Cowes Primary School’s swimming pool to remain closed this summer

A popular Bass Coast public swimming pool will remain closed this summer due to COVID-19 and the availability of staff.

Cowes Primary School’s swimming pool to remain closed this summer.

A popular swimming pool in the Bass Coast will remain closed this summer due to COVID-19 and availability of qualified staff.

Cowes Primary School’s swimming pool normally opens each summer for public use as a partnership project between YMCA Bass Coast and Bass Coast Shire.

But a statement released by council on Tuesday said this won’t be going ahead.

“Given the expectations for the safe management of swimming facilities due to COVID-19 and the availability of qualified swimming staff, the swimming pool will not be opened this year,” the statement said.

“This has been an extremely difficult year for our community and our valued partner YMCA and this decision was not taken lightly.”

According to the Department of Health and Human Services Victoria, there has been no active COVID-19 cases in the Bass Coast since August 28.

There’s been a total of 11 COVID-19 cases in the Bass Coast with an estimated residential population of 36,320.

Bass Coast CEO Ali Wastie said that the safety of the community is both council’s and YMCA’s number one priority.

“We don’t want to jeopardise the safety of the community who have valued this service over recent years, but we also need to adhere to the state government’s COVID-19 guidelines and manage these within our available resourcing,” Ms Wastie said.

Construction of the new school gymnasium, is expected to begin over the upcoming school holiday period, creating additional management challenges for the YMCA.

Council, YMCA and Cowes Primary School are confident that the outdoor pool will be available for community use in future years.

The Bass Coast Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Wonthaggi will open for it’s usually hours over the summer period.

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