Gearing up for a busy pool season

Published on 25 October 2023

Mortlake swimming pool.jpg

Moyne Shire’s outdoor pools will open for a 15 week summer season on Saturday December 2.

With forecasts suggesting a warmer summer, the shire owned pools at Mortlake, Macarthur and Hawkesdale will again be popular spots to cool off.

Volunteer community committees will again manage the Macarthur and Hawkesdale Pools, while YMCA Victoria has been awarded a two-year contract extension to manage the Mortlake pool.

Under the new arrangement with YMCA, the Mortlake pool will open for the season on December 1 and close on March 17. The season will be two weeks shorter than the previous years, with timings changed to reflect the periods of peak use based on usage data of the past few seasons.

Mayor Cr Ian Smith said a significant increase in contract costs meant there had to be a review.

“We’ve looked at the data and in the later half of last season, in March and April for the past two years less than 10 people on average visited the pool each day,” Cr Smith said.

“By taking this approach we are able to ensure ongoing operation of the pool with low impact to when the community is using the facility.”

Cr Smith said across the 2022/23 season, 4,163 people visited the Mortlake pool.  

“That means each pool entry equates to $47.60 - which is obviously much higher than the entry price,” he said.

“We understand that pools are important community facilities, so by shortening the season, we have been able to make costs manageable and ensure the pool is open when our data tells us most people want to attend and ensure the pool is open during the peak periods,” He said.

Cr Smith said popular early morning sessions will remain unchanged from the past season and will remain available across the 15-week season.

The pool will be open from 3.30pm to 7pm during school terms and from 1.30pm to 7pm on weekends.

During school holidays the pool will open from 1.30pm to 7pm, including weekends and public holidays.

Early morning swimming will remain from 6am to 8.30am On Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.

The Macarthur pool season will run from Saturday December 2 to Sunday March 17 and be open Monday to Friday 3.30pm to 6.30pm during the school term and 1.30pm to 6.30pm on weekends, during school holidays and on Public Holidays.

The pool will have the addition of a splash pad water play area, which will be ready early in the new year, as part of Council’s $2 million upgrade of the Market Street Precinct.

Hawkesdale’s season will run from Saturday December 2 and close Sunday March 17 2024. It will be open Monday to Friday 4pm to 6pm during school terms and from 1pm to 6pm on weekends, during school holidays and Public Holidays. 

 

 

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