DEAR News Of The Area,

In 2011 a bushfire, fanned by a stiff sou’ wester, came our way and jumped the main road near the Aquatic Centre at Mallabula.

It then got away in the narrow strip of scrub beside the car park.

On top of this, it spotted into the solar heating grid on the roof of the Community Centre.

This was a plastic, open-finned type of grid that heated the pool.

Although not severely damaged, Council’s insurers paid out some $30,000 and the system was replaced with a huge blue, solar-blanket heating system.

This improved the water temperature and still works effectively more than a decade later.

The system pumps cold water up via a PVC pipe, it circulates and then returns to heat our pool.

At the time, PSSC saved $8,000 per year in heating costs but as power prices soar, today it could be twice or even three times that.

During the height of summer, the water temperature can be as high as 34 degrees Celsius as the thermostat cuts out at 26C and the increasing temperature cannot be lowered.

On cold, sunless days the heat pumps kick in and it is rare to see the water below 23C.

Heat blankets on the water surface are in place during the cooler months when the pool is closed.

Glass solar panels on the main building pre-heat the water for the shower block’s standard hot water systems but these occasionally run cold.

The good news is that Council has augmented this system with extra solar panels during the winter shutdown.

The three pools have been upgraded and reopening times can be found on council’s web page.

Regards,
Geoff WALKER,
Port Stephens.