ROCKDALE residents were buoyant on Saturday, July 25, as they watched the first sod being turned for Rockdale City Aquatic Centre.
The new centre, on the former Bexley pool site, was a win for residents who spent months rallying to see the project begin.
The ageing pool was closed in May last year, with construction on the new centre expected to start in September and be completed by May 2016.
However, that was put in doubt after the Liberals and independent councillor Michael Nagi failed to attend at least six council meetings, including a confidential session on the pool tender.
Cr Nagi said serious health problems had stopped him attending.
Angry residents, who have been without a pool for more than 12 months, staged a rally in December to call for public attention to the problem.
Councillors voted last December to go ahead with the project but with a $24 million price tag, down from $30million.
The centre will have a 50-metre outdoor pool, a 25-metre indoor combined learn-to-swim and competition pool, an outdoor children’s splash pad, kiosk, creche and community room.
It is expected to open in 2017.
Rockdale mayor Shane O’Brien helped turn the first sod.
Councillors Mark Hanna, Liz Barlow, Andrew Tsounis, Joe Awada and James Macdonald helped Cr O’Brien turn the first sod.
Resident Sally Edsall, who started an online petition to garner support for the new pool, said the mood on Saturday was buoyant.
‘‘There was a lot of optimism finally that at last we’re seeing the project get up off the ground,’’ she said.
‘‘I have arthritis and I can’t tell you how happy I am to have a community facility like this.
‘‘I don’t think it would have happened if the community hadn’t gotten behind it.’’
Are you looking forward to the new Rockdale City Aquatic Centre?
