Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj seeks review of Eastern Beach pool closure

City Hall’s decision to limit access to a popular children’s pool has riled many and Geelong’s new mayor, whose ward takes in the site, says he was unaware of what appears to be a highly unpopular move.

Restricted hours at the Eastern Beach pool has caught many by surprise, including Mayor Stretch Kontelj. Picture: Alison Wynd.

Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj will meet with council’s chief executive Ali Wastie “as a matter of urgency” after being caught by surprise by a decision to limit access to the children’s pool at Eastern Beach.

A City Hall statement on Friday said the popular pool would operate only from 11am to 7pm under the supervision of lifeguards.

The pool’s gates would be locked outside of those hours, marking a significant shift at a facility that has traditionally been open all hours of the day, including outside supervised hours.

Council’s executive director of city life Anthony Basford said safety was the key consideration, pointing to a recent Life Saving Victoria (LSV) report that highlighted last summer’s record number of drownings.

“The decision to close the children’s pool outside supervised hours strikes the right balance to ensure everyone can visit and enjoy their summer at Eastern Beach, then return home safely at the end of the day,” he said.

“Having the pool open after hours without supervision currently poses an unacceptable risk, especially with the increase in drownings across Victoria.”

After learning of the decision late Friday, Mr Kontelj said he raised concerns with Ms Wastie about the “restrictive hours”.

“I’ve taken the matter up with the CEO as a matter of urgency in an effort to have the decision reviewed,” he said.

In a statement, Ms Wastie said City Hall understood the decision would impact community members who cherished the iconic facility.

“The enclosure’s operating hours have been aligned with lifeguard availability across the City’s aquatics network,” she said.

“The current hours of 11am to 7pm reflect the most popular usage times, balancing safety needs with community demand.

“This approach aligns with public pool regulations.”

Ms Wastie said the council recruited lifeguards year-round.

“Our priority remains the wellbeing of all who visit Eastern Beach, and we are dedicated to maintaining it as a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone,” she said.

Eastern Beach is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. Picture: Mark Wilson.

Mr Kontelj’s brother and fellow councillor, Eddy, also requested a “prompt review” of the decision.

“I was unaware of these recent changes/initiatives,” he said on Saturday.

The children’s pool closure is one of many new safety measures at Eastern Beach, which is expected to attract up to 10,000 people a day over summer.

Other changes include lifeguards monitoring the dive boards to ensure rule enforcement, a restriction on swimming under the boards while diving is occurring, and the imminent installation of a public defibrillator and rescue equipment.

The overwhelming response to council’s announcement of the decision on Facebook was negative.

A large number of people said they preferred to take their children for a swim before 11am, while others said swimming should be allowed at all hours under parent supervision.

“It’s clear that the council needs to prioritise the wellbeing of our community and consider what families truly need,” one person wrote.

“Let’s advocate for better access for everyone.”

LSV chief executive Catherine Greaves said all of last summer’s 27 drownings occurred in unpatrolled areas.

“Any body of water of water can be deadly, and swimming at all beaches, waterways and pools carries an element of risk,” she said.

Eastern Beach will be a popular outlet for people looking to keep cool on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, when the temperature is forecast to reach 31C and 40C respectively.

Meanwhile, City Hall has been left red-faced after conceding its 2025 calendar won’t be available until January, with production issues blamed for the delay.

The cover image that will appear on the 2025 City of Greater Geelong calendar. Picture: Louise Edebone.

Originally scheduled to be available this month, each household won’t automatically be sent a calendar, unlike previous years.

Residents had to register if they wanted to directly receive one.

“To reduce waste, we won’t be sending a calendar to every household, but don’t worry, we’ll announce when you can pick one up from our three customer service centres,” City Hall said last week.

Originally published as Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj seeks review of Eastern Beach pool closure