17th September 2026
Member for Myall Lakes Tanya Thompson has welcomed today’s announcement of $15 million in State and Federal Government funding to rebuild the Wingham Memorial Swimming Pool, describing it as an incredible result for the Wingham community.
The pool was extensively damaged during the devastating May 2025 floods and has remained closed, leaving Wingham without a facility that has served generations of local families.
Mrs Thompson said the announcement followed 16 months of strong, united advocacy from the Wingham community, Federal Member for Lyne Alison Penfold, MidCoast Council, Mayor Claire Pontin and herself.
“This is an absolutely incredible result, and today belongs to the Wingham community,” Mrs Thompson said.
“For 16 months, this community has refused to give up. Thousands signed the petition, people attended meetings, wrote letters, made phone calls and kept fighting to get their pool back.
“I am incredibly proud to have worked alongside Alison Penfold, Mayor Claire Pontin, MidCoast Council and some very determined members of the Wingham community to keep this firmly on the agenda.
“We all had the same goal, to secure the funding needed to rebuild Wingham’s pool, and today we have achieved it.
“This pool is about so much more than swimming. It is where generations of children have learnt to swim, schools have held their carnivals, families have spent their summers and locals have come together.
“I thank Alison, Mayor Pontin, MidCoast Council and everyone in Wingham who kept pushing.
I also welcome Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s announcement today and thank Minister Janelle Saffin for her work in helping secure this outcome.”
“This $15 million commitment from the State and Federal Governments means Wingham can now move forward and get its much-loved pool back.”
MEDIA: Candice.brown@parliament.nsw.gov.au
