AFTER nearly two years, the passive and active pools at Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre will reopen this week, with the community invited to celebrate with a free day at the MAAC.

Moree Plains Shire Council mayor Susannah Pearse will swing the gates open free of charge from 10.30am tomorrow, Thursday, April 9.

An official ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 10am.

“After many months of hard work, I am proud to announce the reopening of the passive and active hot artesian pools at the MAAC,” Cr Pearse said.

“I would like to thank the community and pool users for their patience and understanding while these works were being completed.

Councillors and I are thrilled to have the community back at the famous hot pools and I thank Council’s general manager Natalia Cowley and her team for all their hard work on this project.

”The artesian pools at the MAAC are an integral part of our community, and a popular spot for tourists and locals to relax and rejuvenate, so to have them out of action for this extended period of time has been frustrating,” she said.

Ms Cowley thanked the specialist local and regional contractors who have been hard at work at the MAAC, including O’Neill Concreting, DD’s Engineering and Fabrication, Level Plumbing Tamworth, Crawford Constructions and Roejen Services.

“Importantly, we thank the State and Federal Governments for their financial support in this project for their combined grants of $1.567m, along with Council funding of $1.656m to make this a total $3.223m spend since 2023,” Ms Cowley said.

Moree Plains Shire mayor Susannah Pearse and general manager Natalia Cowley look forward to welcoming the community back to the famous hot pools at the Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre.

From 10.30am onwards, everyone is welcome to experience the newly refurbished pools, with free waterslide use  until 1.30pm.

The Wellness Pool will revert to its original intent as a private booking space from 10.30am tomorrow as well.

David Mangelsdorf, Council’s construction project manager, said there had been extensive concrete work done on the passive pool.

“Around 70 tonnes of concrete were removed from the passive pool, allowing for a brand-new concrete slab to be poured in November, with further concrete then being poured on the pool steps and seating,” Mr Mangelsdorf said.

“In total, 95 cubic metres of concrete was poured in the construction of the passive pool over three pours.

“The curing process then occurred, taking around four weeks, before the pool was fibre glazed.

“The active pool’s steel pipes were replaced with durable, fit-for-purpose poly piping, before all the new piping was connected in line with design specifications.

“Extensive electrical conduit installations then took place around the pool perimeter, before fibre glazing was carried out under a temporary shade structure to protect the fibre glaze from the natural elements.

“If you’ve seen the pools filled with water over the last few weeks and wondered why you haven’t been allowed to soak, it’s because they were being tested for performance and readiness,” he said.

As well as the work on the pools, a small section of external asbestos at the clubhouse was safely removed, as well as the reinstatement of the cantilever beam and removal of temporary post support over the change rooms – all to ensure public safety.

The pools are a popular spot for tourists and locals, with the healing qualities of the 38 to 40 degree waters sought by people of all ages.

The Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre is operational daily from Monday to Friday, 6am to 7pm and  Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 6pm.