Shellharbour City Council is inviting the community to have their say on the future of local pools to compliment a comprehensive Aquatics Facilities Review.
The review is assessing the condition, performance and long-term sustainability of the City’s aquatics facilities to ensure they continue to meet the needs of our growing and changing community.
Caption: Beverley Whitfield Ocean Pool. Image courtesy of Shellharbour City Council
Council currently operates 3 aquatic centres, and 1 ocean pool which play a vital role in community life – supporting swimming lessons, fitness, recreation, rehabilitation, social connection and local sport.
However, like many other councils, Shellharbour is facing increasing challenges, including:
- Ageing infrastructure requiring ongoing upgrades and maintenance
- Rising operational costs
- Significant population growth, particularly in the western suburbs of our City
- Evolving expectations around accessibility, sustainability and programming
We want to make sure these much-loved community assets continue to meet the needs of our residents now and into the future. As our population grows and expectations change, it’s important we hear directly from our community about how they use these spaces and what matters most to them.
Mayor Chris Homer said the project is about balancing current needs with long-term sustainability.
“This review will help us understand how our facilities are performing, where improvements are needed and how we can deliver the best outcomes for our community in a financially responsible way,” he said.
“Community feedback will provide valuable insight into how people use our pools and what they would like to see in the future.”
Community members are encouraged to share their feedback by visiting Lets Chat.
KEY MESSAGES:
- The community is invited to have their say on the future of local pools.
- Council is reviewing facilities to ensure they continue to meet the future needs of our growing community.
