{"id":174709,"date":"2025-11-18T14:29:34","date_gmt":"2025-11-18T03:29:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/surfcoasttimes\/?p=174709"},"modified":"2025-11-18T14:35:56","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T03:35:56","slug":"winchelsea-pool-price-increase-summer-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/surfcoasttimes\/news\/winchelsea-pool-price-increase-summer-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Winchelsea families may skip the pool this summer"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Winchelsea Pool will reopen for the summer next week, but an increase in entry fees has left local families feeling they can no longer afford to dive in.<\/p>\n

The facility\u2019s new pricing structure, announced by the Surf Coast Shire last week, lists adult entry at $7.50, child and concession tickets at $6, and family admission \u2013 for two adults and two children \u2013 at $21.<\/p>\n

Multi\u2011visit passes are available, but the former facility’s popular season pass hasn’t made a return, and the remaining 10\u2011visit adult pass, priced at $67.50, offers a saving of just $7.50.<\/p>\n

The pool, which opened to the public in February last year after an $8.9\u202fmillion redevelopment, will operate for its first full season this summer, running from November\u202f29 until March\u202f9.<\/p>\n

But the lack of a season pass has become a sticking point for many locals, particularly those who had hoped for more affordable access over the longer season.<\/p>\n

Frustration has been building online, with many residents taking to Facebook to question why more family\u2011friendly access options haven\u2019t been considered this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe no season pass is going to have a real impact on us,\u201d one resident said.<\/p>\n

Another commented: \u201cIt will be too costly for the average family to use regularly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Winchelsea ward councillor Tony\u202fPhelps also weighed in on the issue, suggesting the season pass had flown \u201cunder the radar\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cDiscussions are being had,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Other commenters compared Winchelsea\u2019s situation to coastal towns like Torquay, suggesting inland towns are being left behind in terms of services.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe get less than Torquay, and they\u2019ve got beaches,\u201d one post read.<\/p>\n

As cost\u2011of\u2011living pressures continue to bite, many are now calling for greater transparency and consultation around pool access, with some suggesting the return of a community\u2011led management model.<\/p>\n

Damian\u202fWaight, the shire\u2019s general manager of community life, said the pool\u2019s 10\u2011visit pass, which replaces the season passes offered in previous years, aimed to improve flexibility for swimmers, ensuring they only pay for the visits they use.<\/p>\n

\u201cBased on the operating costs and forecast visitation numbers, we expect to subsidise each visit this season by about $20,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen setting fees, we think about what is fair in relation to users of a service paying to get the benefit of participating versus the cost worn by the wider ratepaying community.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are listening to community feedback<\/a> and looking forward to a great summer at the Winchelsea Pool.\u201d<\/p>\n

For more, pick up a copy of this week\u2019s Surf Coast\u202fTimes. For opening hours and pricing details, visit the Winchelsea Pool page on the Surf Coast Shire website<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Winchelsea Pool will reopen for the summer next week, but an increase in entry fees has left local families feeling they can no longer afford to dive in. The facility\u2019s new pricing structure, announced by the Surf Coast Shire last week, lists adult entry at $7.50, child and concession tickets at $6, and family […]<\/p>\n

Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":216,"featured_media":174711,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-174709","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhy Winchelsea families may skip the pool this summer - Surf Coast Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Winchelsea locals raise concerns over increased pool entry prices and no season pass option ahead of the full 2025\u201326 summer season.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/surfcoasttimes\/news\/winchelsea-pool-price-increase-summer-2025\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Why Winchelsea families may skip the pool this summer - 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