A short-term fix for Epping Pool has been approved, allowing the centre to reopen for the next ten years.
The City of Parramatta voted in early December to upgrade the facility in a limited capacity. After estimations of the $26 million budget doubling to fully upgrade the centre, Council have resolved to allocate $12 million of state government funds to bring the pool to an operational state while other alternatives are explored. Updating the pool for a temporary reopening will cost around $13.5 million.
Since April 2024, The Epping Aquatic Centre has been closed. Reports in 2015 found the pool to be leaking 15,000 litres of water daily and costing over $300,000 yearly in maintenance.
After considering a range of recommendations, Council is moving forward with a detailed feasibility study for a new aquatic centre and indoor recreation facility at either West Epping Park and Cox Park, and a community hub at Rawson Street car park.
Reopening Dence Park and the pool is a small win for the community, though does not meet the overall desires of some residents.
Save Epping Pool, a community advocacy group formed to lobby local government to keep the facility at its current location, have vocally been championing the pool for a decade.
‘Our position has always been that we want the full refurbishment of the pool. It is a 60 year old structure that has had very little investment but is much loved,’ said the advocacy group in a social media statement. ‘We want, and need, this facility ASAP and urge council to shorten the time line to have it open again by summer 2026 (not into 2027). The time for action is now.’
Partial reopening is slated for 2027 while the City of Parramatta investigates other options for the aquatic future of Epping.
