The replacement pool and facilities at the John Houston Memorial Swimming Pool will be constructed free of debt to Council and at minimal cost to ratepayers.

The $8.067 million project received a further boost of $4.191 million last week following Council’s successful funding application under Round 2 of the Growing Regions Program.

Heating options for two of the replacement pools at the John Houston Memorial Swimming Pool are currently being investigated by the contractor, ELM Aquatics.

Works are due to commence late next month, with the pool closing on February 24, to be completed for re-opening late November 2025.

General Manager, David Webb said the replacement project includes three new pools, filtration equipment, solar heating, renewable energy supply, recreational facilities and landscaping.

A suggestion by Cr Lionel Garner to again patch up Hay swimming pool rather than replacing the three pools was quickly dismissed by Council.

“We can’t do it,” General Manager David Webb said.

“The pool cannot be patched up any more. It leaks and is ready for a catastrophic failure any time.

There will be no further band-aid remedies for Hay’s 60-year-old John Houston Memorial Pool.

Hay is to get a new swimming pool after Council made the difficult decision last week to borrow up to $4 million.

The alternative was coping with a leaking pool and handing back the $3 million received under the State Government’s Multi-Sport Community Facility Fund for pool replacement.

Two young boys, Jae Nisbet (8) and Nash Payne (11) and life guard, Kelly Rutledge-Robson have been hailed Hay’s true heroes when their quick action prevented a teen from drowning on New Year’s Day.

The incident occurred early afternoon at the John Houston Memorial Swimming Pool when the victim, known to bystanders only as Jack, suffered what is believed to be a “shallow water blackout” which is caused while holding breath underwater.

A Coalition Government pre-election promise of $2

million towards the construction of a new pool for Hay

has been lost after the Australian Labor Party won the

2022 election with 73 seats against 54 for the Liberal

National Party on Saturday.