Tamworth’s swimming sensations will benefit from a landmark $15 million investment by the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s Centre of Excellence Fund to build a regionally significant centre of excellence.

The Northern Inland Aquatic, Education and Health Centre of Excellence will integrate a state of the art, modern aquatic facility that includes a ten lane 51.5m pool with boom and floating floor, learn to swim pool, water play area, amenities and a creche.

Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson said the facility will be an opportunity to support our best and brightest homegrown sporting talent right here in Tamworth.

“There’s no doubt about it, Tamworth needs an indoor pool to service our athletes and the community, ensuring we have access to a public indoor swimming pool all year around,” Mr Anderson said.

“This facility will be home to the Olympic, Paralympic and professional sporting stars of tomorrow, taking them from their very first swimming lesson, all the way to the gold-medal.

“It will be a truly unique facility for regional NSW, and will be an outstanding community asset for everyone from Olympic hopefuls through to young children learning to swim.”

The centre will also include administration and sports offices, medical consultation rooms, functional and rehabilitation gymnasium, a sport science lab, technologically advanced teaching spaces for university students, and lounge areas.

Tamworth Region Mayor Russell Webb said it’s great news that our local State Member and the NSW Government have chosen to support Council’s funding application for the Tamworth Regional Aquatic Centre and Northern Inland Centre of Sport and Health within the Tamworth Sport and Entertainment Precinct.

“This very exciting project will give us a modern year-round aquatics facility, and will provide a diverse range of services in one location,” he said.

“Our Council has been talking about this type of facility catering for all ages and all types of water activities for more than 20 years.”

Minister for Sport Alister Henkens said the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government has invested over $1 billion for community sport facilities since 2017.

“Programs like the Centre of Excellence Fund are providing a construction boom across NSW, supporting thousands of regional jobs and helping boost our economy,” Mr Henskens said.

“Communities right across our great state have benefitted from our Government’s unprecedented investment in sport infrastructure and this facility in Tamworth is another example of that.”

The NSW Government’s Centre of Excellence Fund made grants of between $5 million and $15 million available. For more information, visit: https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/grants/centre-of-excellence-fund