gannawarra shire pools strategic plan - Gannawarra Shire Council

GANNAWARRA SHIRE POOLS STRATEGIC PLAN 

HM Leisure Planning Pty Ltd 

Suters Architects 

David Powick and Associates 

August 2009

Table of Contents 

Executive Summary ...................................................................................................... iii 

1 

Study Objectives and Process ..................................................................................... 1 

1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1 

1.2 Study Objectives .................................................................................................. 1 

1.3 The Research Program ........................................................................................ 2 

1.4 Acknowledgements .............................................................................................. 4 

2 

The Shire’s Aquatic Assets .......................................................................................... 5 

2.1 The Venues .......................................................................................................... 5 

2.1.1 Cohuna Pool ................................................................................................... 5 

2.1.2 Kerang Outdoor Aquatic Centre ...................................................................... 7 

2.1.3 Koondrook Outdoor Pool ................................................................................ 9 

2.1.4 Leitchville Pool.............................................................................................. 10 

2.1.5 Quambatook Memorial Pool ......................................................................... 12 

2.1.6 Indoor Heated Pool, Kerang ......................................................................... 13 

2.1.7 Asset Works: Overview ................................................................................. 14 

2.2 Opening Seasons and Use ................................................................................. 14 

2.3 The Financial Performance of the Shire Pools ................................................... 17 

2.4 Management ...................................................................................................... 19 

2.5 The Assets: Overview......................................................................................... 20 

3 

Recreation and Leisure Trends: Impacts on Aquatic Needs and Provision........... 22 

3.1 Introduction........................................................................................................ 22 

3.2 Broad Social Trends........................................................................................... 22 

3.3 Some Key Aquatic Trends.................................................................................. 23 

3.4 Conclusion.......................................................................................................... 25 

4 

Shire Demographics: Characteristics and Influences .............................................. 26 

4.1 Introduction......................................................................................................... 26 

4.2 Population Size .................................................................................................. 26 

4.3 The Age Distribution of the Population ............................................................... 26 

4.4 The Cultural Background of the Community ....................................................... 27 

4.5 Socio-Economic Status ...................................................................................... 27 

4.6 Population Distribution ....................................................................................... 28 

4.7 Conclusions ........................................................................................................ 30 

5 

Community Needs and Aspirations ........................................................................... 31 

5.1 Introduction......................................................................................................... 31 

5.2 The Pool User Survey ........................................................................................ 31 

5.2.1 Survey Response Rates ............................................................................... 31 

5.2.2 Male and Female Users................................................................................. 31 

5.2.3 The Age of Pool Users.................................................................................. 32 

5.2.4 How Users Reach the Pools and Why They Use Them ............................... 34 

5.2.5 Where the Pool Users Lived ......................................................................... 34 

5.2.6 Frequency of Visiting the Pools .................................................................... 36 

5.2.7 The Cultural Background of Pool Users........................................................ 36 

5.2.8 Using Other Pools......................................................................................... 36 

5.2.9 Improving the Existing Facilities.................................................................... 37 

Gannawarra Shire Pools Strategic Plan, 2009 

HM Leisure Planning Pty Ltd./Suters Architects/David Powick & Associates i

5.2.10 User Survey Conclusions............................................................................. 40 

5.3 Management and Public Meetings ..................................................................... 41 

5.3.1 Cohuna ......................................................................................................... 41 

5.3.2 Kerang .......................................................................................................... 42 

5.3.3 Koondrook .................................................................................................... 42 

5.3.4 Leitchville ...................................................................................................... 43 

5.3.5 Quambatook ................................................................................................. 43 

5.3.6 Meetings Overview ...................................................................................... 44 

5.4 Special Interviews and Submissions .................................................................. 44 

5.5 Consultations Summary ..................................................................................... 46 

6 

Previous Reports......................................................................................................... 47 

6.1 Introduction......................................................................................................... 47 

6.2 Gannawarra Shire Council Recreation Strategy, 2002....................................... 47 

6.3 Cohuna Community Plan, 2007 .......................................................................... 48 

6.4 Advancing Community Kerang. Community Action Plan. Community .............. 48 

Building Project Initiative 2007 

6.5 Koondrook, Leitchville and Quambatook Community Plans, 2007, 2008 ........... 48 

6.6 Cohuna Holiday Park, 2009................................................................................ 49 

6.7 Reports: An Overview......................................................................................... 49 

7 

An Aquatic Facilities Development Plan ................................................................... 50 

7.1 Introduction......................................................................................................... 50 

7.2 An Aquatic Provision Policy for the Shire ........................................................... 50 

7.3 Shire-wide Initiatives Sponsored/Undertaken by Council ................................... 51 

7.4 Indoor Heated Pools in Gannawarra Shire......................................................... 51 

7.5 The Recommended Actions at Existing Pools.................................................... 53 

1. Cohuna ............................................................................................................................ 53 

2. Kerang ............................................................................................................................. 56 

3. Koondrook ....................................................................................................................... 59 

4. Leitchville......................................................................................................................... 59 

5. Quambatook .................................................................................................................... 65 

6. Kerang Indoor Pool.......................................................................................................... 65 

8 

Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 66 


HM Leisure Planning Pty Ltd./Suters Architects/David Powick & Associates ii

Executive Summary 

The objective of the present study has been to provide Gannawarra Shire Council and the 

Gannawarra community with advice as to the future maintenance and development of the 5 outdoor 

public pools and one indoor pool in the Shire. 

The research undertaken in the preparation of this report entailed: 

1. A detailed site inspection of each of the pools by an aquatics engineer 

2. Consultations with the management of each venue regarding use, needs and development 

opportunities and priorities 

3. A program of community meetings and consultations 

4. Interviews with representatives of special interest and needs groups 

5. An assessment of trends in aquatics provision and the implications to Gannawarra Shire, and 

6. An assessment of the characteristics of the Shire population and of the provision implications to 

Gannawarra Shire. 

The findings and recommendations arising from each of these stages are reported in the following 

Chapters of this volume. 

The planning study found that all of the public pools in Gannawarra Shire require significant 

maintenance and/or redevelopment works if they are to be retained in the longer term. The cost of 

these works alone is just under $1.9 m. and will require significant investment from Council and the 

community over the coming 5 years. These initiatives are detailed for each pool in Chapter 2 of this 

report and must be given the highest priority for action if all the Shire pools are to be retained. 

The study also found that while technical and maintenance works will keep the facilities operational, 

they are not providing the optimum service to the community because (with the exception of the 

one small indoor pool), they are outdated, summer-only venues which lack quality support facilities 

and programs. This means that they are failing to attract the majority of the youth market and that 

they cannot meet the wider health and wellbeing needs of an ageing community. 

In addition to key asset maintenance works at each venue, the Study has identified a range of other 

initiatives designed to improve the quality of the pool settings and to allow them to support a wider 

range of uses and new programming initiatives. Key amongst these recommendations are action 

on disability access, improved shade and windbreaks, more seating and the provision of a dry, 

indoor program space. Such a space has recently been built between the pool and tennis courts at 

Koondrook while there is potential for it to be achieved at a number of the other venues. 

The Study found that all pools would benefit from substantial improvements in the way they are 

promoted and programmed. The lack of promotion and programming, together with the slow 

decline in the total Shire population, have meant that the facilities are increasingly marginal from 

each of a recreational, financial and operational perspective. 

The study found that to ensure the Shire pools more effectively meet community needs, new 

leisure, recreation, social, and health and wellbeing opportunities should ideally, be provided at 

them. It was found that while action on some of these needs could be pursued at each of the pools 

(especially through summer programming initiatives), action to address others of the needs would 

require significant changes and additions. Most substantial amongst these other needs were multipurpose 

meeting and program rooms, dry health and fitness gyms, specialised consulting suites, 

indoor and/or outdoor water play facilities, social and café facilities and ideally, an indoor pool at at 

least one venue. 

A detailed analysis of the demographics of the Shire indicated that the small size, low growth and 

ageing of the population mean that the latter of the needs listed above -- health and fitness gyms 

and an indoor pool— are likely to remain beyond the resources of the community, despite the 

activities of community groups in both Cohuna and Kerang. It was found that if an indoor pool was 

to be built, it would have to be small (eg: 3 lanes of 25 metres) and would need comprehensive and 

rigorous programming if it was to be viable. The study concluded that the most appropriate location 

for an indoor pool would be in association with the existing outdoor aquatic facilities in Kerang. 

Costed designs for this and for a possible new venue at Cohuna (in case funding was granted from 

external sources), have been prepared as part of the Study. 

While providing an indoor pool in the Shire may be a long term aspirational goal, they are extremely 

expensive. The capital cost of an indoor 50 m. 6-8 lane pool (generally considered to need 100,000 


HM Leisure Planning Pty Ltd./Suters Architects/David Powick & Associates iii

esidents in its catchment to be viable) is in the range of $10-12 million and annual operational 

costs are around $800,000. An indoor 25 metre 6-8 lane pool would cost around $4.5 to $6 million 

with an annual operational cost of the order of $500,000 pa. and generally requires a catchment of 

40,000 residents to be viable. Chapter 7 of the report indicates that even a 2 lane 25 metre indoor 

pool in Kerang –without any other support facilities-- would cost over $500,000. Such costs and 

populations are almost certainly beyond the reach of the Shire community. 

The levels of use of the small indoor program pool in Kerang attests to be value of such a facility in 

the community. However, the siting and shortcomings of this facility are such that action to extend 

and upgrade it cannot be justified. Rather, it is recommended that Council continues to make the 

facility available to the community until it reaches the end of its useful life. 

The Study notes that Council has allocated a budget for the provision of new toilet/change facilities 

in Leitchville to serve the pool, the wider public and travellers. Costed designs have been 

prepared for this initiative. 

In the immediate to medium term, action to maintain the existing pools should be given priority 

attention by Council. However, if the cost of these works cannot be afforded over the longer term, 

Council may be forced to conclude that one or more of the existing pools may eventually have to 

close. No attempt has been made to determine which pool or pools this might be as such a 

decision is beyond the scope of the present study and is likely to be affected significantly by wider 

demographic, economic and climatic issues. However, if one or more pools does have to close, 

Council should renew its efforts to enhance the quality, attractiveness and programming of the 

remaining venues. This will ensure that the community has access to improved aquatic 

opportunities rather than reduced opportunities. 


HM Leisure Planning Pty Ltd./Suters Architects/David Powick & Associates iv

1 

Study Objectives and Process 

1.1 Introduction 

Aquatic facilities are a major community recreation resource and the Gannawarra Shire community is fortunate 

to have access to six venues (the five outdoor centres and the small indoor therapy pool in Kerang) as well as a 

number of rivers, lakes and other water reservoirs and channels. 

Aquatic facilities are important as they can provide recreational opportunities across all age groups and at all 

skill levels; they allow for competitive as well as social and casual use; they save lives through learn to swim 

programs, and users enjoy wide-ranging health benefits. Interestingly, research by an Australian University has 

shown that aquatics activities have very low annual injury rates (at around 2 percent of participants a year) 

when compared with field sports (at 50 percent a year), and that pools are often used for rehabilitation by most 

other sports. 

Unfortunately, not all of the benefits offered by aquatic facilities can be achieved by the residents of 

Gannawarra Shire from the facilities available to them. This is because all but one of the venues is seasonal, 

so they can only be used for part of the year. All but one of the pools is outdoors, so use is always subject to 

the weather. None of the outdoor pools are heated with temperatures getting as much as 10 degrees below 

the ideal for lap swimmers and training (26 0 C) and 16-18 degrees below the needs of some rehabilitation 

programs (32 - 34 0 C). As a result, use of these pools by small children and older residents can actually be 

detrimental rather than beneficial. 

None of the venues has a rigorous and complete user program or schedules of use and as a result, the full 

potential of the venues is not being achieved. Finally, all of the venues require capital injections to upgrade and 

improve the plant, pools and amenities. Most need improvements to their grounds, support facilities and the 

amenity quality to make them more attractive to and able to be used by a wide cross section of the community. 

Despite the shortcomings, the Shire community and Council have worked hard to retain all the pools: the 

condition of the grounds and the maintenance works which are carried out on a regular basis are a credit to 

those involved and it is this commitment which has meant that the Shire has not lost any of the pools which 

were built for the benefit of the community 40-50 years ago. 

1.2 Study Objectives 

The objectives for the present study, as stated in the Brief issued by Gannawarra Shire Council seek to address 

the shortcomings outlined above so that the Shire community can gain the optimum benefits possible from the 

Council and community investment in aquatic facilities. The study objectives as stated in the Council brief for 

the project are: 

• To analyse the condition of each pool and to identify works programs which will ensure the retention 

of the assets in a sound condition 

• To identify works needed to ensure compliance with current day occupational health and safety 

requirements and with environmentally sensitive and sustainable design principles 

• To develop a realistic maintenance and plant replacement schedule for the pools 

• To identify capital works which will broaden the appeal and use of swimming and other 

complementary facilities in the community 

• To identify strategies to ensure continued and increased community use of pool facilities 

• To develop designs for any new initiatives, and 

• To develop strategies in the light of Council’s current maintenance and forward capital maintenance 

expenditures. 

In addressing these objectives, Council indicated that three broad stages of work were to be undertaken, these 

being: 

1. Situational Analysis, this being an evaluation of the condition existing pool assets, and an 

assessment of the use of the pools and their management 

2. Strategy Development, this being the preparation of a schedule of maintenance and plant 

replacement works so as to comply with OH&S requirements, and the identification of community 

and stakeholder aspirations, development ideas and other issues and needs, and 


HM Leisure Planning Pty Ltd./Suters Architects/David Powick & Associates 

1

3. Action Plan, this being the preparation of a costed works program which reflects Council’s existing 

works and budget program which will: 

(a) Enhance the pools and protect them as community assets 

(b) Provide direction as to management improvements 

(c) Guide the provision of new facilities, programs and services to strengthen the role of the facilities in 

the community and through this, their viability 

Provide guidance to Council on funding strategies for any new initiatives 

Provide guidance to Council on a mechanism to guide continuing liaison, collaboration, partnerships and 

other strategies which will help to ensure that appropriate opportunities for enhancing the role the 

pools play in the community is strengthened and built on. 

1.3 The Research Program 

In addressing the objectives for the present study, as outlined above, the work program detailed in the following 

chart was undertaken. This entailed detailed inspections of each venue by a recreation planner, aquatics 

engineer and architect; meetings with the management of each pool (whether contractor or Committees); public 

meetings; a survey of users during January-February, 2009; the collection of use and budget data from the 

managers of each venue; press releases inviting community inputs; the review of Community Plans prepared 

for each town and of Council policy documents; the comparison of the characteristics of the Shire pools with 

like facilities in other Victorian Councils; interviews with key stakeholders in the Shire community (eg: teachers, 

health professionals; swim club officials), and the collection and review of Council budget data. The specific 

scope of the data collected and the findings of its review and evaluation are detailed in the Chapters which 

follow. 

Phase Work Program 

Phase 1 Situational Analysis: Analyse and Review the Current Condition and Patronage of 

each Pool 

This initial Phase of the Study had two major components: 

• Assessing the condition of the pool assets, and 

• Assessing the use of each venue. 

In assessing the condition of the pool assets, the Study team: 

1. Reviewed all existing technical and other reports on each pool, including drawing 

on their current work for Council 

2. Conducted a physical assessment of the condition of the assets to check and 

update information not available under 1.1 

3. Compiled a written and photographic record of each venue’s assets with 

urgent/immediate works needs, remedial medium term needs and desirable long 

term actions being indicated 

In the second part of this Phase, the Study: 

4. Collected and evaluated use data for each venue over recent years where that data 

existed 

5. Tabulated survey data on the origins (by town or district) of the users of each 

venue to better understand their service “reach” and gaps in this 

6. Met with and interviewed pool committees and or management to fill in any gaps in 

the data collected in 1.4 – 1.6 and to collect additional information which will help in 

understanding current levels and trends in the demand levels of the facilities. 

Outputs: This initial Phase of the Study provided a detailed assessment of the technical 

attributes of each pool and a detailed analysis of the levels and if possible, patterns of 

use of the venues. Where attendance data permitted, an analysis was also made of the 

characteristics of pool users versus the district population characteristics. 



2


Phase 2 

Strategy Development: Maintenance & Replacement Scheduling and Needs and 

Aspirations Assessment 

This Phase of the Study entailed three components, these being: 

• The preparation of a maintenance and capital works/replacement schedule 

• The assessment of community aspirations for the swimming centres and of 

initiatives which can strengthen their viability and diversify the markets they serve, 

and 

• The preparation of concept sketches to illustrate any appropriate physical 

development opportunities which have been identified. 

In the first component, David Powick and Associates: 

1. Prepared a costed maintenance and plant replacement schedule for each venue 

2. Identified and costed capital works needed to meet occupational health and safety 

issues at each pool 

3. Costed development initiatives identified in Phase 2.5 below 

In the second component of this Phase, HM Leisure Planning: 

4. Held personal interviews and/or run a workshop with (a) Council officers (b) elected 

members (c) Project Management group members and (d) key personnel and 

stakeholders (schools, sporting clubs, health providers,) to identify local 

aspirations, opportunities for continuing liaison and development coordination 

within each community 

5. Ran a schools “ideas competition” to identify how the venues might be improved 

through new facilities, different types of programs or the provision of support 

services 

6. Issued press releases calling for ideas and proposals regarding strategies for 

enhancing the pools 

7. Facilitated a user survey 

8. Ran a community forum in each of the five towns to allow community members to 

raise issues re pool improvements; development suggestions; management issues 

which need to be addressed; key issues for resolution, and priorities for action 

9. Held three review meetings toward the end of the project to present draft action 

proposals 

10. Provided a 30 day public exhibition period (Council, libraries, schools) to invite 

community responses to the draft action plans. 

This stage of the study also sought to identify from Council’s planning policies and 

community plans what opportunities existed for the positive co-location of other 

infrastructure at the pools such as Council facilities, programs and services, those 

provided by other levels or government, opportunities provided by not-for-profit bodies 

and commercial opportunities. 

In the third component of this phase, Suters Architects: 

11. Used site visits and the findings of 2.4 – 2.10 to prepare concept designs for new 

initiatives at the Leitchville, Cohuna and Kerang venues 

Particular attention was paid to developing complementary rather than competing and 

duplicative new initiatives at each venue. 

Outputs: The outputs of this Phase of the Study have been: 

1. A costed listing of maintenance, replacement and new capital works which will: 

• Ensure retention of the pool facilities in each town in a sound working condition 

• Ensure occupational health and safety issues are scheduled for action at each 

pool and 

• Add to the diversity of opportunities supported by each venue and hence 

increase their use and viability. 

2. Recommendations re program and service initiatives which should be pursued at 

the pools in order to generate wider use, and 

3. Recommendations regarding the management of each or all venues. 



3


Phase 3 Action Plan: Compile a Strategic Plan 

Phase 4 

This Phase of the Study brought the findings of the previous Phases of research 

together to prepare an integrated strategic plan to guide action at Council’s swimming 

venues over the coming years. 

The Strategic Plan: 

1. Describes the recommended physical actions for each venue in order of priority 

under the headings of Maintenance, Capital Replacement and New Provision 

2. Lists program and servicing recommendations for each venue 

3. Provides costings for each initiatives at each venue 

4. Provides a venue-specific and overall priority listing of actions, with these being 

divided into short, medium and long term priorities 

5. Provides indicative concept plans (as appropriate) for any new provision 

initiatives which will broaden the appeal and viability of venues where such 

opportunities are identified 

6. Provides recommendations for changes and improvements to the management of 

each venue 

7. Recommends processes for establishing continuing collaboration between 

community members, Council, potential partners in development and use 

programs. 

Outputs: This Phase of the Study provides Council with a full report covering all 

aspects of the research; a listing of and rationale for the recommendations for action at 

each venue; recommendations for improving the management of each venue (as 

deemed appropriate); designs for any new development initiatives; recommendations 

for enhancing on-going liaison and coordinative processes; strategies for attracting 

wider uses; and guidance as to funding sources for any recommended initiatives. This 

will be brought together in a concise, attractive report which will allow its easy distribution 

to the community and use for funding applications to governments / other 

bodies. 

1.4 Acknowledgements 

Reporting: 

This final Phase entailed: 

1. Public exhibition of draft report 

2. Compilation of responses to draft report 

3. Preparation of final report. 

A wide range of assistance was provided in the preparation of this report. In particular, the planning team 

wish to thank: 

• The Council of the Gannawarra Shire for commissioning the Study 

• Council officers who provided detailed background information; assistance in the planning of 

meetings, in securing meeting venues, and in chairing meetings, and oversaw the implementation of 

the pool user survey 

• Members of the Committees of Management of the Koondrook, Leitchville and Quambatook pools 

and the manager of the Cohuna and Kerang pools for their input, for providing records of users and 

budget issues and for issuing and collecting the survey of pool users 

• Members of the general community in each town who attended meetings, schools, medical providers 

and sports groups took part in the user survey and provided other input to the study, and 

• Professional officers from a range of areas across the Shire who provided information and ideas for 

the study and who took part in interviews and meetings. 

The support offered by all of the above assisted greatly in the completion of the project and in the determination 

of the outcomes and recommendations for action. 



4

2 

The Shire’s Aquatic Assets 

2.1 The Venues 

Gannawarra Shire residents are fortunate compared with residents of many other Councils in that they 

presently have access to six public pools. These are the outdoor summer-only pools in Cohuna, Kerang, 

Koondrook, Leitchville and Quambatook, and the small, heated indoor program pool in Kerang. 

Many Councils with far larger populations than Gannawarra Shire have fewer aquatic venues with the Gannawarra 

situation being a reflection of provision by the past Councils which now make up the Shire, the remoteness 

of a number of the Shire towns, and the efforts made by the pool committees of management, the Shire 

and Shire residents to develop and maintain and protect the assets they have. The small indoor pool in Kerang 

was acquired as a result of Council buying the building it occupies. 

This Chapter provides a description of each pool together with an assessment of key technical works which are 

needed to maintain them in a sound operational condition. 

2.1.1 Cohuna Pool 

This facility is built on the banks of Gunbower Creek and comprises: 

• 33.5m long and 12.8m wide main pool 

• 15.25m x 6.1m learners pool 

• 9.15m x 6.1m wading pool, and 

• A water slide discharging into the main pool. 

The pool complex is set in the Cohuna Recreation Reserve which is an attractive setting. However, this brings 

problems of access and parking as users have to cross the Gunbower Creek –either by road or footbridge to 

reach the facility. Further, the pool is seriously constrained by tennis facilities to the north, the Cohuna Bowls 

Club to the east and the Gunbower Weir and creek to the west. Water flows in the Creek have seriously 

undercut the main pool in the past. The accompanying aerial photograph records the main details of the pool 

and its surrounds. The need to retain an access path from the car park to the south of the pool and the tennis 

facilities is a further constraint. 

In its original form, the pool received creek water from upstream of the pool position and discharged the pool 

overflow into the adjacent creek. A subsequent upgrade saw a pressure sand filter system being added and 

use of the creek water for turnover was abandoned. 

The water slide was installed in more recent times and the water for the slide is provided by a large pump in a 

pit adjacent to the slide access stairs. 

All pools are of reinforced concrete construction and typically of the era of provision, they are all fitted with a 

fixed weir overflow system similar to a scum gutter style pool. 

All pools have a painted interior finish with some tiled wall faces at water level and generally have rendered and 

painted top edges. 

The northern end of the pool grounds are quite attractive with lawns and mature trees. However, the southern 

section is dominated by concrete concourse areas and there is limited space, shade or seating. The 33.5 yard 

length of the main pool does not comply with any official swimming dimensions and this limits its effectiveness. 

Water depths are also inadequate. The water slide disgorges users into the western side /end of the main pool 

means that users cross (and interrupt) all lane users before they exit the pool by the steps to the east. 

No action has been taken to manage car parking or to secure safe access for cyclists or pedestrians at the front 

of the venue. Cars frequently park within metres of the front door. The main car park is informal gravel and no 

provision has been made for a safe drop off / pick up area. There is no fencing, barriers or signage between 

the car park and the weir, there is no formed path between the pedestrian bridge across the weir and there is 

little by way of security or safety lighting at the front of the complex or the weir. These issues must be 

addressed as a matter of urgency from an occupational health and safety perspective. 

Overall, the venue is quite aged in its appearance. The wide areas of concrete and limited shade make the 

areas around the main buildings quite unattractive while the constrained size of the site and the surrounding 

uses restrict the ability to make easy changes and additions to the overall venue. 



5

Cohuna Swimming Pool, 2009: Clockwise from top left: The shaded toddler’s pool; cars parked at the pool entrance; the 

northern lawns, main pool, main building and water slide; the view to the pool from Cohuna retail centre; the pedestrian bridge 

across the weir, and the unstructured car park. 

The works which are needed at the Cohuna pool and its overall ageing condition mean that an increased 

investment will be needed over the coming years or that the venue may best be replaced by a new centre on a 

better site either when sufficient funds become available or when maintenance and replacement expenditures 

become excessive. 

A detailed site and technical inspection was undertaken as part of the present study and the following chart 

provides a priority list of the technical plant, pipe work and pool works needed to ensure the continued 

operation of the Cohuna pool. Indicative 2009 costs have been provided for each item. 



6

Priority Action Indicative Cost $ 

1 Repair filter underdrains as sand is being returned to the 

pool 

2 Duplicate the water slide circulation pump suction points. A 

single point is potentially dangerous 



Allow $ 18,000 

Allow $ 6,000 

3 Repair leakage from drain pit in toddler’s pool Allow $ 5,000 

4 Fence the backwash control area beside the concrete sand 

filter cells to prevent unauthorised access. Significant 

problems could occur if the backwash controls were 

operated while the filter is running 

5 Improve water turnover flows through the Learn-to-swim 

and toddlers pools by replacing defective pipe work 

6 Alter pipework layout to the main pool to more effectively 

collect water for processing and to improve distribution of 

filtered and treated water throughout the pool. 

Note that this pool has significant structural issues resulting 

from the settlement towards the creek 

7 Review leakage issues when the pool is shut down at the 

end of the season. Significant water losses – cause 

unknown. Cost to investigate and determine extent of 

remedial works 

Allow $ 2,000 

Allow $ 45,000 

Allow $ 100,000 

Allow $ 10,500 

Total $186,500 

2.1.2 Kerang Outdoor Aquatic Centre 

The Kerang Outdoor Aquatic Centre occupies a large site at the western end of the Kerang commercial district. 

It fronts Shadforth Street but also has an undeveloped frontage to the Murray Valley Highway. 

The pool grounds are attractive with well-maintained lawns, mature trees and shade facilities. The service 

buildings are typical of the period in which the venue was built and dominate the eastern side of the site. 

Externally, the buildings are unattractive with a continuous, windowless, yellow brick wall facing Shadforth 

Street. The pool water treatment plant facilities on the corner of Shadforth and Scoresby Streets are 

particularly unattractive. There is no signage to or at the venue. There is no immediate off-street parking, 

although there is angle street parking and a drop-off area. There is a dedicated car park on Scoresby Street 

although this is remote from the entrance. Street front lawn areas are inappropriately used for car parking. 

Kerang Outdoor Aquatic Centre was constructed in 1962 and comprises a 55 yard (imperial Olympic length) 

main pool with depths of 1.1 to 2.0 metres; a shallow wading pool measuring 15 x 12.5 metres. Provision was 

included for a diving pool but this was not built. Filtration was provided by a 4 cell suction sand filtration system 

located in the north east corner of the site adjacent to a brick pump house and chemical store. 

In 1970 an intermediate pool measuring 25 x 9.2 metres was added and at this time an additional 3 filter cells 

were added to the filtration system. At some later, unknown date, a water slide was added which included a 

splash down pool. This is positioned at the north end of the site. 

Outdoor lighting of the pool areas was incorporated in the original construction and subsequent development of 

the site and remains in place today. 

In its present form, the facility comprises: 

• 50.32m (55 yard) x 18.6m main pool 

• 25m x 9.2m intermediate pool 

• 15m x 12.5m toddlers pool 

• 6m x 4.3m (approx) slide landing pool plus a water slide structure 

All pools are of reinforced concrete construction and apart from the slide landing pool are fixed weir overflow 

pools in which the water level is constant. The waterslide landing pool has a variable water level and relies on a 

pump to transfer water back to the filtration system. 

7

The 1962 and 1970 pools have painted interiors with tiling at the top edge of the walls and include a variety of 

wet decks and scum gutters. The sliding landing pool is tiled in small glazed mosaic tiles. 

Kerang Outdoor Aquatic Centre, 2009: Clockwise from top left: the unattractive front and entrance to the Centre; the 

kiosk/ management building; lawn areas, main pool and water slide; inappropriate parking at the front of the building; 

attractive lawn and treed areas within the pool compound, and the main pool with the management and change facilities 

to the rear. 

The size of the site of the Kerang Outdoor Aquatic Centre and its position immediately adjacent to the Kerang 

commercial/retail centre offer significant opportunities for its further development and for the modernisation of 

the overall site and immediate precinct. 



operation of the Kerang pool. Indicative 2009 costs have been provided for each item. 



8

Priority Action Indicative 

Cost $ 

1 Modify enhance the filtration plant as a stage 1 initiative to 

ensure compliance with current OH&S regulations 

2 Replace gas chlorination with liquid chlorine system. This 

is for safety reasons – otherwise modify storage and 

handling arrangements to comply with the current edition 

of the dangerous goods act. 



Allow $ 20,000 

Allow $ 50,000 

3 Automation of pH control Allow $ 20,000 

4 Repair leaks in toddlers pool - Refer note 8 in section B 

of development proposals. Preference is for a new pool as 

a splash deck/toddler pool 

5 Service and/or replace as necessary all damaged and 

inoperative valves in external filter area. 

6 Upgrade the filtration system completely as an alternative 

to 1,2,3 & 5 above 

7 Structural leakage from the pools was reported at the end 

of the 2008-2009 season – causes unknown. Cost to 

investigate and determine remedial work 

8 Pipe work deterioration is evident and full replacement will 

be required 

2.1.3 Koondrook Outdoor Pool 

Allow $ 50,000 

Allow $ 40,000 

Allow $ 

500,000 

Allow $8,000 

Estimate 

$270,000 

Total $958,000 

The Koondrook Outdoor Pool occupies part of Willow Park, a Crown land reserve in Koondrook. The overall 

Park is operated by a Crown Committee and comprises the Swimming Pool and a large lawn tennis club. The 

site is located on the corner of Forest and Thompson Streets with the main entrance being on Forest Street. 

The Swimming Pool has benefited from a recent rebuilding of the service facilities at Willow Park and enjoys 

new toilet/change, kiosk and management facilities. The integrated swim/tennis building also features a 

substantial multi-purpose room between the two buildings which is an invaluable asset for the community. It 

appears that some revisions to the operation of this facility may be needed so it can be more effectively used by 

the Swimming Pool Committee of Management and swimmers during the opening season. 

The forecourt of the new building is quite attractive but has been covered with a dense matt of tanbark which 

excludes any use for informal seating and socialising. 

Koondrook Outdoor Pool was built in two stages. The original centre comprised a 33m x 17m main pool plus an 

octagonal toddler’s pool based on 8 No. 4.0m sides. In the early 1980s, a small learn to swim pool was added 

in the north-east corner of the site. All pools are of reinforced concrete construction and have painted interiors. 

The overall venue is quite attractive and has quite large lawn areas and a number of small trees. However, it 

would benefit from additional shade provision, more appropriate plantings and plantings/windbreaks to stop 

wind blowing on to the site from Thompson Street. The pools presently on site are: 

• 33m x 17m main pool with depths of 1.2 metres to 2.8 metres 

• A 75 M 2 octagonal toddler pool with depths of 0.3 metres to 0.35 metres, and 

• 11.5m x 6m learn to swim pool with an even depth of 0.82 metres. 

The main and toddlers pools are still filtered by the original concrete multi-cell pressure sand filter system while 

the learn-to-swim pool has an independent, domestic style sand filter system. Because of this there are two 

chemistry control systems in use on this site. 

The two original pools are fixed weir overflow pools while the learn-to-swim pool has floating weir skimmer 

boxes. 

9

Koondrook Pool is on Crown land and as such, is not a Council asset. However, it is a public asset and should 

be given the same levels of support by Council as other Council-owned pools in the Shire. 

Koondrook Pool, 2009: Clockwise from upper left, the new multi-purpose building; a view across the main pool to the toddler’s 

pool; the new entry/kiosk, in urgent need of shade, and the new multi-purpose room viewed from the tennis courts. 



operation of the Koondrook pool. Indicative 2009 costs have been provided for each item. 


1 Repair the filter underdrains to the main pool Allow $ 18,000 

2 Replace and / or repair the main pool circulating pump Allow $ 12,000 

3 Clean out the partially blocked filtered water delivery 

channel in the main pool. (requires pool to be emptied) 

4 Proper automation of chemistry control to both pool 

systems including Calcium Hypochlorite feeder system 



Allow $ 25,000 

Allow $ 55,000 

5 Reduce pool leakage – seal wet pit in paving Allow $ 6,000 

6 Improve learn to swim pool water turnover capacity Allow $ 20,000 

7 Modify filtration system to bring all pools onto one larger 

filtration and chemistry control system 

Allow $ 150,000 

Total $286,000 

2.1.4 Leitchville Pool 

Leitchville Swimming Pool is a small, attractive site although the lack of screen plantings and the condition of 

the pool plant buildings detracts from this. The venue has good quality lawns and some shade areas, although 

more shade, trees and perimeter plantings to stop wind and dust would be very beneficial. 

10

The toilet/change facilities are outdated and in a very poor condition. These serve the pool, as public toilets, 

and travellers using the overnight stopping bays to the immediate south-east of the pool. At present, pool users 

must present themselves at reception before then passing through a gate in the pool fence to reach the 

pool. This is not an ideal set-up as it raises supervision and access risks in case of an accident. Council has 

set aside funds and has secured a grant to redesign and replace these facilities. 

The venue has the following pools: 

• A 25m x 12.6m / 20.1m “T” shaped main pool with depths of 0.8 to 2.4 metres 

• A 9m x 6m toddlers pool with depths of 0.1 metres to 0.35 metres. 

The pools were constructed at least 40 years ago and are or reinforced concrete construction. Both pools use 

a side entry fixed weir overflow system to remove water for filtration and processing. The present filtration 

system comprises multiple fibreglass pressure sand filters and these are newer than the pools. The pools have 

painted interiors and apart from a row of nosing tiles on the edge of the main pool deck gutter, have no tiling at 

water level. The pool surround beams are rendered and painted. 

Leitchville Pool, clockwise from upper left: outdated service buildings; poor quality change/toilets; attractive lawn 

setting for toddler’s pool; main pool and shade; open lawns in need of shade/planting; extensive car parking. 



operation of the Leitchville pool. Indicative 2009 costs have been provided for each item. 



11


1 Clean out filtered water and soiled water ducts Allow $ 25,000 

2 Repair / replace handrails Allow $ 10,000 

3 Provide an automated calcium hypochlorite feeder system 

including improved water chemistry control 



Allow $ 45,000 

4 Repaint main pool (volunteer labour?) Allow $ 15,000 

Total $95,000 

2.1.5 Quambatook Memorial Pool 

Quambatook Memorial Pool is quite an attractive complex although poor presentation to the street and rundown 

storage and plant buildings detract from its appearance. The venue has attractive lawns, a number of 

trees and some good shade facilities. The main building is very attractive and has some potential for further 

development to meet wider community needs. 

The pool facility was constructed in 1964 and comprises the following pools: 

• A 25m x 10.6m main pool with depths of 1.06 metres to 2.6 metres 

• A toddler pool measuring 9.1m x 6m with depths of 0.3 metres to 0.4 metres. 

Both pools are or reinforced concrete construction. The pools use a concrete multiple cell pressure sand filter 

to process the pool water. Both pools are fixed weir overflow style pools in which the toddler pool has 4 

screened wall outlets and the main pool has 5 fixed weir skimmer boxes and a section of tile scum gutter at the 

shallow end. The pool equipment is located in the south-east corner of the site where a brick pump house is 

attached to the above ground filter cells. The pools are painted and the main pool has a row of tiles around the 

top of the wall on the pool waterline, the toddler pool has no tiles. 

As with the Koondrook Pool, the Quambatook Memorial Pool is on Crown land and as such, is not a Council 

asset. However, it is a public asset and should be given the same levels of support as other Council-owned 

pools in the Shire. 

Quambatook Memorial Pool, 2009. Clockwise from upper left: the attractive entrance to the 

venue; low quality fencing and presentation to the street is heightened by a lack of formal 

parking; the attractive, quality toddler’s pool; the main pool with a need for shade and fence 

planting in lawn areas to the rear. 



operation of the Quambatook pool. Indicative 2009 costs have been provided for each item. 

12


1 Upgrade filtration plant $150,000 

2 Replace all pool reticulation pipe work including alterations 

to skimmers and provision of low level relief fittings 

3 Repair / replace loose and non-conforming handrails in 

pool 

2.1.6 Indoor Heated Pool, Kerang 



$170,000 

Presently out to 

tender 

Total $320,000 

This facility is small warm water therapy pool or quasi-hydrotherapy pool. It was acquired by Council when it 

acquired the building complex which houses it. The pool attracts limited use because of its major physical 

constraints. These include: 

• Standard width entrance doors which makes it difficult to access for aged, disabled people or groups 

• Inadequate width concourse areas which make it difficult for users to move around the facility 

• Change facilities which are too small for disabled, aged, group or client and carer use 

• Small pool size which restricts the number of users per session 

• Water depths and depth variations which are inappropriate for learn to swim or for use for therapy 

programs 

• Inadequate means of access into the pool for aged or disabled people eg: rails, ramp, hoist 

• Flimsy, unsafe rails 

• Lack of user storage 

• A lack of seating and marshalling areas, and 

• Inappropriately located office/staff area. 

Given the deficiencies, a redevelopment of the facility to improve its capacity cannot be justified as the extent of 

works needed and the site constraints do not warrant the investment. Further, major modifications would need 

to be made to surrounding uses to accommodate changes to the building. As such, no changes are 

recommended or costed. 

Kerang indoor heated pool, 2009, clockwise from upper left: narrow main entrance; narrow walkways 

and change entrance; the only seating, and the lack of storage space and flimsy “safety” rails 

Despite the shortcomings, the pool attracted close to 3,000 users in 2008 and could achieve more if it was 

better promoted and more effectively programmed. It is recommended that Council assesses the opport- 

unity to extend the management contract for the Cohuna and Kerang outdoor pools to include this indoor 

pool. Alternately, it reviews the existing management arrangements with a view to promoting and 

13

achieving wider use. Contract conditions could include responsibility for liaising with relevant community 

groups and other agencies (eg: schools, hospitals, doctors, physiotherapists, sports clubs), the scheduling of 

more access times, the establishing of new user activities, and significant extensions of the opening hours. 

As well as these management changes, it is recommended that the facility is maintained in its current 

condition over the coming years but that it is closed when it reaches the end of its viable life. 

2.1.7 Asset Works: Overview 

It is evident that while the pool managers and committees have maintained the pools to the best of their abilities 

and have kept the grounds in a generally attractive and clean condition, important maintenance works are 

needed to keep them operational into the future. The costs are summarised below: 

Cohuna $186,500 

Kerang $958,000 

Koondrook $286,000 

Leitchville $ 95,000 

Quambatook $350,000 (est.) 

Total $1,875,500 

Such outlays will be difficult to fund and Council will need to work closely with the community to identify 

strategies for achieving the required amounts. Further development works will need to be tempered in the light 

of these technical expenditure needs otherwise Council may need to consider whether it can retain all the Shire 

pools into the future. 

2.2 Opening Seasons and Use 

All of the outdoor pools in the Shire open for the summer season only, this generally being from late November 

until late March. Unfortunately, very limited attendance records are kept by pool managers and management 

committees. Given that the combined replacement value of the facilities is likely to be $20 m., 1 this is a 

significant shortcoming as it means that Council has a very limited capacity to monitor the performance of each 

facility or to build a case for wider community and government support. 

Two of the key difficulties associated with use monitoring are (a) memberships (family, student, seniors, singles, 

life, holiday) and (b) the lack of a consistent method for recording attendances across all pools. With regard to 

memberships –and family memberships in particular-- it appears that the members of family member-ship 

holders quickly become known to those on duty at the pools and as a result, it is common that no records are 

kept of their actual day by day attendances. This can mean that a family with say four children, could make 

upward of 600 visits in a season, without this being recorded, except for the fact that the family has a membership. 

As a result, the best most committees and managers can do is estimate the annual attendances at each 

venue. It is possible that these estimates could be hundreds of visits below the actual figure, thereby grossly 

underestimating the popularity of the pools. Further, some pool committees have indicated that they do not 

record attendances by school swim programs or other training programs. 

Table 2.1 on the following page records attendance data as provided by the manager/committees for each pool. 

The following points should be noted about the data: 

• The extent and form of the data collected at each venue varies making comparisons between 

centres difficult 

• Membership data cannot be translated into attendance numbers as in general, members are not 

recorded each time they visit a pool. A number of operators indicated that the member attendances 

were not much more than “wild guesses”. (A related issue is that members, and family members in 

particular, swim very, very cheaply. To illustrate, the family with four children cited above could 

make 600 visits for a seasonal membership of $80. This is the equivalent of only 13 cents a visit 

when casual users can pay as much as $4.50 

• Several of the sets of attendance data are estimates based on the income collected from ticket sales 

rather than being actual counts of attendees. 

Water slide users were recorded at Kerang with totals averaging around 1,650 ticket sales a year over recent 

years. As with Cohuna, these users were almost all members or casual ticket buyers. Slide use numbers at 

Cohuna were not recorded although the manager indicated that around 70 percent of all visitors used the slide. 

1 The following are the estimated replacement values: Leitchville, $2,100,000; Koondrook, $3,000,000; Cohuna 

$3,500,000; Quambatook, $1,500,000; Kerang, $9,000,000; Indoor Pool, $ 1,000,000 (existing) or $ 5,000,000 (modern 

alternative). 



14

The lack of consistency between the data which is collected and the lack of specific, accurate data is of 

concern. It means that an assessment of the annual and progressive performance of each venue and of the 

Shire-wide system of facilities cannot be made. It means that useful comparisons cannot be made between the 

performance of each pool and that accurate assessments of the number of visits per head of the catchment 

population cannot be made. The comparative performance of Gannawarra Shire pools versus those in other 

Councils cannot be assessed. This lack of information makes it difficult for Council to assess the merit of 

competing or differing funding needs (between the pools or between the pools and other priorities), and more 

importantly, it seriously restricts Council’s ability to build a case for external funding grants. This shortcoming 

should be addressed. 

Although it is acknowledged that collecting detailed attendance data requires an effort by those running each 

venue, it is not very onerous as every person entering a pool has to either pay or be checked for their membership. 

It is recommended that Council: 

(a) Develops a standard proforma and runs an information session to guide pool committees/ managers 

and staff in the collection of accurate use data. At the very least, records should be kept of the age 

group, gender and “use category” (eg: casual, member by type, school group etc) of every user who 

enters each venue, and 

(b) Makes the annual collection and reporting of performance data a mandatory requirement for 

eligibility for Council grants. 

Viewed from another perspective, the data in Table 2.1 indicate that: 

• There were substantial variations in the levels of memberships and attendances across the 5 pools 

with the lowest attendance figures being recorded at Leitchville and the highest being Kerang. 

Memberships were lowest in Quambatook in 2008/09 and the highest membership was recorded at 

Kerang. In general, attendance and membership figures reflect the size of the town catchments 

which the pools serve although it appears that use rates were lower in the two largest Shire towns 

• Attendances appear to have been falling at most venues with Koondrook dropping from 2,600 

attendances in 2006/07 to 2,400 in 2008/09, and Leitchville falling from 616 to 562 over the same 

period. Similarly, memberships at Cohuna fell from 130 to only 82; from 142 to 127 at Kerang; from 

55 to 37 at Leitchville and from 50 to 28 at Quambatook. While it is probable that these reflect poor 

summer season conditions to some extent, it is also probable that they reflect the ageing of the Shire 

community and the continuing decline in the relevance and attractiveness of the pools to older 

residents. Nearly everyone spoken to in the Shire in the course of the present study indicated that 

they “used” to go to one or more of the pools. However, many of these people no longer do 

• Membership levels varied substantially between the venues with Leitchville having only 37 members 

in total in 2008/09 while Kerang had 127 members 

• Despite the Quambatook membership level falling by close to 50 percent between 2001/02 and 

2008/09, the recorded number of visits increased by 89 percent from 2,160 to 4,079 visits. It may be 

that these figures warrant checking although they could well reflect the situation alluded to above 

where the members of a small number of local families make very regular use of the pool over 

summer and as such, they do not reflect the real pattern of use of the pool, and 

• At a rough estimate, the outdoor pools attracted a total of approximately 21,900 visits in the 2008/09 

season. This was roughly equivalent to 1.9 visits per head by each Shire resident. The fact that the 

user survey conducted as part of this study in January/February of 2009 showed that as many as 

one-third of Cohuna pool users were visitors to the Shire would reduce this rate although if there is 

serious under-counting of members it could be increased . However, when some public outdoor 

pools elsewhere in Victoria are known to be attracting as many as 5-10 visits per head of the 

population, the Gannawarra figure is clearly very low. 

It is also acknowledged that both the Kerang and Cohuna Pools hold swimming classes which attract 

approximately 80 children in Kerang and 50 children in Cohuna through the Geoff Swim Summer Holiday 

Program 

Use data provided by Council for the indoor pool in Kerang is of interest. This indicates that the pool is 

operated all year and runs for 24 hours a week, which, on the figures cited in Table 2.1, means that it attracts 

about 60 visits per week and 2.5 per opening hour. Importantly, the pool manager reported that apart from the 

learn to swim users (the number of whom were not recorded), 97 percent were 60 years and over with referrals 

from doctors and physiotherapists accounting for 39 percent of all users. Clearly, this facility serves the needs 

of a very different clientele than do the outdoor pools. That it attracted more use than several of the smaller 

town outdoor pools is also significant in that this reflects a need which is presently quite poorly met in the Shire. 



15

Venue Members Av. visits /day Attendance: Entry form & number 

of visits 

Cohuna 2005/06: Total 

2006/07: Total 

2007/08: Total 

2008/09: Total 

Kerang 2005/06: 

2007/08: Total 

2008/09: Total 

2006/07: 

Kerang Indoor Pool No memberships 

Koondrook 

Leitchville 

Quambatook 2001/02: 20 



26 

30 

30 

25 

40 

36 

39 

32 

2003/04: 25 

2004/05: 18 

2005/06: 28 

2006/07: 30 

2007/08: ? 

Table 2.1: Attendance data for Gannawarra Shire swimming pools 

Season’s ticket: 4,000 

Single entry: 2,600 

Total: 6,600 



Total: 7,500 



Total: 6,160 



Total: 11,500 



Total: 10,000 



Total: 11,100 



Total: 8,700 

2008: 

Total 2,978 plus 2 x 4 week learn 

to swim sessions 

2006/07: 2,600 

2007/08 2,800 

2008/09 2,400 

Adult gate: 166 

Child gate: 450 





2001/02: 2,160 

2003/04: 2,725 

2004/05: 1,926 

2005/06: 3,802 

2006/07: 3,628 

2007/08: 3,619 

2008/09: 4,079 

16

Overall, the pool use data of recent years suggest a stagnant if not declining market for swimming in Gannawarra 

Shire. Memberships and total attendances have fallen at all pools, with the exception of Quambatook. 

The figures suggest that the pools are becoming less relevant to an ageing population and that the younger 

generations find alternate activities to pursue. Despite the major shortcomings, the fact that the small, 

inadequate indoor pool in Kerang attracts more use than several of the town pools highlights the need for 

change and points to the type of facility which is urgently needed by the Shire community. Action to change 

what the pools offer is thus essential if they are to justify continued investment by the community and Council. 

2.3 The Financial Performance of the Shire Pools 

Committee/Manager Data 

It would appear that the management/committees operating the public pools in the Shire keep no more detailed 

data on the financial performance of the assets than they do on use. Income data was provided for four of the 

five pools although that for Kerang and Cohuna understandably remains confidential due to the commercial 

contract Council has with the operator. Operational cost data was only provided for one venue. 

The committee operating the Leitchville pool provided the most detailed data, this showing that the venue 

generated an income of $5,984.20 in 2008/09 while operating expenses totalled $6,979.98. Significantly, the 

second highest cost item was lifeguard training at $1,380, this reflecting the excellent initiative taken by the 

committee to held ensure there were sufficient lifeguards available for the operation of the pool. 

The Koondrook pool committee indicated that its estimated gate takings for the past three years were: 

2006/07 $14,483.20 

2007/08 $13,648.22 

2008/09 $16,572.20 

Council Expenditures 

Gannawarra Shire expenditure on the five public pools is quite substantial. The following data was prepared 

from Council files for the present study although officers noted that it may not be complete as it is spread over 

many accounts in Council’s ledgers. Similarly, it was indicated that the data do not accurately record direct 

Council expenditure as opposed to grants. Recent expenditures are recorded below. All exclude GST. 

Cohuna 

Capital 

06 - $29,687 

07 - $33,092 

08 - $0 YTD (this does not include $11,263 for the new shade sail which was funded 50%) 

Sub total: $62,779 

Operations and maintenance 

06 - $46,941 

07 - $54,457 

08 - $27,179 


Total: $191,356 

3 Year average: $63,785 

Kerang (outdoor) 

Capital 

06 - $14,451 

07 - $41,075 (mainly pool sealing works, no grant was available within required timeline of works) 

08 - $0 YTD (works have been budgeted for to commence service pipe works) 



06 - $63,400 

07 - $72,622 

08 - $36,004 YTD 


Total: $227,552 




17

Koondrook 

Capital - ( Koondrook is not a council asset therefore expenditure is rarely considered capital) 

06 - $26,395 ( Much of this was associated with the Willow Park redevelopment) 

07 - $0 

08 - $0 

Sub total $26,395 


06 - $4,260 + $15,000 annual grant 

07 - $0 + $15,000 annual grant 

08 - $19,195 ( 2/3 funded by grant, 1/3 funded by the pool committee this grant also included under these grant 

arrangements $22,308 for a pool blanket and installation). + $15,000 annual grant 

Sub total $76,929 

Total: $102,234 


Leitchville 

Capital 

06 - $16,434 

07 - $0 

08 - $9,579 ( for the new shade sail which was funded 50%) 



06 - $19,153 

07 - $13,027 

08 - $6,859 


Total: $65,052 


Quambatook 

Capital - ( Quambatook is not a council asset therefore expenditure is rarely considered capital) 

05 - $27,968 (leak repairs mainly. Not sure if there was grants associated) 

06 - $2,000 

07 - $0 

08 - $0 (to date, still a shade sail to be paid for around $ 6,450 this was 50% grant money) 


Operations and maintenance - 

06 - $5,043 

07 - $5,308 

08 - $2,755 


Total: $43,074 


No data could be obtained on Council expenditures on the small indoor pool in Kerang. 

While incomplete, the above data indicate that Council either directly or directly and through grants, allocated a 

total of $629,268 over the 2006-2009 period to the five outdoor public pools in the Shire. This thus averaged 

$209,756 per annum. Any expenditures on the indoor would be additional to this. 

The expenditure data also indicate that the allocations varied significantly between the five pools. Thus while 

on average, the Kerang pool cost Council $75,000 pa., the Leitchville pool cost an average of $22,000 pa. and 

Quambatook only $14,300. 

Unfortunately, the lack of accurate attendance data at the pools means that it is not possible to calculate the 

cost per swim of the financial assistance or variations in this between the pools. However, it is clear that the 

rates are substantial and on the basis of the Shire population of 11,297 at the 2006 Census, the annual subsidy 

across all pools amounts to at least $18.57 per resident. The cost of the indoor pool would probably raise this 

above $20 per resident. 

It is not an objective of the present study to determine whether any of the public pools in the Shire should be 

closed and a strong case can be put as to why none of them should as aquatic facilities deliver significant 

health, social, personal and wellbeing benefits to residents and in general, cost far less than many other forms 

of recreation provision. However, as later chapters of this report indicate, the pools are presently serving a 

small proportion of the Shire population and more significantly, a narrow age band of the total Shire population. 

As such, if the pools are to continue to justify the significant subsidies they are receiving from the Shire (and 

through grants, from the wider Victorian and national community), they need to begin to make a far stronger 

contribution to meeting the recreation and health needs of the Shire community. Opportunities for achieving 

this are detailed in later chapters of this report. 



18

In summary regarding the financial management of the public pools in the Shire, the facilities are a very costly 

asset. However, the true nature of that cost cannot be assessed as insufficient, accurate data is kept on them, 

either by Council or the venue managers. It is thus recommended that as with pool attendance data, It is 

recommended that Council: 

1. Develops a standard proforma and runs an information session to guide pool committees/ managers 

and staff in the collection of accurate financial data on pool operations 

2. Develops a more consolidated accounting of its own expenditures on the pools, and 

3. Makes the annual collection and reporting of financial performance data a mandatory requirement for 

eligibility for Council grants. 

2.4 Management 

Cohuna and Kerang Pools 

At present, the Cohuna and Kerang pools are managed by a contractor appointed by Council, Leitchville pool is 

managed by a Council-appointed Committee of Management and the Koondrook, and Quambatook pools are 

managed by Crown-appointed Committees of Management. 

Copies of the relevant contract documents for the management of the Cohuna and Kerang pools were provided 

by Council. However, it was not possible to obtain any documentation regarding the management of the small 

indoor pool in Kerang, or from any of the committees managing the outdoor pools on Council land or the 

outdoor pools on Crown land. 

The management contracts for the Cohuna and Kerang pools are integrated as one document. Document CP 

148, “Operation of Swimming Pools in Kerang and Cohuna Townships” covers the overall management 

objectives and requirements, plus details on the responsibilities of the management in relation to the pool 

kiosks; pool supervision and management; grounds, plant and equipment maintenance; performance 

measures, and financial responsibilities. Overall, the details of the contract for both pools appear fair and 

sound. However, the following specific items warrant review and revision or further action: 

• A better definition of “hot nights” (3.2.1). It was claimed by residents during the community 

consultations program that the pools are often closed on many nights which they considered to be 

“hot”. What a definition of “hot night” constitutes needs to be addressed and more specific late 

opening conditions need to be determined and advertised 

• Expansion of pool marketing and advertising (5.8). At present, the pool manager is essentially only 

required to advertise when the pools are opening and closing for the season or when special events 

will restrict public access. There is no requirement for advertising to promote the pools and 

swimming or to promote other events at the pools 

• Greater encouragement to initiate “innovations” (5.9). This term is not defined in the contract but 

could include new facilities, new opening times, new and different activities etc. However, the pool 

management is not given any encouragement to be innovative. 

• The granting of exclusive use rights to swimming clubs (section 5.10): Kerang Swimming Club each 

week day between 6 pm and 7 pm. This is often the times when adults and others are finishing work 

and would like to use either pool for a swim. It is recommended that the exclusive use rights are 

revoked and that the club is allowed exclusive access to no more than half the pool lanes between 

6pm and 7pm and between 7 and 8pm with half the remaining lanes being made available if general 

public attendance numbers are low. The swim club should also be given rights to half the pool lanes 

between 6.30 am and 8am. At Cohuna, the Swim Club has exclusive use rights on Tuesdays and 

Thursdays from 6 pm to 7pm. In this instance, it is recommended that the Club has use of no more 

than half the lanes but that this is extended to each week night and as with Kerang Swim Club, to 

morning times as well 

• Wider definition of “customer satisfaction” (8.3). This item needs to be revised and expanded to 

include information on attendance numbers, user types and user satisfaction. There is presently no 

requirement that the pool management has to encourage pool use and if no one visited the pools at 

all, all the contract requirements would still be met. There is thus a need for a far greater focus on 

the programming of pool use. 

Three other issues warrant comment. It would appear from community comments that the contract 

requirements regarding water slide opening hours are not complied with or are complied with on an irregular 

basis. This needs to be reviewed. It would also seem that there is a need for management to better comply 

with attendance record keeping and reporting (5.13 i.) as none of this data could be provided for this study by 

Council. 



19

The evidence indicates that the professional, contract management of the Kerang and Cohuna pools delivers a 

quality service to the community –albeit at a significantly higher cost than the operation of the other public pools 

in the Shire. While this additional cost is acceptable, it is important that the Shire community gains the best 

outcome possible for its investment. While the service would appear to be very good, there are several areas 

of improvement and Council should see it as its responsibility to ensure this is achieved. It is recommended 

that before the management contracts are next renewed, the existing documents are reviewed in the light of the 

above comments and via consultative group drawn from the Cohuna and Kerang communities and key user 

groups. 

Other Public Pools in the Shire 

While some form of management agreement or terms of reference must exist for both the remaining outdoor 

pools and the indoor pool in the Shire, the fact that copies could not be obtained and that (for the outdoor pools) 

most committee members did not know of them, is a matter of concern. 

The management of pools and their plant is an onerous task which has a number of significant risks associated 

with it, including life saving and those associated with chemical management, water dosing and treatment and 

the like. As part of the review of the existing plant management processes undertaken during the present 

study, it was found that several committees were not operating their pools in a sound manner and that this 

generated potentially unsafe conditions. This situation needs to be rectified and there are potentially significant 

legal implications for the Committees of Management if a major accident occurred. Council could take a role in 

assisting with this change. 

Further to the above, it was found in general discussion with pool committees that while most felt that they were 

operating in a satisfactory manner, most members had no management qualifications, limited management 

experience and few skills in records or account keeping. It was also found that few committees took anything 

by way of action to promote or program their pools or in liaising with management committees from other pools 

on issues of safety, plant operation, equipment or programming. 

This situation can be understood given that most committee members are simply local residents making a 

contribution to their local community. However, with assets with a replacement value of an estimated $20 

million and with pool attendances stagnant or falling due to the declining relevance of the venues to many in the 

community, this situation needs to change. 

A final point which warrants noting was the difficulty committees of management faced in recruiting qualified 

staff. At least one committee had initiated a program to pay for staff training but still had difficulty in keeping 

people, especially when younger staff left town for work or University courses. 

In the light of the above it is recommended that Council: 

1. Council auspices/provides a regular program to provide all public pool operators (including those 

on Crown land) with the relevant skills with regard to safety and risk management, pool chemical 

handling, plant and equipment operation and other relevant matters 

2. Council auspices/provides training in life guarding in order to build a team of qualified people across 

the Shire who can be called on by all pools. As students are frequently lost to the system, it may be 

appropriate to also look to early retirees, part time workers and adults seeking short term employment 

3. Council assists committees in promoting their venues 

4. Council establishes a budget for (a) a mobile (trailer-based) set of equipment to be used for various 

types of programs at the public pools in the Shire, and (b) Shire-wide programming initiatives at the 

pools. This equipment set could be booked by each committee for agreed dates at the start of each 

season. Alternately, Council may advertise for applicants to manage the pool on its behalf on a 

commercial basis 

5. Council establishes a pool managers/committees liaison group to meet regularly for the purpose of 

disseminating and exchanging information on pool management and operational issues. This group 

should meet at least once prior to the summer opening of the pools, during the season and at the 

end of the season. 

2.5 The Assets: Overview 

As in many rural and regional Councils, the public swimming pools in Gannawarra Shire offer an important 

service to the community. Particularly in the smaller towns, they are seen as the only regularly-available social 

and recreational opportunities for children, teenagers and families over the summer months. 

Yet the facilities are ageing and all need infrastructure repairs and improvements. None of the outdoor pools 

are heated and they are subject to the whims of the weather. 



20

The technical assessment has indicated that expenditure of upward of $1.9m. (at 2009 prices) is required over 

the next few years to ensure that the assets are retained in a sound working condition. Obtaining the funds to 

cover these costs will be a difficult task for Council. In the longer term, consideration may need to be given to 

the issue of whether the Shire can continue to maintain five outdoor pools. 

While the pools suited the needs of the community in the 1960s and 1970s when aspirations were not as high, 

money more scarce and travel more difficult, a diversity of new leisure opportunities has now emerged, the 

Shire population is ageing and in slow decline, and the market the pools attract is declining. This is because 

the facilities are not appropriate to the needs of an older population and because many community members 

have a far more diverse range of alternate activities to pursue, including for some, home pools. 

The attendance and financial records for the pools are incomplete and this need action. However, what data 

does exist suggests that overall, use levels are low and declining. Yet Council (via its own funds and grants) 

has spent over half a million dollars on the six Council-owned over the past 3-4 years. This figure would be 

substantially boosted by committee and management expenditures and by the annual grant to Koondrook pool 

from Wakool Council in New South Wales. 

The pools in Koondrook, Leitchville and Quambatook are managed by community committees which make an 

excellent contribution to their towns through hard work and long hours. They cover a significant portion of the 

operational costs, train and pay staff and purchase equipment and supplies. Yet these small communities have 

limited resources to draw on and struggle to find the people to ensure that the pools can be opened at all times. 

In Cohuna and Kerang, the pools are managed by a contractor who maintains the ageing facilities to a high and 

attractive standard. In both the committee and contractor contexts, however, there is scope for far wider 

initiatives for programming, promotion and staff development and it is probable that Council will need to make a 

substantial effort to support initiatives in these areas. 

Outdoor summer-only pools are no longer able to meet the needs of competitive swimmers because of their 

seasonality, water temperatures and the lack of modern lane widths and lane ropes. The lack of pool blankets 

at all but one venue means that water temperatures can drop to the mid teens, some ten degrees below the 

ideal training temperature and only half the level which is appropriate for older users. By comparison with past 

eras, the range of activities which can be pursued at the public pools in the Shire is limited by tighter occupational 

health and safety regulations, the limited diversity of facilities which can be used, financial constraints on 

managers and Committees of Management, limited professional skills, and a near lack of program provision. 

Substantial action will be needed over the coming years if the pools are to be retained in a safe and sound 

operating condition and more importantly, if they are to be able to offer the community recreational experiences 

which will entice them to visit the venues. If action in both these areas is not taken, the pools will become 

increasingly marginal, a greater financial drain on the local communities and Council and some could eventually 

face closure. 



21

3 

Recreation and Leisure Trends: Impacts on Aquatic Needs and Provision 


There have been quite dramatic changes in the leisure and recreation interests of the community over recent 

years and in the types of leisure and recreation opportunities available to the community. These changes have 

been driven by higher education levels, changed work and business hours, greater community affluence, a 

willingness to pay for high standard experiences, insurance and litigation issues, the changed cultural mix of the 

community, greater expectations of quality and professional service, a greater awareness of the benefits of 

recreational involvement, and has already been demonstrated, the ageing of the population. 

3.2 Broad Social Trends 

The broad social, economic and attitudinal changes occurring in society have led to the following changes in 

community leisure behaviour: 

• A trend toward participation in non-competitive and passive activities rather than traditional formal 

sports 

• A search for more flexibility and diversity in leisure pursuits rather than a commitment to a small 

number of activities 

• Participation in activities which range from increasingly elite levels of competition to a basic and 

casual involvement for many activities 

• Dramatic falls in a number of traditional team and small group sports – including tennis and lawn 

bowls-- with the marked exceptions of junior soccer and junior Australian Rules Football 

• Significant increases in non-competitive but active pursuits such as cycling, walking, travel and 

swimming across all age groups 

• Greater support for and more involvement in informal, community-focused activities including 

community days, carnivals, festivals, music concerts and markets 

• Participation in recreation activities across a wider period of the day and week with a major move to 

week day evening sports participation and weekend involvement with non-sporting pursuits and 

spectating 

• Continuing growth in home-based leisure entertainment 

• The growth of more personalised leisure venues and services, as evidenced by 'boutique' health and 

fitness centres, the use of personal trainers, fitness videos/books/programs and home gyms 

• A significant growth in concern for the protection and well-being of the natural environment from both 

a recreational and political perspective 

• The use of natural and wilderness areas for a wide diversity of often conflicting uses. These include 

conservation and nature studies, educational activities, bushwalking, skiing, four wheel driving, 

abseiling, rockclimbing and bouldering, hang gliding, caving, canoeing/rafting, and BASE jumping 

• Acquisition and use of a wide range of recreational equipment. This ranges from computers and 

video/DVD equipment to SCUBA gear, boats, hang gliders and aircraft, off road vehicles, metal 

detectors etc 

• Provision and use of a wide diversity of culturally and socially-focused recreation opportunities 

including restaurants, bookshops, amusement parlours, music outlets (recorded and live), hotels, 

theatres and galleries, and shopping centres 

• The increasing demand for the management of natural resources on a sustainable basis 

• The emergence of risk management and public liability issues as major concerns for recreation 

providers, and 

• A growing desire for families to share recreational activities or to pursue related activities at one 

venue rather than pursuing a wide range of different activities at different venues. This often reflects 

changing work, leisure and family arrangements. 

A number of the above changes have implications for initiatives at each or all of the Gannawarra Shire outdoor 

pools. In particular, the trends and changes suggest that any new or replacement aquatic facilities should: 



22

• Add to the diversity of recreation opportunities available at the venues. In other words, simply 

repairing or replacing like with like will be insufficient if changing community needs are to be met 

effectively 

• Be of a higher standard: this includes not only the facilities, but also the management, programs and 

services which are provided. Increased attention may need to be given to targeted, personalised 

service. In particular, there will be an increasing need for programs and facilities which will 

specifically cater for the aging Shire population 

• Develop a focus on informal and formal aquatic and dry activities (fitness, social, age group, health) 

programming rather than on facilities management alone. Programs should be suitable to and 

attractive to a wide range of ages, offer interesting user experiences and delivering long term 

personal and community outcomes 

• Wherever possible, link the venues to other recreational opportunities with paths and trails 

• Have a strong family focus and create a strong social environment 

• Use the resources of the venues for other community events such as community days, carnivals, 

festivals, music concerts and markets 

• Focus on the integrated provision of opportunities to optimise family and social outcomes and 

investment returns 

• Use any redeveloped provision as a destination in its own right but also a base for wider recreation 

programs, including those provided by others, and 

• Be programmed for different types of users and uses at differing times of the day and week. 

In preparing the recommendations of the present report, the broad leisure trends reviewed above and 

appropriate responses to them have been taken into consideration in determining the mix of facilities to provide. 

It will also be essential that the promotion of any new or replacement facilities take these issues into 

consideration. 

3.3 Some Key Aquatic Trends 

In addition to the broad recreation trends outlined above, a number of specific trends have emerged in the field 

of aquatics provision over recent years. These are particularly relevant to the present study. Key amongst the 

aquatic provision trends are: 

1. The growing recognition of the strong links between aquatics and community and personal health. 

This has led to a greater focus on healthy living and well-being programs and sports injury and 

special needs opportunities which ensure that aquatic leisure facilities are accessible to all residents 

regardless of their skills or physical abilities. This will be particularly pertinent in the Shire given the 

ageing of the community and has programming and services timetabling and design implications eg: 

scheduling of special use times, provision of ramp, step and hoist access, provision of learn to swim 

lessons for young children etc. It has significant implications, however, for the types of additional 

facilities which may need to be provided in future 

2. A significant diversification in the mix of aquatic facilities and an increase in the number of different 

pools provided at aquatic centres in response to different market needs. For instance, there has 

been an increase in specialist pools for learn to swim, water safety for children, rehabilitation and 

therapy, self-programmed health activities, school programs, squads, youth activities and 

unstructured family activities. This has yet to occur to any marked extent in any of the aquatic 

venues in the Shire. The provision of such a mix of opportunities means that facilities which can be 

used all year round must be accessible to the community 

3. The provision of support facilities and services for parents and families. All recently built aquatic 

complexes are now providing child care facilities and family/disabled change rooms with these 

increasingly being seen as mandatory in most States. While the first item is unlikely to be necessary, 

achievable or viable at all Shire pools, both items should be considered at some of them 

4. A growing percentage of the population is pursuing swimming as a recreation activity and there are 

an increasing number of participants of all ages. This reflects the aquatics-health link; the greater 

availability of improved, heated and all-year indoor facilities; the continuing position of swimming as a 

school curriculum activity, and the continuing international successes of Australian swimmers. The 

limited scope of what the Shire pools can offer at present restricts these opportunities at present 

5. In response to the aquatic trends outlined above, there has been a significant increase in the number 

of indoor aquatic venues throughout Australia over the past two decades, resulting in the community 

having a greater choice and awareness of standards and services. Venues which do not reflect 

these improvements will not attract the markets they need to be viable. This is only too evident in 

the Shire: the poorest performing venues have changed little over the years and are unable to attract 



23

or meet the needs of large sections of the community. While the Shire has a small indoor Councilowned 

pool in Kerang, it has some serious use restrictions and it thus warrants a careful evaluation 

as to its future potentials 

6. The 'packaging' of programs and services to make pools attractive to a range of groups in the 

community. These groups include in particular, public and private health providers, seniors in the 

community, schools and swimming clubs. This is as yet, little evidence of this occurring in the Shire 

7. Concerns over skin cancer have led to indoor pools being favoured over and/or in addition to outdoor 

facilities and the addition of greater shade areas at outdoor pools. A number of new shade 

structures have recently been provided at Shire pools and there is probably scope for further 

provision 

8. Virtually no pool-only developments have occurred in the past two decades due to their assessed 

poor operational viability. Many pool-only venues which were built in the past have progressively 

had a mix of other facilities added to them to strengthen their performance and market capacity. 

This has not really occurred at any of the Shire’s outdoor venues to date 

New aquatic facilities are now almost universally provided in association with a widening range of 

other dry sporting, health (physiotherapy, massage, dieticians), fitness, quality food services and 

social facilities. This co-location reflects several factors: 

The user benefits gained from co-use programming; 

Wider client use of additional services and facilities; 

Major capital cost savings in the shared provision of toilet, change, cafe/food, parking and other 

support services, and 

The capacity to cross-subsidise costly aquatic programs with other more lucrative dry health, 

fitness and social uses. 

The opportunities for co-location of facilities, programs or services at Shire venues needs exploring 

and should be considered whenever any new Council or public facility is considered over the coming 

years. 

9. Few new 50 metre pools, whether indoor or outdoor, have been built outside the metropolitan areas 

or major regional centres in Australia in the past 15 years except where they will support State, 

national or international competitions and carnivals. This is due to capital and operational costs, 

lower use flexibility and the fact that where 50 metre pools are provided, other pools still need to be 

provided to ensure that community needs are effectively met. As such, Kerang’s 50 metre pool must 

be well maintained as its replacement would incur a cost of at least $1.4 m. at current day costs. 

However, if any of the other Shire pools ever needs to be replaced, nothing bigger than a 25 m. pool 

should be built 

Further to the above, many of Australia's 50 metre pools were built following the country's successes 

at the Melbourne Olympics of 1956. Since then, the international aquatics federation, FINA, has 

instituted 25 metre 'short course' regulations and world championships and the need for 50 metre 

pools has become far less important. Thus, unless regional competition needs are to be met, 50 

metre pools are no longer required at anything less than the regional level 

10. Over recent years, a number of more modern facilities have been developed as indoor and outdoor 

venues. This has taken two main forms: first, provision of both indoor and outdoor pools (or water 

features rather than pools) in order to meet the assessed mix of community needs and second, 

through the construction of pools which can be opened up in summer and enclosed in winter (as at 

Inverell, NSW). Consideration warrants being given to adding indoor facilities at one or more of the 

Shire’s venues 

11. The provision of indoor/outdoor venues through the use of removable fabric enclosures has 

generally been a failure. This is because of the cost and difficulty of removing the covers, the ease 

with which covers are damaged, and because of the generally poor use conditions under the 

enclosure (noise, humidity, temperatures). As such, we would recommend against any 

consideration of this strategy in the Shire 

12. At an increasing number of aquatic centres, indoor and outdoor non-pool aquatic areas are being 

developed as toddler water play areas. These provide, for example, matting-based water play areas 

and user-operated sprays and sprinklers set on what is essentially a large shower base. This option 

warrants exploration in the Shire 

13. There is an increasing provision of diverse non-aquatic areas. Indoor and outdoor venues are 

providing beach volleyball, picnic lawn areas, dry play facilities and multi-purpose rooms for 

teaching, group change and indoor activities in poorer weather. The latter spaces are also used for 

meetings, art shows, workshops, occasional care etc and are supported by existing amenities and 

services. This form of provision is lacking in the Shire and warrants serious consideration 



24

14. Because of the increased 'supply' of aquatic leisure venues and travel improvements, more people 

'shop around' to try out different venues (especially with children, friends) while others seek a venue 

which best fits their specific aquatic and other needs (eg: health). Research undertaken on behalf of 

Sport and Recreation Victoria during each of the 1970s, 80s and 90s found that the proportion of 

users who visited only one centre dropped from 97 percent to around 85 percent as a result of this 

changed use behaviour. Other research has shown that alternately, users will select one venue as a 

'home' base and then make use of numerous other venues for more specialist services. At present, 

there is not a great deal of variety in the opportunities offered by the Shire’s aquatic venues and 

consideration warrants being given to different types of initiatives at the different pools so that more 

people are encouraged to use more than one pool 

15. There is now a major growth in specialist 'boutique' health and fitness centres. These are often no 

larger than a single shop, have restricted memberships and offer a personalised service. No 

provision of this form is evident at Shire aquatic venues 

16. Aquatics venues are increasingly being designed with the capacity to allow staged additions which 

can accommodate emerging and changing needs in the community. The industry has evolved so 

rapidly that venues which were considered to be industry leaders 10 years ago are now seen as 

outdated. Unless changes can be made and new opportunities added, they will remain that way. 

Although the size of the Shire aquatics markets are unlikely to make this an issue for serious 

consideration, flexibility of design should not be overlooked. The small indoor pool in Kerang is an 

example of this not occurring and the capacity to redevelop the venue so it can effectively cater for 

significant levels of community use is likely to be limited, and 

17. Despite the high expectations of the 1990s, there is less than a handful of pools which have been 

built and operated under BOO (where a commercial developer builds, owns and operates a venue 

with some form of initial Council input) or BOOT (build, own, operate and eventually, transfer 

ownership to Council) schemes. A number of developments which were initiated in this way have 

reverted to Council operation. That said, there is always potential for commercial involvement with 

Council venues through the leasing of space or through capital contributions. These may be small 

contributions or they could be quite large and should not be neglected. 

3.4 Conclusion 

It is evident that a number of the general leisure and recreation trends and of the specific aquatics provision 

trends have implications for future aquatics provision in the Shire. It would appear that many of the general and 

specific aquatic provision trends (or the demographics discussed in the following chapter) have yet to be 

responded to by the Shire in the development and management of its aquatic leisure resources and that a 

range of opportunities warrant consideration. The recommendations for action presented in later sections of 

this report have sought to take account of the most important of these trends and to identify strategies which 

respond to them. 



25

4 

Shire Demographics: Characteristics and Influences 


The demographic characteristics of a community have a strong influence on the support which can be 

generated for all forms of recreation opportunity. This section of the report provides an overview of a number of 

key characteristics of the Gannawarra Shire population and the implications of these to the provision of aquatic 

facilities. 

4.2 Population Size 

At the 2006 Census, Gannawarra Shire had 11,297 residents. This was 82 less than the 11,378 residents 

recorded in the Shire in 2001 and 626 below the total of 11,922 recorded in 1996. 

These data suggest that the Shire population is in slow decline but that the rate of decline has lessened over 

recent years. 

A population of only 11,000 residents makes it difficult to viably support more than one or two outdoor summer 

swim centres, let alone the five the Shire has unless Council is willing to continue to sustain the ongoing costs 

and unless local committees can do much of the work in running the venues. 

Achieving operational viability is difficult because the maintenance and operating costs of pools are high when 

compared with many other recreation venues and as a result, high levels of use are needed to offset these 

costs. Yet the 2006 Australian Sports Commission recreation participation report, Participation in Exercise, 

Recreation and Sport Survey, found that in that year, 13.6 percent of the population went swimming. Although 

these figures made swimming the third most popular away from home active recreational pursuit (after walking 

and aerobics), when extrapolated to the Gannawarra Shire population, these data indicate that no more than 

1,536 different residents went swimming in 2006. An earlier study by the Australian Sports Commission found 

that in 2001-02, 13.5 percent of the Victorian population went swimming. This would mean that only 1,525 

different Shire residents went swimming. 

These data suggest that if all the Shire pools are to be retained they will continue to struggle and that every 

effort should be made to increase the proportion of the Shire population which uses them. 

4.3 The Age Distribution of the Population 

Table 4.1 records the age distribution of the Shire population at the 2001 and 2006 Censuses and the 

percentage of the total population in each group. It also records the age distribution of the total Australian 

population in 2006. 

A number of key points can be identified from Table 4.1. These are: 

• The largest population group in the Shire in both 2001 and 2006 was aged 25 to 54 years 

• The absolute number and percentage of residents in the children’s and teenager groups declined 

between 2001 and 2006, from just on 22 percent of the total to under 20 percent 

• The number of residents aged 55-64 years and 65 years plus grew substantially between 2001 and 

2006 with their proportion of the total rising from 29.4 percent to over 34 percent, and 

• The proportion of the Shire population who were children, teenagers/young adults and aged 25-54 

years was well below that of Australia as a whole while the proportion of residents 55 years and 

older was half as high again as the national average (34.2 % vs 22%). 

Another fact not recorded in the Table is that in 2006 the median age of Shire residents was 43 years while that 

for Australia as a whole was 35 years. 

The significance of the age distribution data and the median age of the Gannawarra Shire community lies in the 

fact that the community is ageing and that as it does, so does the proportion of the community which does not 

swim. The 2006 Sports Commission data showed that while aquatics participation was highest amongst those 

aged 24 to 34 years old (17.0%) and 35 to 44 years (17.3%), it fell to only 6.1 percent amongst those aged 65 

years and older (Participation in Exercise, Recreation and Sport Survey, 2006, p. 24). This means that there 

were almost certainly far fewer than the initial estimate of 1,525 different Gannawarra Shire residents who went 

swimming in 2006 and that the number is declining. This situation will be further intensified by the slow decline 

of the total number of residents. 



26

Age group Shire 2001 2001 Percent Shire 2006 2006 Percent Australia 2006 

Percent 

0-4 years 798 7.0 599 5.3 6.6 

5-14 years 1694 14.9 1622 14.4 14.2 

15-24 years 1209 10.6 1172 10.4 13.7 

25-54 years 4332 38.1 4035 35.7 43.5 

55-64 years 1314 11.5 1529 13.5 9.4 

65 years and over 2031 17.9 2340 20.7 12.6 

11378 100 11297 100 100 

Table 4.1: The age distribution of the Gannawarra Shire population, 2001 and 2006 and of the Australian 

population in 2006 Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2006 Census Quickstats 

Offsetting the loss of pool patrons would require action which will: 

1. Keep the present community members who swim involved with swimming 

2. Attract past swimmers back to the pools, and 

3. Attract new swimmers. 

Achieving success on each of the actions is difficult if what is offered no longer attracts swimmers –because 

they have other alternatives—or because it is no longer suitable to the needs of the community. This latter 

situation is particularly the case with older residents: cold water outdoor pools are seen to be just too cold and 

they are of no value for health-focused aquarobics. Further, the fact that they are closed for 5 to 6 months 

means that they cannot offer all year programs so people turn to other pursuits. This means that totally 

different types of pools and totally different programs, staff and support services may be needed if aquatic 

facilities in the Shire are to continue as being relevant to the lives of many residents. 

4.4 The Cultural Background of the Community 

The cultural background of a community has an important influence on recreation interests and activities. 

Communities with a strong cultural diversity pursue more and often very different activities to those with a 

predominantly Anglo-Saxon background. 

In the context of the present study, predominantly Anglo-Saxon communities are known to take part in aquatic 

activities to a greater extent than culturally more diverse communities. The 2006 Census shows that in that 

year, 89.7 percent of Gannawarra Shire residents were born in Australia and 93.3 percent were Australian 

citizens. By comparison, 71 percent of the Australian population was born here. 

Other countries in which significant numbers of Shire residents were born were the UK (1.4%), New Zealand 

(0.5%) and South Africa (0.4%). No non-English speaking countries provided significant numbers of residents. 

In summary, the cultural data suggest that there will not be significant groups in Gannawarra Shire who would 

not see swimming as a realistic recreational activity. This suggests that if improved, additional or new aquatic 

opportunities were to be provided, there is a good chance of attracting community use of them. 

4.5 Socio-Economic Status 

As a community with a strong farming base, it can be expected that the economic downturn of the past year, 

persistent drought conditions and the capping of irrigation water allocations would have had a depressing effect 

on the financial wellbeing of the community. 

While some data exist to support the above, the 2006 Census indicates that individual and family incomes were 

already depressed at that time. Thus, while the median income per individual per week in the Shire in August 

2006 was $372, the comparative national figure was 25 percent higher at $466 per week. The median family 

income in the Shire in 2006 was $960 per week compared with the national median of $1,171 per week. 

These figures do not mean that families cannot afford to use the swimming pools in the Shire. However, they 

indicate that if entry and membership fees were set too high, there would be individuals and families who would 

not use the pools. In this context, the lakes of the Mallee region and the Murray River offered cheap and quite 

different swimming opportunities for many members of the community. The diversity of activities they support 

cannot easily be matched by public swimming pools. As a result, if the loss of market share to these facilities is 

to be offset, it may be necessary to consider quite different facility, program and service provision strategies. 



27

Two other socio-economic features of a community which have an impact on its capacity to afford and use 

recreation opportunities are the percentages of single parent families and of lone person households. In 

Gannawarra Shire, single parent families constituted 11.4 percent of all families at the 2006 Census. This was 

well below the 15.8 percent national figure. By comparison, one person households accounted for 27.6 percent 

of all households in the Shire in 2006, a rate which was well above the national figure of 22.9 percent. 

Although the proportion of single parent families in the Shire is below the national level, it is certain that this and 

the high rate of lone person households, will hamper these resident’s capacity to use a range of recreational 

opportunities, including swimming pools. Given the ageing of the Shire community, many of the lone person 

households will be aged widows and widowers. Significant incentives and quite different facilities and programs 

would be needed to get many in this group to use the Shire pools in their current form. 

4.6 Population Distribution 

Although the Shire of Gannawarra had a resident population of 11,297 people in 2006, the community is 

distributed across 3,736 square kilometres of rural countryside and more than a dozen towns and districts. Of 

the main towns in the Shire, each of Cohuna, Kerang, Koondrook, Leitchville and Quambatook has a pool. 

While this could be seen as a high level of provision, the differing histories of the towns and the distances 

between them helps explain this. Yet the small size of the local populations means that most of the venues 

only serve a very small market and Council may need to ask whether it can justify supporting facilities in 

individual towns which are now no more than 20-30 minutes from bigger centres which also have pools. 

Table 4.2 records the population of each of the towns in the Shire with a pool 2. It also records the percentage 

of that population in each of the age groups listed in Table 4.1. 

Age group Cohuna Kerang Koondrook Leitchville Quambatook Shire 

No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % 

0-4 145 5.1 208 5.5 54 4.5 39 4.6 19 4.4 599 5.3 

5-14 372 13.0 514 13.6 157 13.0 136 16.0 71 16.5 1,622 14.4 

15-24 256 9.0 414 11.0 109 9.0 98 11.5 36 8.4 1,172 10.4 

25-54 989 34.7 1,278 33.8 439 36.4 313 36.8 144 33.4 4,035 35.7 

55-64 408 14.3 441 11.7 202 16.7 144 13.4 83 19.3 1,529 13.5 

65 + 683 23.9 926 24.5 246 20.4 151 17.8 77 17.9 2,340 20.7 

Median 

age 

46 44 46 41 47 43 

Totals 2,853 100 3,780 100 1,207 100 850 100 431 100 11,297 100 

Table 4.2: The age distribution and total population of Gannawarra Shire towns with pools, 2006 

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2006 Census Quickstats 

The key points to be drawn from Table 4.2 are: 

• The populations of each district/town with a pool are very small even although they may well draw 

users from the wider rural areas between the towns 

• Each town/district with a pool has very small numbers of residents in the main pool-using age 

groups. Over one in three residents in all 5 towns is aged 55 years or older, the lowest pool-using 

age group, and 

• The median age of all the towns is above that of the Shire as a whole. Each town and the Shire are 

well above the national median age of 37 years. 

These findings endorse the data for the Shire as a whole: the market for aquatic facilities is low and if the pools 

are to be retained in a viable manner, action will need to be taken to retain existing users, to attract former 

users back to the pools and to attract new users. This is particularly so at Leitchville and Quambatook where 

the townships had have fewer than 300 residents each at the 2006 Census. 

Further data of interest is reported in Table 4.3. This shows the changing population size in each township 

between the 2001 and 2006 censuses. The data indicate that although there was little overall change in the 

total township population across the five towns, two fell --with Leitchville falling substantially-- while only 

Kerang and Quambatook had above State level growth. The growth in the Koondrook township area was 

almost entirely due to growth in Barham on the NSW side of the border. 

2 The populations are those recorded by the Bureau of Statistics for “State Suburbs” which include some rural residents. The 

collection boundaries of some “State Suburbs” reach close to the boundaries of adjoining towns. Comparisons with “urban 

areas” data show that these figures overstate the population immediately accessible to Cohuna which had 1,893 township 

residents in 2006; Leitchville, with 271, and Quambatook, with 253 township residents. The Koondrook/Barham town area 

had 1,934 residents in 2006 whereas the larger Koondrook “State Suburb” has only 1,207 residents. 



28

The township data indicate little change in the markets available to the five public pools. In fact, anecdotal 

evidence collected during the consultations conducted as part of this study suggests that where town growth 

did occur, a substantial part of it was due to farm and other retirees moving in. Such residents would make little 

if any use of the pools in their current form. 

Township 2001 2006 % change 

Cohuna 1955 1893 -3.2 

Kerang 3717 3780 + 1.7 

Koondrook/Barham 1852 1934 + 4.4 

Leitchville 296 271 -8.4 

Quambatook 245 253 + 3.2 

Shire 10066 10137 + 0.8 

Table 4.3: Township population changes, Gannawarra Shire, 

2001 - 2006 

To some extent, the “gloomy” figures in terms of aquatic markets might be offset by tourist use of the pools over 

the summer period. This has been found to be important in Cohuna –where the pool is based in parklands not 

far from a major caravan park—and to a lesser and lesser extent in the other towns. 

The results of the survey of pool users which was conducted over January-February 2009 as part of the present 

study provides some valuable information on tourist use. Of the 364 pool users surveyed across the five 

outdoor Shire pools, 97 or 26.6 percent did not live in the town where they used a pool. Further, only half of 

these (45 users or 12.4 percent of the total), lived outside the local region. Not surprisingly, the results varied 

dramatically from pool to pool. Thus, only one of the 45 users surveyed at Quambatook lived outside the town 

but that user still lived locally. At Koondrook, 16 of 95 users lived outside Koondrook/Barham but only 6 of 

these (6.3%) lived outside the region. Similarly, Leitchville pool attracted only 22 of 71 survey respondents 

from outside the town and only 8 (or 11.3%) were from outside the local district. By comparison, 18 of 58 

respondents at Kerang Pool (or 31.0%) did not live in Kerang and 9 of these (or 15.5 % of all users) lived 

outside the region. In Cohuna, the most popular tourist destination in the Shire, 42.1 percent of the 95 survey 

respondents did not live in the town and 22 of these (or 23.2%) did not live in the Shire or local district. 

The above results suggest that whilst the tourism market might be important, it is far from uniform in its 

pattern of use. Several additional points warrant making about tourism: 

1. Widespread evidence suggests that most tourists do not visit and stay in a town because it has an 

outdoor pool. This is because most tourists do not see a public pool as a particularly important 

element when making decisions about holiday destinations. This is likely to be particularly so in the 

Shire when the Murray River, other waterways and lakes are available nearby. These resources, in 

fact, are likely to attract both tourists and some age groups of local residents away from public pools. 

That said, if a town has a public pool, some tourists will use it 

2. No data has been kept by Council, pool management committees or the manager of the Cohuna and 

Kerang pools on tourist visits so the only data available is that from the survey provided above. This 

would need to be matched by far wider information covering those who do not use pools as well as 

those who do 

3. Tourism is a fickle industry with travel activities being impacted on by international, national and local 

issues as well as the changing tastes and preferences of the community. New ideas are quickly 

copied and markets can be quickly lost, and 

4. Whilst tourist numbers using Cohuna Pool are significant, Council should not base any new provision 

initiatives on attracting tourists but rather, on serving the local community, with if possible, a capacity 

to also attract tourists. And if it does do this, it needs to be very selective as to where it does it. 

On a related point, if there are opportunities to provide aquatic facilities (such as health-related facilities) which 

will attract new residents into one town or another or into the Shire, as has been successfully pursued in other 

small regional Victorian towns, then these ought to be considered. This is particularly so if the facilities which 

attract the new residents can also be used by current residents. 



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4.7 Conclusions 

This chapter of the report has sought to highlight features of the Gannawarra Shire community which are likely 

to have an impact on the future Council and community decisions regarding the provision of aquatic facilities in 

the Shire. The key findings are: 

• The Shire population is small and slowly declining which means that the number of people available 

to support aquatic facilities in the future will fall 

• The Shire population is ageing which again means that the number of people available to support 

aquatic facilities in the future will fall as the older residents are, the fewer the number of pool users 

• There is little overall growth in township populations with two of the five with public pools declining 

between 2001 and 2006. Where growth has occurred it is small in absolute terms and is likely to be 

due to retirees moving in. This age group generates little if any use of pools such as those in the 

Shire 

• The ageing of the population and the fact that most of the Shire’s outdoor pools have changed little 

over the years means that the venues are no longer attractive, relevant or “accessible” to many in 

the community 

• The cultural background of the Shire community is predominantly Anglo-Saxon and as such this 

does not pose any cultural barriers to aquatics use 

• The socio-economic status of the Shire community is not strong and this means that the capacity to 

pay for costly facilities and programs will be restricted, both from a user perspective and from a wider 

ratepayer point of view 

• The population of the Shire is scattered across a number of towns and a large rural area. This helps 

to explain the fact that the Shire has 5 outdoor pools. It also means, however, that most of the 

venues have very small service markets. If new provision was being considered today it would be 

unlikely that a number of the facilities would be affordable or financially feasible 

• The populations in the smaller Shire towns are even older than the Shire as a whole which will 

further depress the demand for outdoor aquatic facilities, and 

• While tourists appear to constitute quite a significant proportion of users of several of the Shire pools, 

they make essentially no use of several other pools. The often fickle nature of tourism means that 

tourists should not be relied upon to ensure the viability of any of the venues. However, if provision 

which attracts tourists, or even, new residents, also serves the needs of existing residents, it may 

warrant consideration. 

These conclusions do not mean that Council must or must not take certain actions with regard to the existing 

outdoor pools in the Shire. Yet, the detailed demographic data for the Shire suggest that all the facilities are 

likely to be marginal from a financial and viability perspective. However, Council and the local communities 

may be willing to bear the costs associated with this position because of the remoteness of a number of the 

communities and the fact that there are few other attractive recreational opportunities available. That said, 

there are strategies available to improve viability which warrant consideration and these are detailed in later 

Chapters. 

Another and perhaps far more important issue which Council will need to give serious thought to is the fact that 

in their current form, the Shire’s five outdoor pools simply do not attract the interest of or meet the needs of the 

majority of the community. Given the health and wellbeing benefits which research has shown pools can 

deliver to a community, this means that some radical changes to the existing mix of opportunities would be 

needed if this situation is to change. 



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5 

Community Needs and Aspirations 


As aquatic facilities can deliver such a diverse and important range of benefits to a community, any study 

looking into improving the quality of the facilities must take heed of the needs and aspirations of the community 

which is to be served. 

As such, the present study has gone to considerable effort to ensure that the community has been consulted 

and that its views have been taken into consideration in the planning process and in formulating the 

recommendations for action presented to Council. Specifically, the following program of consultations was 

followed: 

1. Regular meetings with Council officers responsible for the pools 

2. Meetings with the management of each pool (whether contractor or Committees) 

3. Public meetings in each town with a pool and several subsequent meetings to review the draft 

recommendations of the study 

4. Designing and overseeing the implementation of a survey of users of each of the outdoor pools 

during January-February, 2009 

5. Press releases inviting community inputs 

6. A student design competition 

7. Interviews with a range of other key stakeholders in the Shire community including Councillors, 

teachers, health professionals and swim club officials, and 

8. A public exhibition period for the final draft report with responses being reviewed and evaluated. 

This Chapter presents and evaluates the findings of each of these consultative components. 

5.2 The Pool User Survey 

5.2.1 Survey Response Rates 

A survey of users of each of the five outdoor pools in the Shire was conducted over January-February 2009. A 

survey process was established to ensure that respondents were randomly selected so that a true sample of 

users was selected. However, a number of the responses indicate that the recommended process was not 

rigorously followed. As such, the results should not be taken as an entirely accurate reflection of either who the 

users were or their ages. Similarly, while answers on what people did and why they went to a particular pool 

will be accurate for those people, they may not accurately reflect the views of all users. Despite this, the 

surveys provide a range of valuable information for the present study but that information should not be 

accepted as the only information for planning purposes. 

The user survey achieved 363 responses with the following number being completed at each pool: 

Cohuna 95 

Kerang 58 

Koondrook 94 

Leitchville 71 

Quambatook 45 

Given the number of responses, the survey results can be accepted as providing a good picture of who the 

users of each pool were, how they reached the pools, why they went to that pool, what they did there, where 

they came from, other swimming venues they used and what they would like to see improved at each venue. 

The following paragraphs summarise the responses to the key questions and a full printout has been provided 

to Council. 

5.2.2 Male and Female Users 

The survey of users found that female users out-numbered males on a ratio of 2.5 to one. Thus, 252 of those 

completing the survey were female and only 100. The ratio was lowest at Kerang where only 22.4 percent of 

those completing the survey were male and was highest at Quambatook, where 35.6 percent of respondents 

were male. 



31

Although these results may reflect the fact that women are generally more conscientious about assisting 

with community development projects than men (and thus filled in more surveys), the results are also 

likely to reflect the facts that: 

• Males generally seek more “exciting” activities than do females 

• Males tend to be put off by rules and regulations controlling boisterous behaviour than are females 

• Apart from swimming, social activities and the waterslides at two venues, there are few activities for 

males at any of the pools, and 

• Far more mothers accompany young children to pools than do fathers, other as a result of work 

commitments and/or the timing and nature of a woman’s work commitments. 

If the results reflect real differences in male/female visit rates, they indicate a need for quite dramatic action to 

attract more males to the pools if the benefits are to be shared equitably. This could perhaps be achieved by 

broadening the mix of facilities, by relaxing some controls over male use and by developing programs and 

activities more attractive to males. 

5.2.3 The Age of Pool Users 

Table 5.1 records the age distribution of pool user survey respondents for each venue and compares this 

distribution with the age distribution of the State Suburb populations as a whole. Slightly reorganised data is 

used compared with that in section 4.6. 

For each town, the Table records the 2006 Census population, the percentage of the population in each age 

group and the percentage of pool users in each age group as indicated from the user survey. 

It is almost certain that the proportion of very young users included in the survey is less than their actual 

proportion as young children would not understand the purpose of the study or not be able to write. However, it 

is known that some parents completed the survey on behalf of young children. That issue aside, the data in 

Table 5.1 indicate that: 

• For the five towns as a whole, teenagers and adults in their 30s and 40s made up twice the 

proportion of pool users as their proportion of the population. However, the rate for older teenagers 

was not as strong as for younger teenagers 

• Adults in their 20s constituted the same portion of pool users as their portion of the population 

• Beyond 49 years of age, pool use dropped dramatically in every subsequent age group 

• The same pattern of use was generally found on a town by town basis but with some variations. 

Greatest use still occurred amongst young teenagers and 30s and 40s age groups with Kerang pool 

attracting 37.9 percent of the survey respondents from the 40-49 years group. Koondrook pool 

outstripped all others in the teenage category with nearly 44 percent of all users aged from 10 to 19 

years. The 70 plus age group was consistently low and no one in that age bracket was recorded at 

Leitchville, despite there being 86 residents in that age bracket 

Overall, the age group data suggest that the existing Shire pools are most attractive to children, young 

teenagers and adults with families. Use drops off in the later teen years and in the 20s age group, when these 

groups are attracted to a diverse array of other social and sporting pursuits. It falls even more dramatically after 

49 years of although residents aged 70 years plus make up the largest age group in the five towns with pools, 

they use the pools at the lowest rate: one-eighth of their proportion of the population. These patterns generally 

reflect State and national use patterns although the extent of the decline in use after 49 years is more dramatic 

in Gannawarra than across the State as a whole as many other districts have a more diverse range of facilities 

which can attract a more diverse age range. The results suggest that a far greater diversity of facilities and 

programs will be needed if the serious fall in use of the Shire pools with age are to be overcome. Sadly, some 

of the groups which benefit most from aquatics programs are presently the lowest users. 

A final point which warrants noting is that beyond the Shire towns with pools, there are around 2,500 additional 

Shire residents who do not live in one of the towns with a pool. It is almost certain that pool use by these 

residents is even lower than in the towns with pool. 



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5.2.4 How Users Reach the Pools and Why They Use Them 

Pool users were asked how the reached to pool at which they were surveyed. While travel by car was the most 

common method (being ticked by 78 percent of respondents), 30 percent said that they also walked and 14.5 

percent said that they rode a bike. The last two figures are significant in that indicate that as many 45 percent 

of pool users travel by bike or by walking, which means that they must live quite near to the pool they use. In 

keeping with this, the highest use of cars was recorded at Cohuna (87.4%) and Kerang (84.5%) while the figure 

was significantly lower at all the smaller towns and as low as 62 percent in Quambatook. 

The travel data suggest that to a significant degree, the pools –and especially the small, rural pools-- do not 

attract users from far away and that as a consequence, communities without a pool are disadvantaged by 

comparison with those that do. This conclusion is supported by the reasons given for using the pool they did. 

Asked why they use the pool at which they completed the survey, 79 percent of the respondents said that it was 

because it was the nearest to their home while this was as high as 93.3 percent in Quambatook and 88.7 

percent in Leitchville. 

Other commonly cited reasons for using the pool they did were having a membership (42%), the quality of the 

management/staff (39%), the atmosphere at the venue (32.5%), and ease of access by road or walking (25%). 

Proximity to work (6%), Council ownership (9%) and fees (13.5%) were seen as the least important reasons for 

using the venue 

5.2.5 Where the Pool Users Lived 

Identifying where pool users live provides an understanding of the catchment each serves, how attractive a pool 

is to the community and where there are possible gaps in either provision or access. Pool users completing the 

survey were asked where they lived. Table 5.2 summarises the answers. In the Table, the towns with pools 

are shaded in grey and towns well outside the Shire and the local district are shaded green. Some of the 

highlights of the Table are: 

• With exception of Koondrook, each pool drew the majority of its users from its home town. At 

Koondrook, the largest user group came from Barham, immediately across the Murray River. This 

reflects the short distance to the pool, the fact that the Barham population is larger than that of 

Koondrook and the fact that Barham does not have a pool 

• The proportion of the users coming from the “home town” of the pool or elsewhere locally was lowest 

in Cohuna as a result of the strong tourism base of the town. Thus, 51.6 percent of Cohuna pool 

users were local residents while at least 27.8 percent were from well beyond the local region. 

Cohuna pool users came from at least 24 different towns and localities. By comparison, Leitchville 

pool attracted 64.8 percent of users from the local area and from only 11 different towns/localities; 

Kerang attracted 69 percent of users from the local area and from 12 different towns/localities; 

Koondrook/ Barham attracted 77.7 percent locally and from 12 different towns/localities, and 

Quambatook attracted 97.8 percent of its users from within the town and only one person from 

outside the town 

• Pool users living outside the Shire came from a wide spread of localities including as far away as 

Brisbane, the ACT, the south coast of New South Wales and, in particular, Melbourne. 

The data on user origins highlight a number of points: 

• Venues such as the Quambatook pool (and to a lesser extent, Koondrook pool) struggle to attract 

users from a wide area as they have nothing which is different to the other Shire pools –or pools in 

other Shires and cities—which makes people want to go there. Even most other Shire swimmers 

appear to never go there. Efforts to change this situation may well allow the venue to attract more 

users, even if only from within the Shire 

• Cohuna pool benefits a lot from use by tourists from outside the town, the Shire and district. 

Continuing to attract these users will be important to the pool’s viability while the attractiveness of the 

venue to tourists warrants using as a promotional tool for the Shire. However, care must be taken to 

ensure that new initiatives are not solely targeted at attracting tourists: local needs should be met 

first 

• The differing ability of the pools to attract users from outside the local area suggests that initiatives to 

treat the Shire pools as a “system” of complementary venues and to make each as different form the 

others –whether in terms of facilities or programs—might well assist in attracting wider support 



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5.2.6 Frequency of Visiting the Pools 

Responses to the pool user survey indicated that the most common use rates were 1-3 times a week (27.7% of 

respondents), 4+ times a week (21.8%) and every day (13.6%). Cohuna, with its significant number of tourist 

users, had the highest rate of use for the first time (13.7%) and no one was in this category at Quambatook. 

Overall, less than 20 percent of users visited less often than weekly. 

While these data indicate that the pools have a loyal clientele, they are also worrying in that they indicate that a 

small group of individuals make up the vast bulk of users. To illustrate, as few as 150 people spread across the 

daily, 4+ times a week, 1-3 times a week and weekly categories at the rates indicated by the survey, would 

generate around 4,200 visits in just three months. 

As with the earlier data, these figures suggest that the Shire pools are not reaching many members of the 

community despite the generally good quality of the assets, despite the management efforts made by the 

managers and Committees of Management, despite the fact that there are five pools available and despite the 

major recreational and health benefits pools can deliver. Given that the current day replacement cost of the 

pools in the is of the order of $ 20 million +, this is of real concern. Again, as noted in previous sections, 

initiatives are needed to broaden the appeal of the facilities so that a far greater proportion of different residents 

use the venues. 

5.2.7 The Cultural Background of Pool Users 

More than 85 percent of the survey respondents using each of the Shire pools indicated that they had an 

Australian cultural background. This figure was as high as 97.8 percent at Quambatook and 95.8 percent at 

Koondrook. Further, most other users were either from an English, New Zealand or European background, all 

society’s which are familiar with swimming pools. 

While it is acknowledged that the Shire population has a predominantly Anglo-Saxon background, there are 

quite a few residents who do not and it is probable that many tourists visiting the Shire do not. As such, the 

data suggest that what the pools offer is failing to attract people from different cultural backgrounds. 

5.2.8 Using Other Pools 

Pool users who completed the user survey were asked what other swimming facilities they used in addition to 

the pool at which they were surveyed. This is useful information at it gives an indication of which types of 

facilities are attracting Shire residents away from their own pools. 

A significant number of other venues were listed, with a number of these being in towns which the respondents 

had obviously visited while on holidays or visiting family etc. The most important locations in this context were 

Melbourne --attracting 5.3% of respondents-- and “the coast” which attracted 4.2 percent. 

Quite a few respondents had visited a number of other pools in the Shire. Kerang was most popular, attracting 

6.5 percent of users of the other pools (and 17.8% of Quambatook pool users and 12.8% of Koondrook users). 

Overall, Cohuna attracted 4.6 percent of other pool users and 11.3 percent of Leitchville pool users. However, 

Leitchville on 1.1 percent, Koondrook on 0.6 percent and Quambatook on 0.7 percent attracted few users of the 

other Shire pools. Significantly, no respondent mentioned use of the indoor heated “therapy” pool in Kerang. 

In terms of “direct” competition, 4.7 percent of respondents said they used the indoor pool in Echuca (with a 

figure of 7.4 in Cohuna and 9.9 percent in Leitchville), and 5.3 percent used the indoor facilities in Swan Hill 

(with 12.1% of Kerang and 11.1% of Quambatook residents). Further, some 4.1 percent of respondents said 

they used a private pool, with this figure reaching 12.8 percent in Koondrook. 

Overall, the most important other venues used were district creeks, rivers, lakes and dams, as indicated below: 

Apex Park (Cohuna): 1.9% (and 9.5% of Cohuna users) 

Cohuna Ski run: 1.1 % (and 5.3% of Cohuna users) 

Gunbower Creek: 7.5% (with 22.1% of Cohuna users 

Kangaroo Lake: 9.5% (with as many as 28.9% of Quambatook users) 

Lake Charm: 7.7% (and 27.6% of Kerang users) 

Murray River: 15.8% (with 34% of Koondrook, 16.9% of Leitchville, 13% of Quambatook 

and 9.5% of Cohuna users) 

Reedy Lake: 5.4% (with 22% of Kerang users) 



36

It is not possible for the outdoor pools across Gannawarra Shire to match the offerings or the experience of 

these venues. However, the water slides at Kerang and Cohuna aside, there is nothing for any age group to 

partially match the attractions of rivers and waterways and little by way of programming which prepares children 

for using rivers and waterways. Further, it should be remembered that the present survey of pool users: there 

may well be many more people using the rivers and waterways who do not use the pools at all at and some 

form of action may be warranted to attract these users to the Shire pools. 

5.2.9 Improving the Existing Facilities 

Questions 8 and 9 of the survey asked respondents to indicate what they would like to see improved or added 

to the pools they used –or to other recreation opportunities in the wider community-- to make them more 

attractive to them and the wider community. Essentially all the responses related to the pools although several 

indicated a need for better amenities and toilets at the ski run venue. 

A wide range of excellent suggestions were put forward and these are summarised in Table 5.3 below. The 

response rate was high and equivalent to every person who completed a survey making 1.4 suggestions each. 

