Blacktown Aquatic Centre is set for the biggest revamp in its 64-year history with new swimming pools for children and adults to be part of a premier facility for Western Sydney.
Blacktown City Council will provide a new indoor 50m pool, a new indoor 25m learn to swim pool and upgrade the outdoor 50m pool as part of wide-ranging improvements.
The revamp will also include:
- an extended splashpad that lets small children safely enjoy water play
- a new café, foyer and reception
- the café better positioned to serve pool patrons and people in the RSL War Memorial Garden
- upgraded fitness rooms and amenities
- inclusive amenities and changerooms
- landscape improvements, including the carpark.
The revamp will ensure Blacktown Aquatic Centre is one of the top swimming destinations in Western Sydney and provides more opportunities for a booming population.
The vision will become reality after Council successfully gained $77.19 million funding from the NSW Government's Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants program.
Blacktown City Mayor Brad Bunting said people in Western Sydney depended on public pools to learn to swim and exercise, and deserved top rate facilities.
"We want to encourage people to learn to swim and enjoy the water close to home, and we can do that by providing a first class venue," he said.
"Blacktown Aquatic Centre is the busiest of Council's five swimming venues so we want to make sure that when people come here there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy."
The upgraded centre will increase capacity from 2,000 learn to swim students per week to 5,000.
The centre caters to swimming clubs, schools, learn to swim classes, aqua aerobics, gym users and more.
Member for Blacktown Stephen Bali said the NSW Government's Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants and targeted federal and state grants had provided unprecedented record investment into councils like Blacktown City to deliver new or upgraded infrastructure.
"In this case, ageing aquatic infrastructure will be upgraded to provide opportunities for the next generation of champions, as well as delivering community benefits from toddlers' learn to swim classes through to seniors aqua zumba classes."
Zoe Jenkins from Urakawa Jenkins Architecture was proud to be part of the effort.
"The transformation of Blacktown Aquatic Centre is driven by a vision to create not just a world-class facility, but a vibrant heart for the community," she said.
"We are committed to delivering a contemporary aquatic centre that caters to the diverse needs of Blacktown, providing exceptional spaces for learning, playing, training, competing and relaxation."
Blacktown Aquatic Centre (then known as Blacktown War Memorial Swimming Pool) opened in 1961 and has served generations of community members since.
An 18-year-old Kieran Perkins broke the 800m freestyle world record at the venue at the NSW swimming titles in 1992.
The centre was a training venue for athletes preparing for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
In recent times, it was home to Paralympic medallists Tim Hodge and Chloe Osborn.
Blacktown Swim Club President Vaughan Irwin was looking forward to the plans becoming reality.
"The upgrade of Blacktown Aquatic Centre will provide more opportunities for our swimmers to reach their potential," he said.
"Our club provides for swimmers of a range of abilities and it's great to see they will be catered for with these plans too."
Blacktown Masters Swimming Club President Mark Macdonald was excited by the possibilities.
"Blacktown Aquatic Centre will be the ideal venue to host major carnivals and encourage more people here to participate," he said.
"The upgrade will also provide much-needed lane space for our members, who share the pool with swimmers of all abilities."
Community consultation has been at the forefront of planning. Council has collected the views of centre visitors and the broader community to inform the design. The community will have more opportunities to do so at Blacktown Aquatic Centre in future.
Work is anticipated to begin in 2026 and will take about 18 months.
It is an exciting time for the swimming community in Blacktown City. Mayor Bunting recently announced Mount Druitt Swimming Centre will receive the biggest upgrade in its 50-year history including the addition of an indoor learn-to-swim pool.
The $40.6 million Mount Druitt upgrade is also funded by the NSW Government's Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants program.
