From February 15, the City of Launceston council will close the pool to the public to start setting up for the Australian Tourism Awards. 

The pool will be refilled and reopened on the March long weekend. 

The closure is to allow scaffolding to be erected over the pool for a marquee installation in preparation for the awards ceremony on Friday, March 1. 

Mayor Albert van Zetten said the changes would be in place for a “short time”. 

“We know that in the warm weather people love to come up here and swim in the pool, but unfortunately from Friday week the pool will be closed,” he said. 

“Having the awards here means there is going to be 800 people, leaders from all over Australia, who are interested in tourism and refer to tourists all over the world and bring them here.” 

The event will bring millions into the city, Cr van Zetten said. 

“It’s going to mean there is going to be 800 people in our city for maybe two or three nights and it’s going to bring over two or three million into our city. It’s going to be a great event,” he said. “But it’s going to mean for some of our residents that it’s going to be a bit disappointing because they can’t use the pool.”

The Gorge and the Basin can still be used by the public. 

On March 2, the council will host a community event, with a free barbecue, giant water slides and face painting as a way to give back to the community. Music in the Park will also be held at the Gorge to wrap up the 2019 season. 

“We realise it will be a little bit of an inconvenience for our locals,” Cr van Zetten said. 

The new playground is expected to be completed within the next two weeks. 

The nature-based playground has been built at the same level as the existing public amenities, making access to the new site easier.