Pool Season Dates: Understanding Our Operating Hours

Our swimming pool operating hours are carefully determined based on historical usage data and participation trends, which ensures we allocate resources where they're most needed.

They are also set at the beginning of our pool operator’s contract, which means that as much as we’d like to be flexible with operating hours and the season dates based on the weather, to do so requires significant additional investment from Council.

How operating hours are determined

  • Hours vary from site to site based on historical usage and participation trends
  • The annual pool operation contract is specifically priced according to these agreed hours

Extending the pool season

When the weather stays warm into March and April, we often receive requests to extend the pool season. However:

  • Any extension requires a formal contract variation
  • These additional hours are not included in our annual operating budget
  • Council must fund any extra operational costs, which is in the thousands per week, at each location. For example, to fund a four-week extension at each of our five pools, is estimated to be at a total cost of $100,000 to Council. To fund this would mean the reduction in service delivery elsewhere.

Our current pool operator contract

  • Belgravia Leisure commenced operational management of our five swimming pools for the 2021/2022 season. The three-year contract expired on 18 September 2024, with the option to renew for an additional three years in one-year increments.
  • At its July 2024 meeting Council resolved to enter into a one-year contract extension with Belgravia Leisure for the 2024/25 season with the contract price of $715,276.

The reality of pool economics

  • Operating and replacement costs are rising faster than inflation
  • Council currently subsidises visitation at all five of its pools. The cost per visit rate is calculated by dividing the total operating costs by total visitation at each site. Based on figures from the 2023/24 season, below is the subsidised amount for each visit at each location:
    • Beechworth: $23 per attendee
    • Yackandandah: $29 per attendee
    • Rutherglen: $44 per attendee
    • Chiltern: $50 per attendee
    • Tangambalanga: $57 per attendee

The financial aspect of pool operations presents significant challenges, and as much as Council recognises it would be wonderful to extend the season, particularly when it is so hot, it is unfortunately not that simple. This decision requires careful consideration for how we will fund the additional hours, and put simply, without service reduction elsewhere, it is not possible to responsibly fund any additional hours.

While we appreciate this isn’t the answer many community members are seeking, we hope it provides some clarity around our service planning. 

The operation of our pools, as well as the season dates and hours will be reviewed at the end of the current season. 

 

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