Echuca pool closure astounds Campaspe Shire residents

A major Victorian town won’t have a pool during the peak summer school holiday period as it gets a fresh lick of paint angering locals.

You won’t be seeing any of this in the Echuca pool this summer.

A regional swimming pool will be closed for five weeks in the middle of summer school holidays for a new lick of paint, forcing angry locals to head out of town to cool off.

Campaspe Shire will shut the Echuca War Memorial Aquatic Centre from December 17 to January 22, with the nearest pool in Rochester also closed after being badly damaged in

the 2022 floods.

Echuca man Larry Mongta said the decision by the council lacked common sense.

“It will cost us a lot in petrol money … The nearest pool is at least 25 minutes away,” he said.

“Perhaps they are unable to replace staff (lifeguards) going on annual leave.”

Other residents said any closure of the pool should be done in winter.

The Echuca War Memorial Aquatic Centre will be closed from December 17 to January 22.

“This is ridiculous. Closing over the Christmas/Summer holidays seems a bit counterintuitive to me,” Stephen Cronk said.

But the council said the shutdown was during the pools “least busy” period when there were no swimming lessons or school bookings

Jo Bradshaw, the Communities Director at Campaspe Shire says the December and January period is the least busy.

“The Echuca pool does not have bookings for learn-to-swim classes, swimming competitions, or school groups so it is our least busy time. This has been communicated to all members who have the option to suspend their memberships during the closure”.

You won’t be seeing any of this in the Echuca pool this summer.

Ms Bradshaw also said that due to the pool being indoors, there is “higher demand in winter”.

However, locals said the council’s rationale made no sense.

“Busiest time of the year and school holidays, what are they thinking,” local Gem Barnes said.

“Least busy? Middle of summer with school holidays and visitors galore. What a ludicrous decision,” Gary-Helen Sivesind wondered.

There were also concerns the closure could impact Echuca’s tourist numbers.

Pauline Birch said it was a “dreadful decision” as people brought their families up over the Christmas break and their children enjoyed “going for a swim on hot days.”

The Rochester swimming pool has been closed since the floods of 2022.

Others were simply fed up with the council’s decision making.

Karen Fitzgerald said “Bloody pencil pushers at it again”, while Daryl Raverty said the decision was “another dumb move” by the Campaspe Shire Council.

The Echuca War Memorial Aquatic Centre’s other facilities will still be open, such as the gym, during that period.

The closest pool to Echuca that will be open during the period is Lockington – roughly 25 minutes drive – and then Kyabram, which is roughly half an hour.