The new Lake Talbot Water Park and Narrandera Indoor Sports Stadium operators, Katie Boland and Chris Osborne, are ready to make a splash in Narrandera with their extensive experience in the aquatics industry.

Narrandera Shire Council accepted the Leisure and Recreation Group’s tender to operate the facilities for five years.

Katie and Chris are settling into life in town with plenty of experience and ideas for the town’s aquatic and sporting facilities, which they officially took over on 1 September.

For the past five years, they managed a remote community swimming pool in the Kimberley, Western Australia, where they were responsible for the day-to-day operation of the facility.

Their experience included pool operations, water quality, staffing, lifeguarding, learn-to-swim programs, maintenance, grounds, community engagement and conducting a range of activities and programs.

“We also worked closely with schools, youth services and other community organisations and put a strong focus on making the facility more than just somewhere to swim,” Katie said.

“We developed youth programs, school holiday activities and community events to encourage more people to use the facility and create a welcoming space for the whole community.”

They hope to build community engagement and increase use of the pool and stadium through programs and activities based on the wishes of the Narrandera community.

This could include school holiday programs, aquatic activities, social sport, community events and other opportunities designed to encourage different age groups to use the facilities.

“We’d like to introduce and grow programs and activities based on what the Narrandera community actually wants to see,” Katie said.

“We’re particularly keen to build on community-based programs and create more reasons for people of all ages to come through the doors.”

The transition since 1 September has involved the couple spending their first weeks becoming familiar with the facilities, staff, systems and community, with the main focus on ensuring that the grounds and day-to-day operations of both facilities are maintained to a high standard.

“It’s been a busy start, but a positive one and we’re enjoying getting settled in and meeting everyone,” Katie said.

Although they have already identified potential to increase programming, activities and overall use of the facilities, the operators said they were not looking to make any major changes in the immediate future.

Instead, they want to get feedback from user groups before deciding the areas where improvements could be made.

“At this stage, we’re still getting to know both facilities and understanding how the community currently uses them,” Katie said.

“Rather than making major changes straight away, we want to listen to patrons, staff, sporting groups, schools and the wider community and identify where there are opportunities to improve.

“We can already see plenty of potential to increase programming, activities and overall use of the facilities.

“This fits really well with Leisure and Recreation Group’s approach of creating facilities that are safe, welcoming, active and genuinely valued by their communities.

“Over time, we definitely plan to introduce new programs, activities and events across both the pool and stadium.

“We’re both really looking forward to the season ahead and becoming part of the Narrandera community.”

The council has set the operating hours for the pool at 7am-8am and 10am-7pm on weekdays, and 10am-7pm on weekends and public holidays.