Geraldton Aquarena’s 50m outdoor pool to finally be reopened after more than two years

It’s finally time to dive into Geraldton Aquarena’s new and improved 50m outdoor pool, which will be opened on Friday after setbacks saw the project timeline blow out to more than two years.

City of Greater Geraldton representatives, Federal Durack MP Melissa Price, Geraldton MLA Lara Dalton, contractors and local user groups will be on hand for the opening on Friday morning, before the public is open to the public from 10.30am.

The $6.1 million project was jointly funded, with the State Government’s Community Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund contributing $750,000 towards the works.

The 50-year-old Olympic sized pool had reached the end of its lifespan and a major upgrade to extend its use for another 20 years began in September 2021.

However, in early 2022 the project was suspended when Cyclone Charlotte caused cracking damage to the pool floor. At that stage, 70 per cent of the project had been completed.

The City has since been in talks with insurers, but rather than waiting for the claim to be resolved the council decided in November last year to proceed with the repairs, which took almost a year.

The upgrade included the replacement of the pool’s concrete walls that had deteriorated, the installation of disability access ramps and stairs, the complete retiling of the pool and greatly needed infrastructure upgrades including a new water treatment plant, drainage and hydraulic systems.

After Geraldton locals went without an outdoor public pool last summer, this summer is set to be a lot more enjoyable.