Tweed Regional Aquatic Centre to be leased to private operator
January 21, 2010
TweedShire Council plans to lease the operation of the Tweed Regional Aquatic Centre (TRAC) to a private operator from 1 July 2010 in order to minimise costs to ratepayers while maintaining the high level of service and programs the facility currently provides.
The swimming centres at Tweed Heads South and Kingscliff will continue to be operated by Council staff for the next two years.
At that time Council will consider if a different business model is required at those pools.
Brisbane-based consultants Strategic Leisure Group recently prepared a report for Council which reviewed the business models for operation of Council’s aquatic facilities.
Evans Head offered $3.4m for aquatic centre
May 4, 2009
Anthony Albanese, Minister for Infrastructure, and Kate Ellis, Minister for Sport, today announced the Rudd Labor Government would offer $3.4 million for the construction of the new Evans Head Aquatic Centre.
Ms Ellis made the announcement with Member for Page, Janelle Saffin, and Mayor of Richmond Valley Council, Col Sullivan.
The Rudd Government is contributing two-thirds of the funding for this $5.1million project to deliver the long-awaited aquatic centre in Evans Head.
Federal funding is part the $800 million Community Infrastructure Program – the largest one-off investment in local infrastructure in Australia’s history.
2000 tipped to take part in Byron Winter Ocean Swim
April 30, 2009
Organisers of this Sunday’s Beach Hotel Byron Bay Winter Ocean Swim Classic are predicting that about 2000 swimmers will take the plunge and compete in the event.
Former Australian swim star Hayley Lewis is one of the competitors, and regular competitor, 87-year-old Bill Ringland, is again expected to be the oldest swimmer in the event.
Sports grant recipients announced
March 5, 2009
Member for Page Janelle Saffin today congratulated one team and four individual recipients of the Federal Government’s new Local Sporting Champions grants program.
Ms Saffin said Grafton High School’s Rowing Club would receive $3000 towards its tilt at the Australian National Titles being staged at Lake Barrington in Tasmania this week.
Managed by Kerrie Tarrant, team members include Briony Edgar, Oliver Couch, Fraser Hemphill, Sarah Jones, Cameron Kitcher, Nicholas Mills, Timothy Riddell, Nathan Sneesby, Adam Spies and Johanna Tarrant.
Ms Saffin congratulated individual recipients of $500 grants – Wooloweyah swimmer Dylan Brown, Wollongbar water polo player Paul Carter, Ballina athlete with a disability Mikey Lloyd-Tighe, and South Grafton cricketer Kara Sutherland.
Saffin joins the push for Evans Head aquatic centre
January 30, 2009
The Federal Member for Page, Janelle Saffin, has thrown her support behind Richmond Valley Council’s application for Federal funding for the Evans Head and District Aquatic Centre.
Ms Saffin has written to the Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Anthony Albanese, strongly supporting the council’s application for $3.4 million for the project under the Government’s Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program.
“Along with the local community I consider this aquatic centre to be essential infrastructure for this growing coastal centre,” she said.
“Evans Head must be one of the few towns of its size on the North Coast without a pool and it clearly needs a venue where local children can learn to swim and be safe in the water.
“Currently learners and competitive swimmers have to travel considerable distance to Lismore or Ballina to access adequate public pools.
“The proposed aquatic centre, with 25 metre heated pool, wading pool and fitness centre, has been a goal of the local community for 17 years.
“The fact that the community has raised $400,000 towards the project demonstrates the remarkable local commitment to the project.
“I have pushed the case for the aquatic centre project in my representations to Minister Albanese, and will continue to do so, as I see the Evans Head Aquatic Centre as a priority for Page.”
Sport and Rec to run swimming course at Ballina
November 22, 2008
NSW Sport and Recreation will offer a Junior Squad and Assistant Coach Course at the Ballina Memorial Pool early next month.
A Junior Squad and Assistant Coach has the competence to coach junior swimmers (i.e. swimmers 12-years and younger) who are in the early stages of competitive swimming development and/or assist a suitably qualified (and licenced) coach in the delivery of competitive swimming programs for age-group (i.e. 13-18 years) and open swimmers.
“Numbers will be limited so please enrol now,” Deb Grant of Sport and Rec said.
Your enrolment can be made by contacting NSW Sport & Recreation on 66180 400.
- Date: 6-7th December 2008
- Time: 9.30am-4.30pm
- Cost: $350 per participant (Cost includes your 1st tear ASCTA membership, CD-ROM and text).
‘Aussie battler’ Jacqueline keeps swimming on
September 30, 2008
Triple Paralympic medallist Jacqueline Freney, of Skennars Head, arrived home from Beijing very happy and content with her achievements, knowing she gave her all and did her best.
“I am so so proud of Jacqueline,” said her mother Joanne. “She showed such courage, determination and perseverance. She’s a real little Aussie battler.
“At the start of her races, she was so pumped to do her best.
“Her races were really tough and she had to fight with everything she had.
Jacqueline Freney: our new bronzed Aussie
September 15, 2008
The Far North Coast has a new bronzed Aussie — Paralympic swimmer Jacqueline Freney, of Skennars Head.
The 16-year-old has completed her swimming commitments at the Beijing Paralympic Games, winning bronze in each of her three events.
Jacqueline Freney: Already a winner
September 3, 2008
Win or lose, local Paralympian Jacqueline Freney is already a winner.
Jacqueline, 16, of Skennars Head, was born with cerebral palsy — diplegia (which affects the movement of the body, mainly the legs) and her parents were told she would have a lot of difficulty walking, participating in sport or any physical activity and that she would require years of therapy.
Jacqueline Freney’s Beijing Paralympics bid is on target
August 2, 2008
Skennars Head swimmer Jacqueline Freney’s lead-up to the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games is well on target, with strong performances at three meets since 16-year-old was chosen in the team in April.
Jacqueline’s performance since her selection include:
