Entry free increase looms for Woodside pool as Adelaide Hills Council votes for $750,000 splash park

The entry fee at a popular Adelaide pool may rise, as the local council votes to spend more on a new splash park at the site.

Entry fees at Woodside pool may increase, as Adelaide Hills Council considers a revamp of the 50-year-old site – and voted spend an extra $350,000 on a proposed splash park at the complex.

A report to council into the pool’s future at the February meeting recommends significant upgrades and found a new indoor pool would be more efficient rather than enclosing the existing main pool.

Woodside pool is open on days when the forecast is 25C or above and its main competitor for decades has been Mount Barker’s 60-year-old Mountain Pool – but construction has now started on the town’s $51.8m aquatic centre.

Keeping Woodside pool’s “point of difference” of open lawns, trees and picnic areas is essential, the report says, and considered a range of options.

A council report into the Adelaide Hills Swimming Centre at Woodside has urged significant upgrades. Picture: Supplied

The council also voted to increase its contribution to a new splash park at the swimming centre to $350,000, bringing the total cost to $750,000.

A complete three-pool rebuild of the site would cost about $6m, while a new, additional indoor pool – measuring 16m x 8m pool – would be $6.5m.

It recommended against enclosing the pool to allow it to stay open for more of the year because it wouldn’t be cost effective.

The report said a new indoor pool in Stirling would be difficult given the lack of available land but could be a more “viable” location.

It also urged council take more responsibility in managing the centre and says it may need to increase its operating subsidy.

The pool at Woodside posted an $80,000 loss in 2022, the report says, because of a 185 per cent rise in electricity and gas expenses and a 21 per cent increase for staffing cost.

Pool entry is currently $6.50 for an adult – the third-cheapest in the region – but fees should be increased, it said, and a 50c charge for hot showers removed.

The report urges significant upgrades to the plant room and pool plant, the “tired-looking” entry way, change rooms and first aid room.

The “tired-looking” entry into the Adelaide Hills Swimming Centre at Woodside. Picture: Supplied

It also said pool wall tiling and fittings need replacing and the entire site needs to be more accessible for people with disabilities or mobility issues.

However, it found the main 25m pool was in satisfactory condition and should last for another 15-20 years.

The report recommends upgrades to the “very basic, old and tired-looking” pool entry and a new canteen at the complex’s other end.

It suggests upgrades to the first aid room, office and change rooms, focusing on “modern and functional … accessible facilities”.

The entire site is considered “poor” for people with disabilities, with “significant upgrades” warranted.

Upgrades are urged for picnic and BBQ areas, and “critical” plant work is needed before next summer.

Just maintaining the pool – which would deliver about another 15-20 years of useful life – would cost about $730,000, it says.

It says small or medium ‘splash pads’ would help create another point of difference and cost between $400,000 and $750,000.

Upgrades to pool heaters would assist in the efficiency of the plant equipment and may make opening the site earlier in the year more feasible.