Inflatable slides every day, double the number of customers and a rebooted Learn 2 Swim program are all happening at Orange Aquatic Centre.
Government imposed COVID-19 restrictions have eased and Orange Aquatic Centre can welcome even more customers at a time, which Mayor Reg Kidd says is a huge relief as we head toward school holidays.
“On one of the first weekends in December the Orange Aquatic Centre hit its COVID-19 restricted capacity before 11am on the Saturday,” Cr Kidd said.
“Customers lined up outside, socially distanced, in the shade, waiting their turn to get into to our wonderful facility.
“I’m so pleased we can now double the capacity allowed in the centre to about 900 people.”
All visitors to the Orange Aquatic Centre need to sign in using the QR codes provided. There are several on the outside fence to use on the way in to save time and prevent people lining up at the entrance.
Orange City Council’s Sport and Recreation Committee Chair Jason Hamling reminded people not to attend the centre if they had any symptoms of illness.
“We’ve all heard the NSW Health message, if you have any cold and flu symptoms then stay home,” Cr Hamling said.
“Equally important, if you have had any gastric bug symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhoea then you need to stay at home at least two weeks after your symptoms have eased.”
Cr Hamling said the centre would credit Learn 2 Swim fees for any missed lessons due to illness if parents or carers phoned ahead to let staff know.
Learn 2 Swim class enrolments have reached capacity for a range of levels and the centre is seeking expressions of interest from parents who might be interested in becoming teachers.
“Please pop in and have a chat to the staff at the centre if you think this might be something you’d be interested in,” Cr Hamling said.
“Parents make the best teachers and I personally want to see every child in Orange learn to swim and have the opportunity to attend classes.”
Cr Hamling said the centre was gearing up for a busy summer.
“On a really exciting note, the Orange Aquatic Centre will have inflatables in the water every day that it is open of the summer holidays,” he said.
“The centre has had them out a few times already this summer and they’ve been received really well.
“It’s great we have this excellent facility catering for all levels from water confidence for babies, to learn to swim classes for kids to water polo, to people doing their own physiotherapy, and aqua therapy.
“I’m incredibly pleased restrictions have eased as we head towards the summer school break and we have been able to double the number of people allowed in at a time.”
