Hundreds of public pools face closure due to lack of funding to update dangerous infrastructure

Hundreds of ageing regional Victorian pools face closure due to a lack of funding to update dangerous infrastructure, while the Labor government ploughs billions into city-based projects.

A regional Victorian pool that closed in the height of summer after swimmers reported “electrical shocks” is among the scores of ageing pools across the state that face permanent closure.

Heathcote Swimming Pool was closed suddenly in February when temperatures regularly hit more than 35C after patrons began complaining of receiving “minor” shocks.

It remained closed for the rest of the summer and its future now remains uncertain with an investigation ongoing into the cause of the safety concerns.

It is one of hundreds of pools across the state that are showing signs that the infrastructure is reaching the end of its lifespan.

According to the Royal Life Saving Society Australia (RLSSA), many pools built in the 50s, 60s, and 70s will need replacing in the coming years – a task that Victorian local councils say they cannot carry out on their own.

Children will no longer have easy access to swimming lessons. Picture: Rob Leeson

Greater Bendigo Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf concedes that fixing, maintaining and rebuilding its 68 aquatic assets across the municipality was becoming an increasing concern.

She stated that the “financial and other challenges faced by the City in maintaining and providing aquatic facilities throughout Greater Bendigo” were “complicated”.

“The gap continues to grow between the revenue the City can raise and the cost of delivering 68 services while funding new projects,” she told the Herald Sun.

She added that the Labor government’s rate cap “has not kept up with inflation, which means Council must carefully prioritise how it spends public money.”

In the ten years before the implementation of the Labor government’s Fair Go Rates system in 2016, council rates had risen by an average of 6 per cent annually.

However, the cap has limited increases to 2.3 per cent on average.

Minister for Local government Nick Staikos announced the rate cap of 3 per cent for the 2026/27 financial year.

“It is a continuous challenge to stretch rates, fees, charges, and grants to maintain service delivery,” Ms Metcalf said.

Heathcote Pool was closed for investigation. Picture: Facebook

For decades pools have mostly fallen under the remit of local councils in Victoria but now there is the threat of pools disappearing across the state.

In Rochester, the pool reached its end-of-life in 2022, hastened by the floods. It was bulldozed and returned to a public park as council plan its replacement, but the process is likely to take years.

In Central Victoria, Maryborough residents know the pain of losing their pool, which was closed in 2022.

In comparison in Maldon, the pool, which has not yet reached its end of life, is a beehive of activity in Summer, showing its importance to the community.

Royal Life Saving’s RJ Houston, General Manager – Capability and Industry, warned pool closures were painful for the community but also brought increased risk.

“Without a more structured approach to swimming pool investment, more children will miss out on swimming lessons, communities won’t have a safe place to swim laps or cool off during summer, and many will be forced to swim in rivers, and lakes,” Mr Houston said.

The Rochester pool sits empty following the floods before being turned into a public park. Picture: Mark Stewart

Nationals’ Leader and spokesperson for Regional Development Danny O’Brien said pools had traditionally been an issue for local governments, but he did point out that infrastructure funding in regional areas was a huge concern, especially with the Labor government instead ploughing billions into city-based projects.

“There’s been an appalling lack of investment in regional Victoria under Labor – just 13 per cent of infrastructure spending in recent budgets versus our population share of 25 per cent of the state,” he said.

“There’s been no funding available under the Regional Infrastructure Fund since 2022, starving regional communities of opportunities to seek grants for important local facilities like pools.

“At the same time as the regions are starved of funds, Labor has wasted $50 billion on cost over-runs on city mega projects.