Community & Business
19 September, 2023
Millmerran's cool new pool
The consensus among those who attended the re-opening of the Millmerran Aquatic Centre last Friday was that Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) had well and truly delivered.
After being closed for close to two years due to renovations, the pool was officially opened by Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald.
Mayor McDonald was joined by all ten Toowoomba Region Councillors.
TRC Environment and Community Portfolio Chair Cr James O’Shea served as M.C. for the official proceedings, watched by close to one hundred people.
Recently retired Mayor Paul Antonio was also in attendance.
Several members of the Millmerran Commerce and Progress Association, which was instrumental in the redevelopment, attended, as did Millmerran State School and St. Joseph’s students.
Mayor McDonald said the total cost for the facility’s works was $6.4 million and took nearly two years to complete.
He said on behalf of Council he was thrilled to be able to deliver this facility to the Millmerran community.
“Facilities like this are so much more than a pool,” he said.
Works took longer than anticipated due to all the issues construction everywhere is facing, as well as extended localised flooding early last year.
The Millmerran pool was first opened in 1966, and boasted the distinction of being Queensland’s first Olympic-size swimming pool built to modern conventions of the time.
After more than 50 years of use, cracks were beginning to show and Toowoomba Regional Council in consultation with the Millmerran community sought to upgrade the aquatic centre to modern standards.
President of Millmerran Commerce and Progress Association Nikki Macqueen said the long wait without a pool was worth it.
“On behalf of the township I’d like to thank Council for refurbishing the pool,” she said.
“We can’t wait to dive back in.
“Council have done an amazing job making it such an inviting centre to be at.”
Ms Macqueen was very appreciative that all eleven Councillors made the trip
to Millmerran for the
opening and was appreciative of the efforts of all TRC staff.
“They listened to everything we said,” she said.
The new aquatic centre features a new six-lane. 50 metre pool, zero-depth splash pad with a tipping bucket for the little ones, new kiosk building, change rooms, covered grandstand, improved shade areas and pool heating.
Historical elements of the previous Millmerran pool have been retained including the murals which featured on the previous amenities building which were incorporated back into the new build as well as the name of the new grandstand.
“It was wonderful to have Irene (Gwen) McPaul on hand with us at the official opening with the new grandstand retaining Irene and her late husband Don’s names as acknowledgments to their outstanding contribution to the Millmerran community,” Cr O’Shea said.
“TRC thanks the Millmerran community for their patience as the project was completed.
“Moving from what was originally planned as a major repair job to a full reconstruction of the pool was not a simple task...”
Brothers Desmond and Rowan Blinco, who had been at the original opening of the pool 56 years ago, were there for the re-opening.
The upgrade was funded by TRC and through the Australian Government’s Drought Communities Fund.
The opening came just in time for the start of school holidays, and with maximum temperatures already hitting the low 30s, pool season is well and truly here.
Up until the end of the school holidays and including the King’s Birthday public holiday on Monday, 2 October, entry is free for everyone at the Millmerran Aquatic Centre.
The facility will be managed by Belgravia Leisure on behalf of TRC and will be open seven-days-a-week.
