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Shire aquatic centres set to thrive with local operator By SHARON BONTHUYS Narromine Shire’s two aquatic centres are set to thrive following the recent announcement that a local business has won the tender to become the new operator. Trangie-based Indigenous corporation Thriv3 (pronounced “Thrive”) will assume operational management of the Trangie and Narromine Aquatic Centres for a threeyear term, commencing from the 2025/26 swimming season, which begins in October. While aquatic centre management is a new venture for the dynamic Aboriginal-led and controlled Trangie notfor-profit business, director Pat Skinner said his team members bring to the project significant collective experience in managing pools and community spaces. “Thriv3 as a business hasn’t [done this before] but four of us have run and operated pools and managed them,” Pat told Narromine Star. “It’s an opportunity for us to be able to extend our programs even further and implement different initiatives that haven’t really been seen at these pools before,” he said.
Narromine Shire Council joined with Thriv3 directors at the formal announcement of the aquatic centre tender recently. Kaitlin Butcher, Rowan James, Narromine mayor Cr Ewen Jones, Pat Skinner, Jane Redden and Katie Powell. PHOTO: NARROMINE SHIRE COUNCIL.
With Thriv3 dedicated to empowering rural and remote communities through programs that focus on connection, opportunity, and community-led action, the organisation will seek to involve the shire’s communities in guiding the future direction of
the popular aquatic centres. “First and foremost, our organisation has always been about the community, for the community, with the community,” Pat explained, indicating community consultation will happen prior to the opening of the new
swimming season. “Before we open the pools, we plan to hold a community session at both Narromine and Trangie pools, just to hear what the community wants, what they want to see, what have been issues in the past, and what we could do to fi x
those issues, moving forward,” Pat explained. “We’ve also had an opportunity to sit with the Narromine Shire Council as well to see what the feedback from the community has been, which has really been a great insight for us to be able to provide a better service to our community,” he added. Importantly, Thriv3 will be hiring local people for roles at the aquatic centres, Pat said. “It will be good for the community to know who’s running their pools, that we are within the local community and that we live here,” he added. Narromine Shire Council General Manager Jane Redden expressed her confidence in Thriv3’s capability to deliver aquatic services and programs to meet the needs of all residents. “Thriv3’s strong commitment to community engagement makes them a great fit for managing these valued sporting and recreational facilities,” Ms Redden said. The community won’t have long to wait, with the 20252026 swimming season set to commence on the October long weekend.