By Cara Waters
Lord Mayor Nick Reece is backing away from a promise to provide 50,000 free swimming lessons each year and $2 swimming pool entry across the City of Melbourne’s pools.
Reece made the pledges as part of his campaign to be elected lord mayor however at a council meeting on Tuesday night the City of Melbourne voted to provide only 3000 free swimming lessons and limit $2 pool entry to weekdays only for three months at two pools.
Lord Mayor Nick Reece pledged in his election campaign to provide 50,000 free swimming lessons and $2 pool entry. Credit: Penny Stephens
Reece declined to comment on why the promised lessons and discount entry had been drastically reduced.
When he made the pledge last year, Reece said it would help ease cost of living pressures on families.
“We are focused on making it easier for people to get to the pool, have a swim, and access the crucial early lessons they need to swim well and keep safe,” he said.
“Melbourne could be home to a future Olympic champion, and I don’t want to see the next Kaylee McKeown or Kyle Chalmers not get the chance to swim because it’s too expensive.”
The City of Melbourne undertook a trial of the $2 pool entry and free swimming lessons in January with 9422 swims purchased, increasing swimming attendance for the month to 19,495 swims, a 38 per cent increase from 2024.
The council also provided one week of free swimming lessons for 400 people (2000 lessons in total) and the program was oversubscribed with 200 people on a waiting list.
The trial cost $26,000 to deliver and Reece said it was a “huge success” and increased visitation to the city’s pools.
“It’s clear this program is in high demand, and I want to see it expanded so more residents can benefit,” he said. “That’s thousands of Melburnians having happier, healthier summers because of an initiative here at town hall.”
Rudwan Yey and Sihaam Deeq from Debney meadows Primary School swimming at the Carlton Baths in December. Credit: Simon Schluter
The council has budgeted $59,000 for the swimming lessons and reduced entry fee which includes a $25,000 revenue reduction for the two pools, Carlton Baths and North Melbourne Pool, and an additional $34,000 for staffing, cleaning and security.
The council did not provide any estimates as to how much the 50,000 free swimming lessons and $2 pool entry all year pledged by Reece would have cost.
Councillor Olivia Ball pushed to have the $2 entry offer limited to concession card holders, student card holders, families and children but this was rejected.
A report by Life Saving Australia cited by council found 104 people lost their lives to drowning this past summer, up 5 per cent from last summer and 14 per cent on the five-year average.
When asked about the impact of the reduction in the pledged swimming lessons and discount entry a spokesperson for Life Saving Victoria said every effort in the space had potential to save lives.
“Life Saving Victoria supports any initiative that improves access to swimming lessons and public pools, helping communities develop vital water safety skills,” they said.
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