Community members across the Shire have been impacted by the temporary closure of several local swimming pools due to safety concerns with operating equipment.
The Clunes, Daylesford, and Trentham pools were all shut down last week after a fault was discovered in the pool operating equipment at Clunes.
The closure was necessary after a chemical leak at the Clunes pool last Friday resulted in an emergency evacuation. Three staff members were affected by the leak and required medical treatment. Given that the same equipment is used at the Daylesford and Trentham pools, all pools were closed temporarily to allow thorough inspections.
Creswick Splash Park remained open as it was unaffected by the issue.
Following assessments by an independent agency which gave the all clear, Council reopened both Daylesford and Trentham pools. The Clunes Pool will remain closed until further notice as repairs and safety measures are put in place.
Sean Ludeke, Acting Director Infrastructure and Delivery, said that an independent investigation of the incident at the Clunes pool is in progress to understand the contributing factors. “Until this investigation is complete, it is too early to draw any conclusions,” he said.
Council acknowledged the frustration caused by the closures which came during one of the hottest spells of the summer but emphasised that the safety of residents and staff remained their highest priority.
Updates on the Clunes Pool situation will be provided as more information becomes available.
Council has previously recognised the approaching crisis caused by ageing swimming pool infrastructure across the Shire. All three Council operated pools were built in the 1970s and are 60 years old.
On average, Council spends about $500,000 on pool maintenance each year and another $500,000 on operational costs. This expenditure appears to be unsustainable in view of Council’s ongoing budget deficit.
Council adopted the Hepburn Shire Aquatics Strategy in 2022 recognising the need for an indoor aquatics facility for the Shire. A report on the long overdue Indoor Aquatics Provision Feasibility Study and Business Case was presented to Council at it’s ordinary meeting in September 2024. Further asset investigation is required before finalising this work. Outcomes will be made public after Council has considered the findings of the study.
