A proposal for a $10 million, 25-metre indoor pool at Lambton was included in Bluefit's accepted tender to run Newcastle's five public swimming pools for seven years with two possible seven year extensions.
Bluefit said it would commit $5 million to the Lambton proposal, which would include a gym, new kiosk and new changerooms.
It would be Newcastle's first indoor public pool.
A workshop will be held at Lambton pool from 11am to 4pm on August 29. Users can post their thoughts on the ideas wall until October 20. Community members can also have their say online via City of Newcastle's website.
Wallsend, Mayfield, Stockton and Beresfield pools will reopen at the beginning of the September school holidays.
A year-round pool at Lambton was listed as a priority in City of Newcastle's Inland Pools Strategy 2043.
The strategy also mentions the possibility of a state-of-the-art, year-round aquatic centre at the NSW government's sports and entertainment precinct in Broadmeadow known as Hunter Park.
However the state government has not committed to such a facility, and the council's strategy considers a future both with and without a new aquatic centre at Broadmeadow.
Lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes said it was important to hear from a variety of community members on their aspirations for an indoor pool at Lambton.
"Swimming and aquatic recreation are intrinsic to our community's way of life," she said. "The addition of a year-round pool facility at Lambton Park War Memorial Swimming Centre will ensure we can enhance our learn-to-swim programming and continue improving water safety across our region.
"I look forward to hearing from our community on how they think this new facility could look and feel, and what features it might include."
City of Newcastle's pools experienced their busiest season in almost 30 years during 2023/24, attracting around 450,000 visitors.
Maintenance has been completed across the five public pools during the winter closure to prepare for the return of swimmers, including safety upgrades, re-painting, and maintenance of pool tiles and promenades.
Almost $1.5 million has been invested into new heat pumps and solar matting at Mayfield and Wallsend pools.
Cr Nelmes said the heating upgrades would help regulate the water temperature at the two pools during the cooler months of the swimming season.
An additional project to replace the existing solar heating system at Beresfield pool will be undertaken next year as part of a $220,000 grant received from the NSW government's Local Small Commitments Allocation program.
