Wadeye Pool back and firing on all cylinders after 10-month shutdown caused by lack of staff

West Daly and the NT government were left with egg on their faces after the sparkling new asset was forced to sit idle due to a lack of staff, but it’s now humming along after operations were contracted to Y Australia.

Labor’s Dheran Young and Natasha Fyles at the November 2023 reopening of Wadeye Pool after a five-year closure. Picture: File

After an embarrassing 10-month shutdown forced by staffing issues, Wadeye’s new $4.8m pool is back in action after operations were contracted out to The Y Australia (formerly YMCA) via its Remote Pools Project.

In a statement, West Daly Regional Council confirmed normal service at the pool resumed on November 23, with the pool’s standard operating hours 3–6pm weekdays, and 11am–6pm weekends.

“The Wadeye Pool is an integral part of our community, significantly contributing to the physical, mental and social wellbeing of our residents,” the council said.

“The pool provides a safe environment for families, children and individuals of all ages to come together, stay active, and build connections.

The Y Australia's Northern Territory aquatic programs director, Rob West, travelled to Wadeye in early October to train up a new batch of local lifeguards. Picture: Facebook/ Remote Pools Project

“The benefits of the Wadeye Pool extend far beyond the surface.

“It fosters a sense of belonging, promotes a healthy lifestyle and serves as a focal point for community engagement.

“The pool’s role in enhancing the wellbeing of our community cannot be overstated.”

The pool originally closed in November 2018 after vandalism and ageing infrastructure finally pushed it over the edge.

A $4.8m refurbishment, comprising $4.5m in capital costs (funded by the NT government) and $300,000 for planning and design, was unveiled in late 2023, but just a few short months later, in January this year, the lack of lifeguards especially forced the pool into hiatus.

The Y Australia's Northern Territory aquatic programs director, Rob West, travelled to Wadeye in early October to train up a new batch of local lifeguards. Picture: Facebook/ Remote Pools Project

“The reopening of the Wadeye Pool brought a wave of energy to the community including the creation of approximately 15 jobs for local lifeguards,” the council said.

“However, shortly after the reopening, council encountered staffing issues with a shortage of qualified lifeguards.

“To ensure the pool remained operational and safe for our community, the council procured a contract with an external provider to manage its operations from mid-2024.

“Since the commencement of the contract with The Y, closures have been minimal and then mainly for necessary maintenance.”

Despite the successful reopening, West Daly Regional Council remains concerned about its ability to pay for the contract, the cost of which is commercial-in-confidence, long-term.

The contract was only able to be secured after the Wadeye Local Authority gave over a significant portion of its annual budget to make up the gap (local authorities in the NT receive funding from the NT government to put towards local projects desired by the community).

“To ensure the benefits continue to be available for everyone, it is crucial that the Wadeye Pool receives the necessary support to remain operational,” the council said.

“If council is unable to secure additional funding to support the contract, it would need to use some of its limited operational funding from rates and other limited revenue, which may negatively impact service delivery.

“Despite these financial challenges, council remains committed to ensuring the future of Wadeye Pool and is actively exploring all available options to secure the necessary resources to keep the pool operational and accessible to the community.”

The former Labor government previously expressed no interest in financially supporting the pool, saying it was not in the habit of investing in such council infrastructure.