Representatives from the Gwydir Shire Council met members of the Glen Innes Severn Council last week at the local pool to get a personal tour.

The councillors and directors from both councils discussed how Glen Innes faced the challenge of making an old aquatic centre new again within a strict budget.

Glen Innes Severn Council mayor Steve Toms said he was pleased to show off our aquatic centre and help a neighbouring council.

“This delegation from the Gwydir council has realised they need to upgrade their pool and it is pleasing that they see ours as something to aspire to,” he said.

“This is a wonderful upgrade we’ve had here, the pool is full of kids and families enjoying it and both sections of the pool are always in use which highlights how good it is.

“It is good that we are seen as a model to follow particularly with rural councils that don’t have a lot of money to play with because trying to compromise between ageing pools and upgrading them into something worthwhile is a challenge that I think we have met.”

Glen Innes Severn Council General manager Hein Basson said what would most interest Gwydir council was the cost effectiveness of the local pool upgrade.

Gwydir Shire Councillor Tiffany Galvin said she became interested in following Glen Innes’ lead after she attended a swimming carnival with her children at the aquatic centre.

“I came over for the Glen Innes swimming carnival and I was very impressed by the aquatic centre,” she said.

“Our pool at Bingara is in need of an upgrade and I feel if we could get a grant and upgrade ours to something like Glen Innes has got, then it would entice more people to use it.

“The learn to swim classes and the adults who use the pool for aquafit classes, for example, would benefit greatly from an upgrade.”

Cr Galvin said the delegation was impressed by how well the Glen Innes aquatic centre was run.