Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall says the swim centre at Glen Innes would allow the aquatic complex to upgrade their facilities.

“The Glen Innes pool had an extensive rebuild last year and this $19,462 will allow the centre to put in some new shade shelters that will replace five or six old shade trees that were removed but also add to the existing two old shelters that have been there for years,” Mr Marshall said.

“The club is negotiating at the moment to see if they can get better value and put in up to four new colourbond shelters on concrete bases in some strategic places around the grounds.

“The club is hoping they might be able to get one six-by-four metre shelter as well as up to three other four-by-four metre structures from a supplier locally.”

Club director and local swimming stalwart Warwick Twigg welcomed the funding grant and said it would add considerably to the sun safety code, especially for younger swimmers but generally for all pool users.

“We would hope that we can them in place before the end of the season, before March,” Mr Twigg said.

Mr Marshall said the swim centre is the only public pool in Glen Innes and during the season can get up to 400 users on a ‘hot’ day.

The old and ancient 33 metre pool was re-configured last year to provide a six lane 25 metre pool with an adjoining 12 metre teaching pool at the shallow end – effectively giving users two pools that can be used at the same time.

A third pool provides for the babies and the three pools are filtered and heated by solar and gas.

Mr Marshall delivered news of the grant application success to the club this week and said the funding came from the Community Building Partnership Program, a State Government initiative to fund new infrastructure projects in local areas.

“This grant is aimed at increasing the social, environmental and recreational facilities and is a grassroots grant to help community clubs improve what they’re offering to local users,” Mr Marshall said.