Narrandera Shire Council is thrilled to be announced as winner of the 2021 NSW Local Government Professionals Excellence Award, for ‘Asset and Project’ budget over $1.5 million and population under 100,000 for the Lake Talbot Water Park redevelopment.

This prestigious award acknowledges the significant works carried out at the facility including:

• Removal of two old slides, replaced with two racer slides and a twisting open slide each with exit flumes.
• Demolition of all previous pool areas including the 50-metre pool, Rampage pool, Island pool, toddler pool and slide pool.
• Replacement of pools with modifications including wet decking and the Island pool with the hugely successful splash park area.
• Construction of a new pump house and filtration system to improve water quality and solar systems to heat the 50-meter and middle pools.
• Construction of a toddler pool with zero entry and shade cover.
• Construction of a pool level, accessible changeroom, toilets and shower facility.
• A pram ramp from the top entry to pool level.
• A disability access ramp into the 50-meter pool.
• New shading areas and structures which also houses the solar panels.

This category included 10 finalists offering impressive and competitive submissions from Albury City, Blayney Shire, Clarence Valley, Forbes Shire, Goulburn Mulwaree, Lane Cove City, Mid-Coast, Norfolk Island Regional and Tamworth Regional Councils.

Council would like to acknowledge the support and contribution from a myriad of internal and external stakeholders who brought this project to fruition from concept to delivery:

Contractors Total Creations and Services, in particular Mark, Simon and Ray McLean, who carried out the significant works during the COVID-19 pandemic with restricted resources and a tight timeline. Their work ensured the facility was able to open for the duration of summer with some pool access which increased through a three-stage process as works were finalised.

Pool lessee’s Troy and Dycinta Lee who worked with and around the contractors to ensure a smooth worksite and who undertook the major task of learning the new systems in place.

The many local sub-contractors who assisted or carried out works at the facility.

Our Instructure team who worked closed with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the project outcome delivered a facility of the highest quality which has exceeded all expectations and increased regional tourism to Narrandera through the facility’s open months, providing strong economic advantages to local businesses and accommodation providers.

To the community stakeholder group who provided clear and constructive feedback at each of the community engagement sessions, which allowed Council to make revisions and improvements to the facility as the project progressed, and to the public who provided feedback at various points through the project timeline.

Finally, to our Councillors, who provided their full support to the project and its changes along the way, without their support the funding and subsequent success would not have been possible.

Council would also like to acknowledge the support of the NSW Government and our local member, Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke MP, who co-funded the project in the amount of $2.4 million together with Council who contributed $3.4 million.

Mayor Cr Neville Kschenka was very pleased with the accolade for our Shire, offering his congratulations to everyone involved in this major project, “It is through this dedication and support that Narrandera Shire Council is able to deliver large-scale works, to provide our community and region with a truly outstanding facility for everyone to enjoy.”

Image: Winning representatives of Narrandera Shire Council and Total Creations and Services, front row: George Cowan, General Manager, Narrandera Shire Council; Fred Hammer, Manager Project and Assets; Narrandera Shire Council, Narrandera Shire Council Mayor Cr Neville Kschenka.

Back row: Simon McLean, Total Creations; Ray McLean, Total Creations; Shane Wilson, Deputy General Manager Infrastructure, Narrandera Shire Council; and Mark McLean Total Creations.