Gladstone pool in Kempsey Shire Council area to remain open for now as closure decision pushed back
Communities across the Mid-North Coast of NSW are battling to keep much-loved, but ageing public pools open as councils struggle to pay the bills. Here’s the latest.
Mid-North Coast
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A memorial pool in the Kempsey Shire, originally built in honour of war veterans more than 60 years ago, will remain open – for now.
It comes as communities across the Mid-North Coast have been battling to keep public pools operational.
In October, Kempsey Shire Council revealed it was considering closing Macleay Memorial Pool at Gladstone, lamenting it had “become unaffordable”.
The pool was opened in 1963 – the result of a policy to build about 70 pools statewide to provide safe places to swim and honour veterans, particularly those who served in World War II.
Gladstone is a picturesque village on the banks of the Macleay River, with tea houses and galleries making it popular among travellers.
A recent review into the future of the shire’s aquatic facilities found the council faced low usage, increasing operating costs and the availability of other swimming options nearby.
Councillors voted to defer the decision to close the pool – one of four public pools in the local government area – and to investigate a long-term strategy.
Like in many small Mid-North Coast communities confronted with the possible closure of pools – the backlash over the Macleay pool was fierce.
Earlier this year, when residents of the village of Krambach in the MidCoast Council area learnt of a report recommending the closure of their pool, they protested outside council chambers, demanding the idea be rejected.
Councillors were unanimous in their dismissal of the proposal. MidCoast Council has committed to more consultation and changes in the 2024-25 swimming season.
Paul De Szell, director of liveable communities, said the changes would “bring operations up to industry standard and save ratepayers thousands of dollars each year”.
MidCoast Council owns nine pools at Forster, Gloucester, Taree, Wingham, Krambach, Tea Gardens, Nabiac, Bulahdelah and Stroud.
The Wingham pool is in poor condition, plagued by leaks and ‘concrete cancer’ as it nears the end of its usable life.
“We also acknowledge we have no funds to construct a new pool,” Mr De Szell said.
Kempsey Mayor Leo Hauville said his council’s strategy would consider the overall suitability and sustainability of pools, and be developed with Lower Macleay community consultation.
“The Gladstone community has presented a strong case that keeping the pool open is essential to the community’s wellbeing and safety, and that there are important heritage and community connections to the Memorial Pool,” he said.
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