Members of the Canowindra Swimming Club have tested out the newly installed diving blocks at the Canowindra Swimming Pool, with resounding success.
Canowindra Swimming Club President Chris Rowston said the club had pushed for new blocks to be installed as the old blocks were past their use by date, and were starting to get slippery.
A spokeseperson for Cabonne Shire Council said the old blocks were originally reused during the pool upgrade in 2013, having been salvaged from the previous facility.
"While they had served the community well for over a decade, their replacement was necessary to ensure the safety of swimmers and to maintain high standards for competitive events," the spokesperson said.
Mr Rowston said the primary users of the diving blocks were the swimming club during club nights and carnivals, as well as school students and swimmers visiting for carnivals, which is why the club provided a substantial amount of money for the replacement of the blocks.
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He said they approached Cabonne Council to replace the blocks and proposed the Club provide a substantial amount of funding.
Mr Rowston said the Council accepted the proposal, provided the balance of costs and took over the ordering and installation of the blocks, which took around six months.
The funds raised by Canowindra Swimming Club came from money raised over the last eight to 10 years through sponsorships, carnival entry fees, squad training fees and business house relays.
This money had been raised for the benefit of club related expenses by current and previous committees, Mr Rowston said, with everyone putting in hard work in.
Mr Rowston said they decided to use these funds for the benefit of their club members,
The new diving blocks are the Anti 650 Starting Blocks, a direct upgrade from the previous model. These state-of-the-art blocks were selected for their durability and suitability for competitive swimming, ensuring they meet modern standards.
Mr Rowston said the swimming blocks are a new style block, in line with current competitive blocks. with a kicker plate at the back.
The kicker plate is adjustable with five settings, Mr Rowston said, which allows swimmers to learn to use the blocks from a younger age.
"They can go away to other competitive pools which have got similar blocks and they're going to be familiar with them," he said.
Council's spokesperson said the new diving blocks enhance safety and functionality for all swimmers.
"They ensure Canowindra Swim Club can continue to host safe and professional swimming carnivals, while also benefiting the five local schools that use the facility for their annual carnivals.
"This upgrade supports the long-term use of the Canowindra Aquatic Centre as a premier venue for swimming events in the region."
