IF you want to know how big a difference the aquatics centre makes to life in Horsham, just ask Lyn Formosa.
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Mrs Formosa has spent the pandemic caring for her husband Lou, who has recently passed away. On Wednesday, she was one of the first people to take advantage of the reopened centre, participating in a water aerobics class for older residents.
"This is my escape from the world," she said. "It's the first time in a longtime I've been here."
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The centre has also reopened its indoor lap pool and gym, though its creche and swimming lessons remain postponed indefinitely.
Another Horwsham resident, Lisette Johnston, said she came three or four days a week prior to the COVID-19 shutdown, and was glad to be back having been - perhaps understandably - "lazy" while in lockdown.
Group and crossfit sessions have limits of ten people.
The centre is open from 6am-12pm and 3pm-7pm weekdays and 8am-12pm on Saturday. Bookings can be made online.
In a statement, Horsham Rural City Council said the indoor pool will be closed for the last two weeks of August, as part of renovations involving replacing the rubber flooring.
While the centre has reopened, the council is also constructing a new ramp at the centre's entrance to improve accessibility for people of different mobilities.
Infrastructure Director John Martin said the works wold finish in August, and cause minimal disruption to centre users.
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