Shire seeks views on pool’s opening hours

AS CALLS continue for the opening hours of the Winchelsea Swimming Pool to be extended, the Surf Coast Shire has launched an online survey to gather feedback on how best to balance this request within its existing budget limits.

In a statement, released last week, the shire welcomed recent advocacy surrounding the pool’s coming season, but many of the suggestions it had received would require “significant extra funding” and the “potential scaling back of other services”.

To enable some flexibility to the pool’s opening hours through the summer, the shire has instead proposed the introduction of a temperature threshold, meaning it would remain closed on days predicted to be below 22 degrees, in turn, allowing the pool to open for longer in hotter weather.

The shire is also seeking feedback on residents’ preferred hours of operation, offering two possibilities: shorter opening hours during school terms with extended hours on holidays, or consistent opening hours across both the school term and holiday period.

Cr Joel Grist encouraged residents to have their say, as the shire works toward finalising the program for the new summer season, with the pool to open in late November and close in early March.

“We deliver pool opening hours within the adopted budget, and can’t extend opening hours indefinitely, but some adjustments based on community preferences might make positive differences for users,” he said.

“We appreciate that the community wants to make the best of this sparkling new facility, and we look forward to a new summer season of activity and family fun.”

The new Winchelsea Swimming Pool was opened in February, following an $8.9 million redevelopment, funded through the council’s asset renewal program.

It was opened from 3pm to 7pm Monday to Friday, and 10am to 5pm on weekends. The former pool, meanwhile, was open 12 noon to 6pm, seven days a week.

The council has confirmed it will continue to subsidise operating costs to keep use of the pool affordable for the community, will continue to run Vicswim through January and encourage schools to use the facilities for swimming carnivals.

To complete the shire’s survey before August 26, head to yoursay.surfcoast.vic.gov.au/winchelsea-pool-20252026-season