At its May meeting last week, the Coolamon Shire Council voted to refund a portion of season pass fees for the Coolamon Pool due to the early finish to the 2025/26 swimming season. The council confirmed season ticket holders at the Coolamon Pool will be eligible for a reimbursement of 20 per cent of their membership fee after the season ended earlier than expected. During the swimming season, the council paid the Ardlethan and Ganmain pool operators for any patrons holding Coolamon season passes who attended those facilities instead. Meanwhile, the council also outlined the results of a major review into public pool operations across the shire. The survey, conducted between 29 January and 26 March, attracted 156 submissions and included feedback from residents on the facilities and services provided by the three pools across the shire. The council said the current operating model involved contracting pool management to individuals, with contractors setting entry fees and retaining canteen income, while the council covered operational expenses including water, power, chemicals, repairs and maintenance. The report noted the pools operated at a financial loss, with the council continuing the model as a community service. A range of feedback was received through the review process, including comments focusing on pool cleanliness, accessibility, operating hours, food options and water temperature. Council pointed to previous upgrades at the Coolamon toddler pool, where full shade coverage initially drew complaints that the water had become too cold for children to comfortably use. “During the next summer season, the council received constant feedback that children would not use the pool because it was too cold,” the report stated. “The solution was to turn the shade around and ensure that for the majority of the day, the pool received full sun. “Lap swimmers and the swim club generally want it colder than people doing water aerobics. “This is a permanent issue with all pool operators, with no exact temperature being able to satisfy all.” The council’s General Manager, Tony Donoghue, said there was no easy answer in accommodating everyone in relation to the pool temperature. “You’re never going to make everyone happy,” he said. “You’ll always get someone who wants it higher or someone who wants it lower.” Recommendations from the review also included regular inspections to ensure pool cleanliness and maintenance standards were being upheld, along with annual food shop inspections at pool facilities. Mayor David McCann asked Councillor Alan White, who is also the Goldenfields Water Chairman, what had been done to resolve the problem of water discolouration. Cr White said Goldenfields Water was aware of the discolouration and had purchased a mobile filtration truck. “A lot of this (discolouration) has occurred this time because of that extended hot weather when we actually – especially in Coolamon – were running at capacity,” he said. “All the pipes have been fairly well flushed, so the filtration truck is doing an excellent job of cleaning this ageing infrastructure, so I can see a reduction in complaints we’re getting – it’s improving.” The survey revealed 80 per cent of respondents rated the pools as either excellent or good, while 59 per cent said they were satisfied with the level of service provided for the cost. The review revealed 28 per cent of respondents would be prepared to pay higher rates for improved pool facilities, while 42 per cent supported reducing other council services to direct more funding towards pools. Council noted the responses represented about 3.6 per cent of the shire’s population and said any future major infrastructure decisions would require broader public consultation and detailed financial analysis before changes to the current model were considered. The council also voted to investigate the cost and structural changes to the pool that would permit disabled access. Mr Donoghue said installing disabled access at the pool was “not as easy as it sounds”. Any options made available will be brought back to the council for consideration.
