Outdoor pool fees have been waived for the 2024-25 season, after the issue was brought forward as a matter of urgent business at the Monday, September 16 council meeting.
These include the Kyabram, Tongala, Lockington, Stanhope, Rushworth and Colbinabbin pools. As Echuca War Memorial Pool is indoors and open year-round, it is not included in the fee waiver.
Monday’s meeting was the final scheduled ordinary meeting of this council group, as Campaspe Shire Council has moved into the election or ‘caretaker’ period.
The motion was introduced by Cr Adrian Weston, who reflected on the increased usage of the pool in 2023 and 2024.
In 2021, the number of aquatic centre visits was 1.87 per person in Campaspe Shire. This grew to 3.31 in 2022, 3.85 in 2023 and fell slightly to 3.71 in 2024.
Fees were waived during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 pool seasons, which run from November to March.
“By the time there is a new council sworn in, and they have the ability via a council meeting to make a decision in relation to whether fees should or should not apply for this season, the pools would have been open,” Cr Weston said at Monday’s meeting.
“I think it’s pretty clear ... that what was appreciated was the ability to be able to use the outdoor pools for free.
“It was certainly reflected in the exponential growth in the numbers of community members who used the pools for the two years where no fees were charged by council.”
Cr Weston brought the motion as a matter of urgent business so that the decision could be made before the caretaker period began on Tuesday, September 17.
The resolution to waive fees was passed unanimously, with Cr John Zobec seconding the motion, also drawing on the benefits it would provide.
“I’ve been a supporter since day dot,” he said at the meeting.
“I certainly support this. I think this just shows us that the community really appreciates what we’re doing by waiving the fees on our pools.
“It gives our whole community the ability to go in for free and enjoy what is really a wonderful service that we provide because not only is it for enjoyment, but it’s a life skill ... learning to live around water and be safe around water.”
The waiving of fees in 2022-23 was to address a decline in pool usage.
Rochester District War Memorial Pool will remain out of action as council prepares for its demolition, to be rebuilt when funding is secured.