- issues with the dome and supporting structures,
- defects to the pool equipment including issues with the sand filters
- potential cracking of the shell of the pool surface causing a leak of approximately 100,000L of water every week
- the surfaces of the spa and learn to swim pools are separating causing leaks.
Yarra Ranges Mayor, Councillor Jim Child said this was a difficult decision but one that had to be made for financial, environmental and accessibility reasons.
“We know that the Kilsyth Centenary Pool has been a much-loved facility for the community and that many people hold happy memories of times spent there but unfortunately, due to the unique construction of the facility, and the costs to restore it in a safe, environmentally sound and accessible way the costs are prohibitive.
Since the temporary closure of the pool in March 2023, Council officers and contractors have been assessing the integrity of the Kilsyth pool and undertaking investigations on the viability of repairs while assessing the future needs for the municipality.
Cr Child said, “We need to consider our municipality as a whole and how best to invest our limited resources and that’s what our proposed Draft Aquatics and Leisure Strategy does with a raft of recommendations for a range of aquatics facilities right across the Yarra Ranges.”
“A major part of this draft strategy is investigating opportunities for an integrated aquatic and leisure centre – a regional-level pool that would offer spaces to benefit many in the community, in Lilydale where public transport is available, has many residents and where we’ll see the bulk of our population growth over the coming years.
“This draft strategy outlines this as a major goal for the next decade and if the final plan is endorsed by Council, we’ll get to work preparing a business case and a funding strategy, to advocate for investment and turn that idea into a reality,” said Cr Child.
The Kilsyth Pool has limited facilities and does not meet modern-day standards that users expect at leisure facilities such as disability access, varying pool depths and temperatures, other sporting facilities such as a gymnasium or exercise rooms.
Cr Child said “Residents can use the Aquahub in neighbouring Croydon which is only 4km away and shares 93% of Kilsyth’s residents or any of our other facilities such as the Yarra Centre in Yarra Junction or Monbulk Swimming Pool – or alternatively visit our splash parks at Lilydale, Seville and Warburton. Cr Child said “Residents can use the Aquahub in neighbouring Croydon which is only 4km away and shares 93% of Kilsyth’s population or any of our other facilities such as the Yarra Centre in Yarra Junction or Monbulk Swimming Pool – or alternatively visit our splash parks at Lilydale, Seville and Warburton.
“As the Kilsyth pool aged the number of users also dropped and the costs increased. Many swimming facilities make their profits from not only the pool use, but also the ancillary services such as gyms and other ‘dry’ fitness facilities– which Kilsyth pool did not have.
“Not only that though, but there were also significant environmental effects too due to the permeable dome structure. In fact, with gas being used to keep the dome inflated, the Kilsyth pool had the highest amount of carbon emissions (42.3%) from all our aquatic facilities and cost just under $450,000 per year in utilities alone,” said Cr Child.
Since the closure in March, Belgravia Leisure has suspended all Kilsyth memberships and encouraged members to ultilise other pools in Yarra Ranges and nearby municipalities. Maroondah Leisure at Aquahub, Croydon increased the capacity of their Learn to Swim program and members of the Lilydale Swim Club have been using other facilities such as Knox Leisure Works and the Yarra Centre in Yarra Junction.
Cr Child said, “We acknowledge that the closure of this pool has had a big impact on the local community and particularly the Lilydale Swimming Club and we will continue to work with the club to ensure their continued prosperity.
“It is with sadness that we as a Council have to close a facility that we know generations have used over the years, whether that be where you learned to swim, attended your school swimming carnival, took your children to learn to swim or simply cooled off in the summer.
“The land where the pool is will remain with Council and be reinstated back to parkland for now. A Masterplan for the Kiloran Park precinct will be completed shortly to look at how the community wants to use this area, which may include ways to memorialise the pool.
“With the recent land purchase of 150 Cambridge Road ($6.4M) and master planning underway, recently completed works at Elizabeth Bridge Reserve ($1.4M), and $18M worth of developments at Pinks Reserve, there’s some exciting developments for open space and recreation in Kilsyth,” said Cr Child.
