Last pitch to fund vital community asset

Published on 10 November 2023

The City of Hobart is very concerned that the installation of a warm water hydrotherapy pool that would greatly benefit the community, is under a cloud.

Council’s designs for the new facility were based on understanding how important hydrotherapy is for the treatment of pain and discomfort.

Doone Kennedy Hobart Aquatic Centre Proposed Warm Water Pool(PDF, 1MB)

It is essential for the treatment of numerous conditions and assist older members of the community, people with a disability and people undertaking rehabilitation.

Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said when conceptualised and designed over 27 years ago the Centre was a leading Australian aquatic centre.

“Unfortunately, the original design and construction standards have not kept pace with the demands of the community,” Cr Reynolds said.

“Warm water pools have become one of the highest priorities in the aquatic industry and would be used for everything from infant learn to swim and water survival classes, to injury rehabilitation, wellness activities, support from chronic health conditions and warm water aqua aerobics.”

This proposed warm water area will be built on the current grassed area adjacent to the indoor 25m pool.

However, this project is now in serious doubt without increased funding and a lack of enthusiasm thus far from funding partners to top up the funding required to meet higher construction costs.

As well as its own significant contribution, the City of Hobart has received funding from the Federal Government and the Tasmanian Government.

“While the two levels of government supported the project, they haven’t yet been willing to commit to top up funding that will allow the project to proceed.”

Due to cost escalations in recent years, which have affected infrastructure projects nationwide, there is a $7 million shortfall compared with the funding originally granted for the project.

Arthritis and Osteoporosis Tasmania is just one organisation that is in desperate need of a warm water pool in Hobart.

“Exercising in water is one of the most comfortable and effective ways that a person with arthritis or musculoskeletal condition can exercise,” said Jackie Slyp, Arthritis and Osteoporosis Tasmania CEO.

“The buoyancy of the water takes the strain off weight bearing joints and the warm water assists with relaxing the muscles, dilating the blood vessels, and increasing blood flow to sore and injured areas.

“A hydrotherapy pool, such as that proposed for the DKHAC, will greatly benefit the Greater Hobart community, providing much needed access to preventative health and rehabilitative warm water treatment programs."

COTA (Council on the Ageing) Tasmania President Ingrid Harrison said the demography of Hobart and indeed Tasmania was such that there was a great demand for hydrotherapy, and this would only increase dramatically in the future as the population ages.

“Southern Tasmania has a proportionally higher ageing population than the rest of the State added to which is the fact Tasmania has the highest rate of disability of all Australian states and territories,” Ms Harrison said.

“There is currently a shortage of warm water pools suitable for hydrotherapy within southern Tasmania which means people who would potentially benefit from hydrotherapy can’t access facilities.

“This impacts on their quality of life and rehabilitation timelines and increases the burden of disease on the broader community and our economy with direct financial impacts on the health system.

Ms Harrison said any mechanism that addressed issues impacting the health of the community, particularly its older members, had the overwhelming support of COTA.

“Securing additional money to meet the funding shortfall of the centre, remains a critical step towards turning this project vision into a reality,” Ms Harrison said.

Cr Reynolds said without the additional funding, the warm water pool project would have to be cancelled, resulting in a huge loss for the Greater Hobart community.

“Such vital infrastructure projects like this does not come cheaply but the rewards are even bigger,” Cr Reynolds said.

“And that’s why we are making one last plea to our federal and state colleagues to support this community asset.”