Mayor Jack Dempsey's Facebook post

Did you know the Anzac Park redevelopment will feature an adventure playground with water play, an entertainment space for outdoor concerts, improved riverside access and an Anzac memorial walk?

I know many people who rarely visit this part of Bundaberg, which given its location along the Burnett River, should be our showcase.

It’s been recognised through multiple master plans over several decades that the key to CBD invigoration is activating the riverside and linking it with the shopping precinct. Think South Bank and Rockhampton.

Recent commentary has focused on the closure of Anzac Pool but hasn’t always considered the broader context, including the need to assist people with disabilities.

Anzac Pool isn’t closing just because there will be a new regional aquatic facility, it’s closing to enable revitalisation of the CBD and riverside.

🏊 Council received $5 million from the Federal Government for this project and I’m grateful to the Member for Hinkler, Keith Pitt, for his support.

Mr Pitt also secured $32 million to divert heavy traffic from Quay Street, which is another piece of the jigsaw.

Local Government seeks to manage major projects as seamlessly as possible, but sometimes we’re beholden to what the State and Federal Governments decide in terms of planning and funding.

For instance, the Quay Street diversion can’t go ahead until the State completes a Bundaberg Integrated Transport Study, which includes consideration of a third river crossing.

A new river crossing would link future industrial growth with the Port of Bundaberg. That’s an expensive, long-term project and will require federal support to go ahead.

The flood levee is also a critical component. In addition to protecting people, homes, businesses and jobs it will unlock public and private investment in the CBD and East Bundaberg, improving links between the riverside, shopping areas and tourism attractions.

There needs to be a vision for all these dominoes to fall in the right place at the right time, and that’s what I’m trying to foresee as clearly as possible despite so many potential obstacles.

🏊 I understand that regular users of Anzac Pool have an emotional attachment to the site and feel disappointed there will be a gap before the new aquatic centre opens.

Council staff will be liaising with public and private pool operators and schools to manage demand for pool access during the transition, including additional dedicated use for competition and lap swimmers at Norville. This will be communicated before the 2022-23 summer season.

I’m sorry for the inconvenience this will cause but genuinely believe the end result will outweigh the temporary loss.

Anzac Pool is an ageing, deteriorating asset and can’t be redeveloped to an acceptable modern standard at the same site. It simply isn’t practical to expand the pool from six lanes to eight with associated amenities.

In the 2020-21 season, Anzac Pool attracted 24,591 visitors compared with 64,874 at Norville while Norville had 22,223 child visitors compared with Anzac 2869.

Children can’t vote at the ballot box but they have voted with their flippers.

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞

What we’re talking about is generational infrastructure. The riverside precinct and regional aquatic facility will serve the next 50 years of Bundaberg residents and beyond.

🏊 There was no deception regarding the closure of Anzac Pool. Most of the public statements from Council referred to ensuring a smooth transition and minimising disruption.

Up until late 2021, I believed the new aquatic facility would be built before the Anzac Park redevelopment.

In June 2021, the State Government announced $13 million towards the aquatic centre and asked that it be finished by the end of 2024.

In October 2021, the Federal Government announced $5 million towards the Anzac Park redevelopment with a condition it must be finished by December 2023.

That necessarily required a review of the planning and timeframes for both projects.

🏊 Every dollar that Council receives from the State and Federal Governments is a dollar less that ratepayers have to contribute.

Previous councils have been unable to go ahead with major social infrastructure because of funding constraints.

Thanks to federal and state support we’re now in a position where we can leave a lasting legacy to create new memories for future generations.