Sawtell Pool Upgrade Design Concepts

Consultation Closed

Pool Redevelopment Deferred
Due to tight grant deadlines 31 December 2023, this is an unachievable timeframe for the City to deliver the project. The complexes will be revisited in 2023-2024 financial year.

We are working fast to reopen both existing pools later this year following some required maintenance and staff recruitment.

Project Overview

Detailed concept designs for the upgrade of Sawtell swimming pool are now presented to the community, following extensive community engagement to inform the Strategy for Sawtell and Woolgoolga Swimming Pools, which was adopted by Coffs Harbour City Council on 12 September 2019.

Both the pools Strategy and the detailed concept designs take into account comprehensive community engagement exercises to determine the community's current and predicted usage and needs.

Separate Have Your Say project pages with relevant concepts are presented for each of the two pools. This page presents the detailed concept plans for Sawtell. Please refer to the Images and Documents sections of this web-page to view the concepts and Strategy, or follow the links to the video.

Why upgrade the Sawtell and Woolgoolga Pools?

Sawtell and Woolgoolga Pools are ageing assets and require significant work to either upgrade or refurbish them to current standards and meet community expectations. Each pool facility consists of a 25 metre, five lane, concrete, in-ground structure with associated electric pumps, piping, filtration equipment and backwash system. Each complex also has a toddlers’ pool and a heated, above-ground pool for learn to swim classes

Both complexes were commissioned around 1979-1981, making them approximately 37 years old.

Recognising that aquatic recreational activities have evolved over time, the pools Strategy was developed to ensure that our future provision of pools and the services offered at Sawtell and Woolgoolga address current and future aquatic recreational needs. Council is focused on providing attractive and popular pools for the community and visitors.

What is Proposed for Sawtell Swimming Pool upgrade?

A new eight-lane, plus accessible lane 25-metre main pool, a new 10-metre x 8-metre learn-to-swim pool, multi-function building, splash zone for the kids, new amenities, improved accessibility and many more inclusions are among the great features of this complex.

Check out the video for highlights of the improvements, then please refer to the Documents Section for the Sawtell Swimming Pool Complex Upgrade Summary of Improvements.

Sawtell Swimming Pool is to be replaced with the following:

• Main pool will be 25 metres long, with eight lanes, ranging in depth from 1.2 metres to 1.65 metres (Detailed to be FINA compliant)., plus an additional lane providing all accessible ramp access, steps and pool ladders to suit a range of abilities.
• Retractable shading over the main pool.
• 10m x 8m learn to swim pool which will be heated and have an access hoist to suit a range of user abilities
• Splash pad of about 200 square metres featuring slide, jets and tipping buckets catering for a range of ages and abilities.
• Modern building including:

• Large undercover multifunctional space
• New change facilities, toilets and showers for a range of abilities
• Office
• Café/ Kiosk
• First Aid room
• Equipment store and cleaners’ cupboard
• Swim club room
• Plant room

• Electricity generation from roof-mounted photovoltaic panels providing a portion of sites power requirements.
• Efficient heat pumps for pool heating.
• Pool blankets to retain heat and reduce evaporation overnight.
• Underground rainwater harvesting tanks for pool water top up.
• All pools will utilise ultrafine filtration for improved water quality.
• Terrace seating adjacent to the 25m Pool.
• Grassed areas will be provided around the aquatic components.
• Picnic shelter and BBQ will be provided.
• Site lighting to facilitate night time use.