A new hydrotherapy pool will be the centrepiece of a revamped health facility in Armidale.
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More than $2 million will come from the federal government to transform the Monckton Centre into a state-of-the-art wellness facility, which will combine health services with the new pool.
New England MP Barnaby Joyce surprised Armidale Regional Council with the announcement on Thursday that the government would kick-in the funding for the facility.
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While the council already had more than $1 million from the state government for a new hydrotherapy pool, it had been pushing for more funding to make the facility more than just a pool.
Mayor Simon Murray said it would be spent to make it a genuine health centre, where people with ailments could receive treatment and swimming lessons could be held all-year round.
But, with the council's contribution of $394,000, the council the total figure would only give them the hydrotherapy pool and they would be scraping to pay for that.
Last year, after it was announced the hospital's hydrotherapy pool would close, the council started lobbying the federal government for funding to make the revamped pool into a centre with greater health capabilities.
Mr Joyce rang the council on Thursday, and at short notice announced their lobbying had been successful with the government agreeing to give the council $2.316 milion.
Noting that the city's former hydrotherapy pool in Armidale was more than 40 years old and inoperable, Mr Joyce welcomed the funding for the new centre.
"Armidale has been asking for that, to facilitate the remedial process of people with injuries, and also disabilities and medical conditions that require further assistance," Mr Joyce said.
It will cost more than $3.7 million to build.
