Confidential report condemns Cleveland’s crumbling Olympic pool as $100m whitewater venue gets funding

A bayside city, earmarked to host whitewater canoe events at the 2032 Games, could be left with no Olympic-sized swimming pool after a damning report condemned its ageing aquatic centre.

Slippery and slimy: clockwise from top: paint on the concrete floor inside the indoor pool area; mould grows on the floor of a shower; portable toilets in the garden. Pictures: Taken and contributed September 9, 2023.

A bayside council planning a $100 million whitewater canoe venue for the 2032 Games, will not replace its only 50m Olympic public swimming pool.

Redland City Council has no public plans to rebuild four pools at its 45-year-old Cleveland Aquatic Centre, which were condemned in a damning recently-released confidential consultant report.

Deloitte Access Economics found the Cleveland facility, which includes the city’s only 50m outdoor Olympic swimming pool, was “at the end of its life” and “currently not fit for purpose”.

The 2019 report, made public following a recent Right to Information request, said the swimming pools at the aquatic centre “needed immediate replacement”.

The front entrance where the paint is peeling. Picture: Contributed

“In summary, significant capital expenditure is required to replace aquatic facilities on a ‘like for-like’ basis,” the Deloitte report said.

“This is estimated at $17.6 million (in $2018-19). It is also assumed that Redland council continues to provide ongoing financial support to the operator which includes the management fee of around $260,000 plus operating maintenance costs of around $335,000 per annum in real terms ($2018-19) out to 2050.”

Council consultation about future use of the Birkdale precinct in 2021 resulted in more than 15 residents calling for a new Olympic sized pool according to a report obtained through Right to Information.

Redland council is currently working closely with the state government to design and build a whitewater pool at Birkdale for the 2032 Olympic Games.

A masterplan for the proposed Birkdale venue was released in March but does not include plans for a 50m Olympic-sized swimming pool to replace the ageing one at Cleveland.

The aquatic centre, managed by Belgravia Leisure for the council, charges $6.50 entry fee, 225 per cent more than the $2 Brisbane City Council will charge for all of its pools this summer.

It also includes a heated outdoor 25m pool and a heated 25m indoor learn-to-swim pool built in 1994.

The outdoor 50m pool is the only Olympic-sized swimming pool in Redland; a heated indoor learn-to-swim pool. Pictures: Contributed

It is used by at least four major Redland schools despite being plagued by broken pipes, cracking paint, mouldy showers, no hot water, and sewerage leaks.

Belgravia Leisure area manager Gary Baldwin said the latest incident was a burst sewerage pipe which caused a sewage backflow in the female toilets and adjacent unisex change rooms on Saturday September 9.

“Plumbers attended within the hour … but while commercial works were underway to fix the problem, the toilets were put out of order,” he said.

“Six portaloos were hired to ensure females had access to amenities over the weekend, particularly as a carnival was booked for the next day.

“The full repair was completed within 48 hours and full use of the toilet blocks restored.”

Mr Baldwin said he could not comment on claims that the council had installed solar panels last year which were not connected.

However, he was told the council had completed a thorough audit of the venue and produced a repair and maintenance document which Belgravia Leisure was yet to receive.

A confidential Deloitte Access Economics report, recently released under the RTI Act, has condemned Cleveland’s 45-year-old Olympic swimming pool, the only public one in Redland.

Grim photos taken of the facility this month show films of green grime around the base of showers, slimy indoor concrete floors and leaks around the base of toilet bowls.

Customers who use the pool daily, including Rob Lohrisch, said it was prone to “snap closures”.

“I have arrived at the pool early to find it was shut and I was told it was to adjust the chemicals,” Mr Lohrisch said.

“It was reopened about an hour later – so we were left wondering how they had adjusted the chemicals for more than 1.5 million litres of water so quickly.

“We love the facility and want it to remain open but it has been left to dilapidate for at least four years with no long-term refurbishment plan — even though Redland has won the right to be an Olympic venue — it won’t have an Olympic pool.”

The centre was closed for upgrades in 2020 using funds from the state government’s Covid Works for Queensland program.

The pool and facilities were built more than 40 years ago. Pictures: Contributed

It reopened in August 2022 when regular patrons were told the council had finally started a budget allocation for ongoing maintenance and a plan for a replacement facility would be announced in 2023.

Redland council said those works cost the ratepayer and the state approximately $1.3 million.

It said a further $416,000 would be spent this financial year on maintaining the venue after a condition and safety report.

However, the council did not respond to claims that the pool had been left to deteriorate on purpose while the council focused on building a whitewater venue.

The council also gave no time frame for a maintenance works program, which pool users said was necessary to replace old pipeworks and ageing shower and water fixtures.

A council spokesman said the Birkdale precinct was ideal for a whitewater venue despite last week’s damning Senate report claiming an existing facility at Penrith should be considered as a priority.

Broken sewerage pipes resulted in sewage backflow in the female toilets, which had to be closed. Pictures: Contributed

“A 2017 proposal to create an integrated aquatic and emergency precinct at Cleveland Aquatic Centre did not proceed because one of the parties was unable to secure funding,” the council said.

“The Queensland government is planning and delivering the new Redland Whitewater Centre for the Brisbane 2032 infrastructure program, under the Intergovernmental Agreement with the Commonwealth.

“The surrounding area is the responsibility of Redland City Council, for which council has released the Birkdale Community Precinct Master Plan.

“The 62-hectare Birkdale Community Precinct is the ideal position for the Redland Whitewater Centre due to its capacity to accommodate the integrated venue as well as its proximity to accommodation, transport and other services.”