Beaufort Swimming Pool closure update 7 February 2025

Published on 07 February 2025

Pyrenees Shire Council and pool operations manager Belgravia Leisure have provided an update on the closure of the Beaufort Pool this week.

Pyrenees Shire CEO Jim Nolan said Council fully understands the community’s frustration but said it was essential to close the pool due to safety concerns.

“Both Council and Belgravia Leisure sincerely apologise for the closure, however the safety of our community is of the utmost importance and must come first.”

Mr Nolan said a new unique technical issue – one that was unforeseen and not preventable – had caused issues with the pool liner lifting away from the pool shell.

“The situation poses an unacceptable risk to the community – our only option is to close the pool to the public until we can determine the cause and options to repair.

“At this stage, it is not possible to provide a pool reopening date – the nature of the problem means we will need to fully assess the issue and further consult experts in the field. This issue is rare with industry experts indicating it is an unprecedented level of impact to a public pool lining, so it is important to investigate thoroughly.”

Belgravia Leisure Business Operations Manager (Vic Nth) Tim Free assured local residents that the team is working with Council to provide an alternative option while the pool remains closed.

“We appreciate this is frustrating for locals, particularly at this time of year. Whilst investigations continue, we are pleased to offer members free access to Avoca Pool and will continue to provide updates via our Facebook page so members are kept fully informed,” Mr Free said.

“The health and safety of our guests is always our primary objective and we’d like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding.”

Mr Nolan said it was important to understand that the pool, which was built in 1967, is an ageing asset that is coming to the end of its life. This means that unforeseen problems are much more likely to occur, especially when the pool is fully operational during the summer months.

Many Councils around the state and country are facing the same issues with swimming pools as many were built in the 1960s and 1970s to standards and specifications that have long since been improved.

According to a report by Royal Life Saving Australia, the average lifespan of a public pool in Australia is around 50 years. The report states around 40% of public pools will reach the end of their functional lifespan by 2030, meaning they will need significant refurbishment or replacement within the next decade (based on the average Australian public pool being built in 1968).

Mr Nolan assured the community that Council and Belgravia Leisure were doing everything they can to investigate the issue and provide residents with more information and clarity around the much-loved asset.

“The challenges with our pools are many – ageing infrastructure requires more maintenance and a greater likelihood of problems arising during the season. Plus, operational costs for Pyrenees pools have doubled in the past five years.

“While we don’t want to see any of our pools close, we also need to make sure that our services and our pools are safe and delivering what our community needs and expects in a way that’s cost effective and efficient.”