General News
29 November, 2024
Local pool season kicks off this Sunday
Residents are preparing to grab their swimwear, towels and goggles to dive in excitement for the reopening of swimming pools this summer.
Officially starting this Sunday, pools located in Dunolly and Talbot will be free to use until Monday, March 10 on sweltering days where the temperature reaches 25 degrees or above.
Both facilities will open from 3.30 to 7 pm on school days and at 1 pm to 7 pm during the school holidays and weekends.
Residents can also visit the Maryborough Sports and Leisure Centre pool until 7 pm on weekends with reduced casual rates during the season.
Newly elected Central Goldfields Shire mayor Grace La Vella encouraged residents to make the summer a splash hit.
“It’s always very exciting, I grew up in the Maryborough pool which is sadly closed but it’s really good to see our little rural community town pools still up and running,” she said.
“It’s a fabulous recreation sport for the summer — to me it means fun and excitement for the kids but also the adults to sit around the water.”
Cr La Vella said summer is the perfect time for children to learn how to stay safe in the water.
“It’s imperative given the statistics of drowning for our young that you start your children swimming as babies,” she said.
“I recall when I used to teach at the Maryborough pool, we used to teach three-year-olds coming in to learn to swim.
“It’s about safety — you learn how to swim so you can get yourself out of trouble if you’re in the water and you’re in unforeseen circumstances.”
Unfortunately for avid swimmers in the Maryborough community, the local outdoor pool will remain closed for the foreseeable future.
Council closed the facility in September, 2022 after the 50-metre pool was deemed at the ‘end of life stage’ and is needed to be demolished and rebuilt to be safe for visitors.
Cr La Vella said council is optimistic in procuring funding from the State and Federal Government to support the $8 million project.
“We’ll continue to advocate tirelessly to State and Federal governments for the millions we need to rebuild our heritage Olympic pool, to ensure it can be enjoyed by future generations,” she said.
“The Olympic pool is more than 80 years old, and it’s remarkable it held together for as long as it did. To rebuild the main pool from scratch is a big job, but we won’t rest until it happens.
“In the meantime, council has replaced the iconic pavilion’s roof, drainage and rendering, halting any deterioration. The octagonal pool is also finished and looks fantastic.”