MidCoast Council remains committed to doing all it can to secure funding to rebuild the Wingham Memorial Pool, which was irreparably damaged during the May 2025 one in 500 year flood event.
An independent engineering assessment has confirmed the pool floor was severely cracked and wall and floor slabs were separated as a result of the ground movement during the flood. This structural movement has also caused significant damage to the water reticulation infrastructure located in the base of the pool.
Council has been calling for funding to replace the pool as part of the ongoing advocacy to State and Federal Governments for money to repair public spaces damaged during the flood.
Council's Executive Manager of Public Spaces, Liam Bulley, said Council was aware of the response a recent community petition received from The Hom Steve Kamper MP, Minister for Sport that indicated funding was not available for the rebuild of the pool.
"We are aware of that response and want to assure the community we are continuing to pursue all avenues for funding. We are actively lobbying the State Government to secure funding to replace the pool. The General Manager and Mayor have been lobbying Members of Parliament and we have also been actively pursuing funding from flood recovery programs run by the Reconstruction Authority," Mr Bulley said.
Council understands the natural disaster recovery application that has been made to the Reconstruction Authority seeking funding for the pool replacement has been forwarded to the Federal Government for determination.
MidCoast Council is firmly committed to replacing the pool, Mr Bulley said, pointing to the draft Aquatic Strategy that was on public exhibition during the first part of the year.
This strategy guides the improvement and maintenance of Council's swimming pools for the next 10 years.
"In that strategy, which will go to the April 29 Council meeting for endorsement, we have been very clear that we support the replacement of the pool, but do need it to be funded by other levels of Government."
Mr Bulley said that attendance figures at the pool during the last swim season it was operating, 2024-25, show it is a valued part of the community's public infrastructure.
"Almost 16,000 visits were made to the pool during the swim season, making it our fourth most used pool, behind Forster, Taree and Gloucester."
Prior to being flood-damaged, Wingham Pool cost in the order of $220,000 per year to operate and maintain, with pools across the MidCoast accounting for $3 million of Council's annual budget.
While the total cost of a new pool is not yet known, as detailed designs will need to be undertaken when funding is secured, it is expected to be in the order of $15 million.
Council also continues to lobby for funding to repair other community spaces damaged by the flood, including the Taree foreshore revetment wall which is in need of reconstruction.
