Kyabram is due to enjoy 28ºC conditions on Saturday and a similarly warm Sunday, which could point to a weekend of free swimming at the shire-run facilities for the community.
Under the shire’s operating conditions the temperature must be more than 25ºC in order for the pool to open its gates.
If it is less than 25ºC, under the shire policy, the outdoor pools do not open.
The swim season is due to start on Saturday, November 26, and there will be no entry costs to Kyabram, Tongala, Rushworth, Stanhope, Colbinabbin and Lockington pools.
Rochester pool will not be open, an initial assessment by council indicating an uncertain future for the facility.
“We still need to determine what works are required to be completed, whether that involves major repair works or a complete reconstruction to all areas of the pool and surrounds,” Campaspe Shire director community Andrew Fletcher said.
“As you can imagine, this will take some time and we cannot confirm any kind of opening date, as further detailed assessments are still being undertaken.”
Camapspe Shire’s seven outdoor pools were at the heart of a heated community debate only 10 months ago when shire officers recommended they be closed during the course of the next two swim seasons.
For several of the pools this season was scheduled to be their last, with savings from their decommissioning to be poured into alternate community projects.
That project was passionately rejected by the community, a new chief executive officer started at the council and now — less than a year later — entry to the pools for 2022-23 is free and a further delay on their future will mean the 2023-24 swim season is also assured.
Not only were the pools saved, but only months ago it was announced that the doors would be swung open to the pools at no charge for the entire summer.
Then Campaspe Shire Mayor Chrissy Weller indicated it was a “test case” to see whether it was the cost of pool entry that was keeping people from using the facilities — at the centre of that January debate which had the council in the cross hairs of its ratepaying community.
She said pool use had continually declined through the years and the free admission may resolve the issue.
At the time of the “free entry” announcement council admitted the cost of the decision would mean an $88,000 loss of income.
There has also been a change to outdoor pool operating hours, with 4pm until 8pm school term hours during the week and from 1pm to 8pm on weekends.
During the school holidays the outdoor pools will be open the entire week from 1pm until 8pm.
Last season, because of COVID and staff unavailability, pools were regularly closed in spite of the weather being sufficient to open.
An off-season recruiting campaign to ensure enough staff are available to man the seven outdoor pools has been completed by the shire.
How that works will be shown through any unplanned interruption to opening during the swim season.
Kyabram pool will continue to be open from 6.30am until 8am for early morning swimmers.
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