Residents of Port Fairy have reacted with outrage and dismay after the sudden closure of the district’s only all-abilities pool. The decision, which was made by the local council, has sent the community at large reeling, particularly with the upcoming holiday season just around the corner.
Local mother of three Jacqui King has been coming to her all-abilities community pool for years. She began taking her kids there when they were toddlers. She further spotlighted the facility’s important role in supporting water safety and access, and creating pathways for the next generation of competitive swimmers. “We don’t know how many lives we have saved because children learned to swim here,” King said.
The pool has produced and propelled hundreds of youth athletes. Among them is King’s eldest daughter, who has made it to the finals at the Australian swim trials. Without access to a facility like this, King worries that her daughter would otherwise never have had such an experience.
Impact on Local Residents
Peter O’Keeffe, a Port Fairy resident, swims at the pool three times a week. His wife engages in water aerobics nearly every day of the week. The closure affects not only their routines but the wider community’s access to a unique facility that allows users to walk into the water without steps or a ladder. O’Keeffe, who’s missed much of the 2023 season recovering from knee surgery, said losing this unique resource would be a profound disappointment.
Nearly 300 area residents recently came together to demand transparency and accountability for the future of the community pool. During that only community meeting on Thursday, they expressed their frustration and worries. Further compounding this anger was that the council’s decision came days before Christmas.
The pool and adjacent gym have become central to life in Port Fairy, often described as “the world’s most livable community” for populations under 20,000. Teresa O’Brien, local committee member and primary contractor Appledore Marine, knew that there was serious maintenance work to be done. She said that the $2 million repair estimate should be questioned.
“The council has mentioned a figure of $2 million to repair the pool, but there is no detail on the repairs,” – Peter O’Keeffe.
O’Brien further questioned the basis for this estimate: “We want to know whether the $2 million figure has come from a consultant or whether it was from their own internal team, and what actually makes up the $2 million?”
Community Response and Future Prospects
The sentiment among residents is clear: rather than closing the pool, they advocate for repairs and improvements. “It’s not uncommon for indoor pools to have mould, but instead of shutting pools down they remediate them,” Jacqui King.
King also criticized the council’s approach: “Here they seem to have just said it’s too hard and have just given up without considering the needs of the community.” Her remarks give voice to an increasing impatience felt by the people who use this disappearing resource for fun and safety.
O’Brien stated that while there are always improvements to be made, the necessary work is not as extensive as suggested by the council’s estimates. “The committee has always acknowledged there is work that needs to be done, but that the works are not that significant and definitely not in the millions of dollars,” she said.
