In short:
A public pool in Hobart's northern suburbs has officially reopened to a delighted crowd, after lengthy repairs.
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pool → reopen → repairs
The Glenorchy War Memorial pool was shut in 2023, due to a range of structural and electrical issues.
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pool → shut → issues
Long term, the council says a new aquatic centre is needed, but the project comes with a $84 million price tag.
Diane Kasprzak is very fond of Glenorchy War Memorial pool.
"When my children were young, I used to bring them to this pool," Ms Kasprzak said.
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Kasprzak → say → pool
"And at 14 years of age, my daughter met her future husband, and they're still happily married 28 years later.
"
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they → meet → husband
Ms Kasprzak was one of hundreds lapping up the pool's reopening weekend on Saturday.
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Kasprzak → lap → Saturday
Built in the 1960s and dedicated to those who served in World War II, the Glenorchy pool was closed in 2023 after an independent report identified a number of safety issues.
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report → build → issues
Among the problems identified were faults in the pool shell, structural issues with the concrete grandstand and an urgent need to update the electrical switchboard.
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faults → identify → switchboard
The pool was facing long-term closure, but the community rallied to keep it open.
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community → face → it
Now, three years later and after $6.5 million of repairs, it's reopened just in time for summer.
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it → reopen → summer
Glenorchy Mayor Sue Hickey said it had been a long time coming.
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it → say → ?
"It's been an extraordinary amount of work … everything from the electrics, the plumbing, the painting," Cr Hickey said.
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Hickey → say → electrics
We've even had staff right up until late at night cleaning things, making sure everything was spectacular for the opening — even shooing away a few ducks.
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everything → have → ducks
"It's been three long summers that [the community has] missed their pool and now they have it back in all its glory.
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they → miss → glory
"
Test your speed against an Olympic medallist
Among the offerings at Saturday's celebrations was a chance to race against Olympic bronze medallist and Tassie local, Max Giuliani.
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chance → test → medallist
Giuliani said there was a real chance there were some prospective Olympians in the midst.
"
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Giuliani → say → midst
I've lost a few races today," he said.
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he → lose → races
"There's been a couple of guys that I didn't think would be very good at swimming - I've given them 25 metres ahead of me and they've smoked me to the wall.
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they → be → wall
"You never know which day is your last, and if I lose any more, I may have to retire.
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I → know → more
600-plus sausages sizzled
Glenorchy City Council alderman Steve King spent much of the day working the barbecue — an offering so popular that volunteers had to make a quick dash to the supermarket.
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volunteers → sizzle → supermarket
It's just great," he said.
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he → say → ?
He quipped the only disappointment of the day was his performance against Giuliani.
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disappointment → quip → Giuliani
"[Giuliani] gave me half the length of the pool, and I was halfway down my half length, so three quarters of the way, and something went past me like a rocket and I gave up," he said.
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he → give → rocket
"I was shattered.
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I → shatter → ?
Long-term solution still needed
While celebrating the pool's reopening and upgrades, Mayor Sue Hickey said it wasn't a forever fix.
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it → need → reopening
She said the council was still pursuing financial backing for a new aquatic centre, which has been costed at $84 million.
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which → say → million
"We're still aware that this is a very old facility," she said.
"Whilst we've done absolutely everything we can to ensure [Glenorchy War Memorial Pool] is open for as long as we possibly can, we do know that in the future we have a desperate need for a full aquatic centre."
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we → say → centre
The Aporia