40,000 give aquatic centre glowing endorsement

With the one year anniversary of the Lockyer Valley Sports and Aquatic Centre approaching, new figures have shown that the public has given the facility a major tick of approval.

More than 40,000 members of the community walked through the gates in 2015, an overwhelming response according to Mayor Steve Jones.

We've been blown away by just how successful it has been so far, Mayor Jones said.

The feedback from the community has been really positive and we also seeing a lot of visitors from neighbouring regions coming here to use the facility.

The next step will be to look at stage two of the development which will include a children's play area.

This has been on the drawing board since the very beginning and we will now begin having discussions about the Budget to deliver an extension to the facility.

In its first year of operation the centre had 7000 swim school lessons as well as having 12 schools use the pool.

The swim school had 700 members swimming in one week and the team is aiming to have 1000 in 2016.

It's pleasing we have seen so many people using the facility with the Gatton Swimming Club enjoying its highest number of participation numbers ever with more than 100 members, Mayor Jones said.

The electronic scoreboard is the only one of its kind on the Darling Downs which enables us to attract more swimming carnivals, bringing more people into the region.

We have also been able to provide a facility for the disabled, the elderly and the injured with set hours for hydrotherapy available to the public.

Groups such as Regis, ANUHA and physiotherapists have been able to take advantage of the technology available at the new facility which is something that just wasn't possible at the old pool.

With stage two planning underway Mayor Jones said the management team at the Lockyer Valley Sports and Aquatic Centre would continue to look at ways of improving the experience for members of the public.

The management team is focused on providing an outstanding service to the community and recently purchased a 15m inflatable to entertain kids and this is available on Sundays, Mayor Jones said.

With the warm weather hanging about, I encourage everyone to take a dip in the pool and cool themselves off.