Beaufort Swimming Pool re-opens
Published on 25 February 2025
The Beaufort Swimming Pool will reopen today at 1pm after works to rectify the issues that caused excess water to collect behind the pool liner.
Pyrenees Shire Council CEO Jim Nolan said that extensive work had been conducted by Council officers, Belgravia Leisure staff and aquatic facility experts to identify the issues and implement solutions to allow the pool to reopen.
Mr Nolan said the cause of the issues related to filtered water inlet valves that failed, with replacement parts having to be custom made to fit the ageing infrastructure.
He said that once the new parts were fitted, tests were run to ensure the quality of water circulation was safe and the prevention of excess water and air being forced between the pool shell and the liner.
“However, patrons using the pool will notice that some sections are closed off from use.
“It is also important to note that while this particular issue has been resolved, Council is still dealing with an ageing asset that is coming to the end of its life.
“Public swimming pools are complex infrastructure with many parts, most of which are underground in locations not accessible without emptying the pool. It is a complicated process to find the cause – if it was a car, we could pop the bonnet, see all the parts and identify the issue quickly.”
Mr Nolan reiterated that Council and Belgravia Leisure, which manages the pool, were sorry to have to close the pool, but it was necessary for the safety of the community.
“We will do everything possible to keep the pool open for the rest of the season, and Council and Belgravia Leisure are in discussions around extending the season subject to favourable weather conditions."
Many Councils around the state and country are facing the same issues with swimming pools as many were built in the 1960s and 1970s to standards and specifications that have long since been improved.
According to a report by Royal Life Saving Australia, the average lifespan of a public pool in Australia is around 50 years. The report states around 40% of public pools will reach the end of their functional lifespan by 2030, meaning they will need significant refurbishment or replacement within the next decade (based on the average Australian public pool being built in 1968).
Mr Nolan said with that in mind, Pyrenees Shire Council is working on a strategic plan for its three swimming pools to ensure the facilities are financially sustainable and meet the community’s needs
“The challenges with our pools are many – ageing infrastructure requires more maintenance and a greater likelihood of problems arising during the season. Plus operational costs for Pyrenees pools have more than doubled in the past five years.
“While we don’t want to see any of our pools close, we also need to make sure that our services and our pools are safe and delivering what our community needs and expects in a way that’s cost effective and efficient.”