Wingham Memorial Pool rebuild secured, but calls for change in disaster funding

A record-breaking flood that devastated the Wingham community on the NSW Mid North Coast not only caused widespread damage but also left residents fearing the loss of their beloved public pool. The Wingham Memorial Pool suffered severe structural damage, with 700 millimetres of rain causing its foundations, plumbing, and reticulation system to crack and become damaged.

The news was another blow to the community, who realised what they had lost. "The fact the pool was destroyed, it had an effect on people's wellbeing," Mid Coast Mayor Claire Pontin said. "I'm sure even the people who didn't use the pool felt the loss of it because it just dampened the mood, sorry for the pun, right across Wingham."

Community rallies for pool repair

Bob Clarke, who swam four days a week while the pool was open, said the health of the region's elderly had suffered since its closure. "That's exercise I now don't get; but there are a lot of people that aren't getting that exercise," he said. "It's a needed asset."

Kate Spriggs, whose father helped campaign for the community-funded pool in the 1960s, said its closure also meant many families in Wingham and surrounding communities were missing out on swimming lessons. "There are families that have been able to travel to Taree, but we also know there's a significant proportion of our community who can't afford to travel," she said. "It's just not viable for them."

Funding secured for rebuild

A 16-month campaign by the community to secure funding for a rebuild has paid off, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announcing $15 million in state and federal funding for the project. Ms Spriggs described the news as "fantastic news". "Not only does the pool bring health benefits but it's the social connections that it brings to the community, an opportunity for people to spend time with each other … to bring other towns to the area," she said.

Calls for change in disaster funding

However, the fact the pool was not considered "essential public infrastructure" meant it was not immediately eligible for disaster funding. Cr Pontin said she had spoken to federal Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain about changing the classification. "It's absolutely an appalling policy," she said.

Minister McBain said feedback from councils would be considered, with a new local government taskforce discussing disaster funding challenges during their first meeting this week. Cr Pontin said changes to the disaster categorisation system and new support package options for councils were also being developed in response to increased frequency and severity of natural disasters.

"The thing councils have spoken to me about is trying to streamline the process as much as possible," Ms McBain said. "We know already that there is an audit process that the state requires and then there's a separate audit process that the federal government requires. We are working really closely with them … so councils can access that money quicker."

Cr Pontin said the Wingham pool could be reopened by December 2027.