Queanbeyan aquatics facility unveils new family-changerooms ahead of summer swimming

Taking your kids to the pool in Queanbeyan will be simpler, safer and more convenient this summer after the construction of four new dedicated family changerooms at QPRC Aquatics Queanbeyan.

Crown Lands, part of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, helped fund the project through a $244,305 Crown Reserves Improvement Fund (CRIF) grant. Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council funded the rest of the project which had a total cost of $606,000.

The four new changerooms include baby changing tables and shower facilities to allow parents to shower and dress children in a private space before and after using the pool facilities. The new changerooms will join an existing accessible family changeroom, significantly expanding capacity by bringing the total number from one to five.

The Queanbeyan War Memorial Swimming Pool (now called QPRC Aquatics Queanbeyan) is located on Crown land and was officially opened on Armistice Day 11 November 1961. It is a bustling, much- loved centre for sport and recreation for the Queanbeyan community.

In 2004, a 25 metre indoor heated pool was opened. In 2018, a children’s splash park was built, with play equipment and water slides. These improvements greatly increased the number of families who wanted to use the aquatic centre but there was a lack of adequate changeroom amenities.

The extra changerooms will encourage more parents to bring their children to the pool. They will also provide adequate changing spaces during school swimming carnivals, swimming lessons and other swimming programs.

Member for Monaro Steve Whan said:

“In regional Australia, the local pool is a fixture of the community, and Queanbeyan’s facility is excellent.”

“I am thrilled Crown Lands and Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council have worked together to fund this project, which will greatly help parents who want a safe, convenient space to be with their kids this summer season and beyond.”

Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council Mayor Kenrick Winchester said:

“The Queanbeyan pool is much loved and has been very important to our community for sport and recreation for many decades.”

“We are glad so many families use our wonderful facilities, but it was really important we had the amenities to support parents and children. Before the new changerooms parents had to wait to use the one changeroom and often kids would go home in wet swimmers.”