It is stressed that the listing presented here is that of survey respondents and is not necessarily endorsed by 

either the authors of this report or Gannawarra Shire Council. Any recommendations drawn from the list by the 

authors of this report are presented in the final chapter of the report. 

In Table 5.3, the responses have been grouped under facilities, programs/activities and management issues. 

Facility improvement actions were most common, accounting for 359 (or 72%) of the 497 responses. This was 

followed by programs and activities (80, or 54%) and management actions (58 or 16%). Many of the 

suggestions warrant serious consideration for action and quite a few, in fact, could be readily implemented by 

the venue managers and Committees of Management. 

As might be expected, some of the facility development proposals warrant comment as they are unlikely to be 

achievable, or are not considered to be appropriate. This commentary is provided below 

• Numerous of the items would be quite cheap to provide and Council should work with the venue 

managers and Committees to assist them in establishing a funding mechanism to allow action to be 

taken. These include for example, barbeques, drinking fountains, additional lawn areas, swings, bike 

racks, chairs and tables, and change room mirrors 

• Diving board: none of the pools in the Shire is now deep enough to legally have a diving board 

installed. Building a separate pool for a diving board is extremely expensive while very few people 

ever take up diving as a sport. As a result, the entertainment and fun gained from diving does not 

warrant the cost and alternate forms of fun and entertainment could be provided far more cheaply. 

For those wishing to take up serious diving, it would be more cost effective to assist them in getting 

to existing facilities elsewhere. In conclusion, this proposal would not be practical 

• Enclosing any of the existing outdoor pools in order to heat them would not be cost effective as their 

structure, plant and pipe works were designed for summer-only outdoor conditions. The existing 

plant facilities at all venues are below modern design requirements so could not do the job required 

• If an indoor heated pool was to be built, it would be cheaper to build an entirely new facility. With 

only 11,500 residents, the size of the Shire aquatics market is far too small to warrant enclosing a 50 

metre pool and would most probably struggle to support an indoor 25 metre pool. This situation 

would be made worse by the distances between the main Shire towns 

• The capital cost of an indoor 50 m. 6-8 lane pool (generally considered to need 100,000 residents in 

its catchment to be viable) would be of the range of $ 10-12 million. Annual operational costs would 

be around $800,000. An indoor 25 metre 6-8 lane pool would cost around $4.5 to $6 million with an 

annual operational cost of the order of $500,000 pa. A 25 metre 6 lane pool generally requires a 

catchment of 40,000 residents to be viable. Such costs and populations are beyond the reach of the 

Shire. As such, this proposal could not be afforded and can not be endorsed. That said, a smaller 

indoor venue with fewer lanes which is rigorously scheduled for targeted client groups may well be 

viable and this is explored in later sections of this report 

• Pool blankets and heated/solar pools. Only the Koondrook pool has pool blankets at present and the 

Committee of Management report that they have increased water temperatures throughout the 

season by as much as 1 to 4 degrees. If properly tied down when rolled out at the end of the day, 

blankets can avoid the wind getting under them and lifting them. It seems that they stay in position 

better with the older style of pool which has high sides –as is the case throughout the Shire. Pool 

blankets can be difficult to both roll out and rewind –due to friction with the pool water—and should 

ideally be provided with a motorised support unit. Otherwise, they are unlikely to be able to be 



37



38

operated by younger or smaller staff. Providing pool blankets at all pools would be very beneficial as 

they dramatically reduce loss of water temperatures through clear night skies and evaporative 

cooling by wind. 

Solar heating significantly enhances the quality of user experiences although it rarely allows an 

extension of the pool season as wider air temperature conditions are as important to users as pool 

temperatures. To be effective, there must be about the same area of roofing for the heating units as 

the surface area of the pools being heated. While opportunities exist at several venues, in others the 

small change room and shade facilities are unlikely to be sufficient to warrant the investment 

• Pool lengths. None of the pools in the Shire exactly conforms with the modern standards of either 25 

or 50 metres. Kerang pool is 55 yards, Cohuna 33 yards and the remainder around 25 metres. 

Action is warranted to convert all pools to either 25 or 50 metres so meaningful competition and 

training times can be recorded. This would not be very costly to achieve 

• A rehabilitation-style pool exists in Lansell Plaza in Kerang and this serves a range of health and 

learn to swim-related uses. As has been noted previously, the pool was inappropriately designed 

and is difficult to service effectively. Ideally, it should eventually be replaced with a larger facility 

which is properly designed and serviced 



39

• Squash has been in decline as a sport for many years and it is improbable that more courts could be 

justified in the Shire. Further, squash courts do not have a strong synergy with other elements of an 

aquatic leisure centre so their co-location may not be warranted 

• Users of a number of the pools without water slides (45 responses)called for their provision. Rather 

than simply duplicate what two of the five pools already have, it would be more appropriate to 

consider some other form of water play or other facilities which service other age groups in the 

community. The cost of large waterslides such as those at Cohuna and Kerang is now likely to be 

prohibitive as is the cost of staffing them. 

With regard to the list of facility improvements and additions, the provision of more and new shade areas over 

the pools, lawns and seating was seen as the greatest need (59 responses), followed by the upgrading and/or 

replacement of toilets, showers and change amenities (55). This latter figure, however, was inflated by the very 

high response from Leitchville where ageing and non-compliant toilet facilities --which also serve as public 

toilets—will soon be replaced. 

Other highly rated facility improvements and additions were the heating of the pools (35), diving boards (26), 

seating (23), pool lengths (12), saunas (11) and kiosk /café facilities (12). Water slides rated unusually highly at 

Koondrook where it appears the idea was promoted by some parents. Diving boards are very expensive to 

provide due to the water depths now stipulated and the cost of supervision. Traditionally, few were used for 

diving with most being a water play element. Risk management issues now mean that the cost cannot be 

justified except in specialised competitive venues. The loss of these facilities, however, is one reason why 

fewer teenagers visit pools and as such, alternate attractions need to be sought. These do not have to be 

water-based. 

The list of programs and activities proposals are excellent and warrant urgent attention as most could be 

initiated with little capital expenditure. By far the most popular proposal was to acquire a pool of equipment 

which could be used for play and social programs across all Shire pools (35 responses). The provision of water 

aerobics programs (21) and activity programs and social days (11) were also popular suggestions. 

The majority of the activities could be either initiated or implemented by the pool management although to most 

effective, Council should play a coordinative and facilitating role. This issue is returned to in the 

recommendations for action presented in the final chapter of this report. The review of the existing operation of 

the pools suggests that little by way of innovative programming is undertaken at present. 

A number of important suggestions relating to pool management were made by pool users. The highest rating 

item was the review of opening hours with calls being made for earlier and later opening and consistent times of 

opening (24). The cleanliness of the water at Cohuna pool was raised by 8 users and improved food services 

was raised by 6 users. 

All the management issues warrant consideration and quite a few could be initiated by the existing venue 

managers. However, as with programs and activities, assistance and guidance form Council would be very 

beneficial in this process. It may also be that the terms of future management agreements may warrant 

revision to cover the items which have been identified. 

5.2.10 User Survey Conclusions 

The survey of users of the outdoor swimming pools in Gannawarra Shire which was conducted in January- 

February 2009, has provided a wealth of information about who the pool users are, where they come from, why 

the visit to pools they do, what other aquatic facilities they visit and what they would like to see improved at or 

added to the pool they were surveyed at. 

The user survey gained an excellent response and the results provide an invaluable input to the present study. 

Significantly, many of the findings highlight the fact that the venues are not reaching the greater proportion of 

the Shire population. This is largely because the range of activities provided is narrow, there is little variation 

between the pools, they are all seasonal, all have cold water, are under-serviced and what is offered is not 

attractive to or beneficial too an ageing Shire community. It is to Council’s credit that it has undertaken the 

present review in order to begin addressing these issues. 

Significantly, pool users recognise these short-comings and through the survey, have made a strong call for 

action. If users are less than satisfied with what is on offer it would not be surprising to find many non-users of 

the Shire pools who have even greater needs. 

The final section of the user survey –that relating to improvements and additions—identified many excellent 

initiatives. These and the earlier conclusions drawn from the user survey will be used as a major input to the 

recommendations for action which are presented in later chapters of this report. 



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5.3 Management and Public Meetings 

Meetings were held with representatives of the management/committees of management for each public pool in 

the Shire except the indoor pool in Kerang. Public meetings were also held in each town with a public pool. 

The findings of these meetings are listed below with the pools being listed in alphabetical order. It is stressed 

that the ideas and views recorded in this section are those of meeting attendees and do not necessarily 

represent the views of the authors of this report or Councillors or officers of Gannawarra Shire Council. 

Comments by the report authors are provided in italics and brackets. 

It is unlikely that funding will become available for all of the suggested actions listed here to be acted on by 

Council. However, the listings should be used by the Committees of Management as a guide to any upgrading 

and improvements works they can afford to fund. 

5.3.1 Cohuna 

• The pool is seen to be important to the town and community as it is used by primary and secondary 

schools, learn to swim, tourists, families, for fitness and for social activities 

• A heated pool is needed for the whole Shire community, especially given the ageing of the 

community. This would be used for hydrotherapy, hospital programs, warm water exercise 

programs, off-season tourist activities. These programs are growing with government support 

• The water slide attracts a lot of use and is a major tourism attraction for the town. It stopped a fall in 

attendances in the 1980s when it was installed 

• The Cohuna pool loses users to the river and weir compared with Kerang as there are no rules, no 

supervision of youth and they are free. Apex Park is particularly attractive as it has a sand beach 

and can also be used for boating and picnics. To be successful, the public pool needs to offer 

activities other than what the river can offer and has to be attractive to children and lap swimmers 

• A priority is a facility where children can be taught to swim (The existing pool facilities can do this) 

• The present pool site is too confined and has poor visibility although this could be improved by signs 

and more visible shade facilities 

• A local committee has prepared designs for a new indoor pool and multi-purpose centre in the town 

and business planning is under way. The proposal has the support of local businesses. Sites 

suggested for such an initiative were at the High School ECA Centre, on Lion’s Park (opposite the 

main shopping centre), at the hospital or in the industrial estate. At a subsequent meeting it was 

proposed that the new venue be built on the Recreation Reserve immediately across the Gunbower 

Creek bridge. Debate over sites highlighted the poor location of the ECA centre and the fact that the 

Lion’s Park is Crown land, is a high profile location but would be controversial 

• A multi-purpose room is needed for exercise and dance programs 

• Cohuna Hospital would be supportive of a hydrotherapy pool and could make good use of it 

• The 40s and 50s years age groups are “missing” from the pool 

• Suggestions for a shared membership across all Council pools would be difficult as they are run by 

different groups and this would make it difficult to administer. The levels of cross-use are not 

sufficient to warrant action 

• A tourism spillover from Echuca is occurring and better pool facilities would attract more tourism as 

the Murray River is 10 kilometres away 

• While global changes are reducing the viability of farming, former farmers are retiring into the town 

• Key needs at the existing pool are: Installing a liner in the pool to reduce leaks 

Installation of solar heating (on bowls club roof?) 

New kiosk and toilets 

Good hot water supplies for the showers 

Installation of pool blankets 

Upgrade the water slide 

Night lighting for barbeques, bands, training, aquarobics 

Programs: training, aerobics, women’s weight training 

and body strengthening, dance groups, children’s 

activities, social opportunities. 



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5.3.2 Kerang 

• There is a need for more attractive fencing 

• The land adjacent to the water tower should be developed to put the pool complex on show eg: mini 

golf, beach volleyball, badminton, plantings 

• Signage to and at the pool is needed 

• Pool blankets should be installed 

• More shade is needed over the pools: in very hot weather people are deterred from visiting and the 

water can get too hot 

• The water slide needs to open more regularly and consistently and needs extra staff. (The 

management contract stipulates that the water slide should be open from 4 to 6pm on weekdays and 

from 2 to 6pm on weekends and holidays) 

• The kiosk needs improving and needs a better range of food 

• Install solar heating, possibly using the Safeway roof for the panels. Water temperatures are far too 

low and are often 16-20 0 C. Unless the air temperature is over 30 0 C, the small pool is generally too 

cold for good children’s play activities 

• There is a need for an indoor pool to allow improved and all year training, teaching. Disability groups 

generally go to Echuca 

• Maintenance standards need to be improved. There are often chipped tiles. The change rooms are 

old and “tired” and need repainting. They do not look clean. 

• Provide a first aid room (This approach to managing illness/injury is no longer preferred. In general, 

management prefers to ring parents/family to have ill children collected and taken home or those 

with bad injuries are sent to the hospital) 

• New ideas are needed as there is “nothing attractive” (in terms of public pools) “north of Bendigo” 

• Barbeques are needed to attract community groups such as guides, youth groups, and to encourage 

longer opening hours 

• The pool serves a market beyond the Shire as it is used for regional fire brigade programs, district 

sports and training 

• Activities, programs and water play are needed for children and young people/families 

• Consideration should be given to ways for making the centre more “family friendly”: eg: a mother’s 

room near the play pool, coffee shop, barbeque 

• Priorities were listed as: Seats 

Shade 

Fitness gymnasium. 

5.3.3 Koondrook 

• The pool sides are too high and small children cannot easily get in or out. Alternately, more sets of 

steps could be provided, even if they are removable for use during club and lesson times 

Wakool Shire gives the committee $10,000 pa as the pool is used by residents of Barham across the 

Murray River 

• There is difficulty in obtaining staff 

• Training is needed for water testing 

• Shade is needed over the front of the kiosk and throughout the grounds, especially during carnivals 

• The pool blankets get lifted on windy days although the blanket skirts help hold it down. The blanket 

helps temperature increases of 3-4 0 C even at the start of the season. A motorised winder is needed 

for the blankets due to young/female staff problems in managing them 

• There is a need for water play programs and an equipment pool to be shared between the Shire 

pools. A set of inflatable toys could be rotated around the Shire 

• There is a need to get better access to the new Willow Park centre multi-purpose /program room for 

use by visiting teams, training programs, mother’s programs, social uses. The room needs curtains 

as it gets very hot in summer 

• Council should consider taking control and responsibility for life guarding and for management of 

pool chemicals and pool dosing. This is being done by Wakool Shire 



42

• More windbreak planting is needed along the Thompson street fence 

• The tanbark at the front of the new community buildings should be replaced with grass and seats 

• Signs are needed to show the location of the pool and to promote it. There is nothing at the front of 

the building to indicate that the pool is there 

• An automated pool cleaning system is needed. 

5.3.4 Leitchville 

• Training of staff: there is a need for Council to assist with the training of pool staff and to liaise with 

Sport and Recreation Victoria re grants for this process. Manning the pool is the biggest issue faced 

by the Committee as teenagers who are trained all too often leave for work or further education 

• The new school bus takes rural children home so they are not in town to use the pool. As a result, 

attendances have dropped off. A later bus service several days a week or assistance to allow later 

opening is needed to offset this. Shops are also losing out as parents do not need to come into town 

to collect their children so they no longer shop locally 

• The pool is kept open longer on hot nights so farmers can come in for a swim 

• Private home pools are taking custom away from the public pool 

• Solar heating and pool blankets are needed to improve water temperatures 

• Longer hours are needed on hot nights 

• Consideration should be given to a pass system for out-of-hours access 

• Gym/fitness facilities are needed 

• More seating and tables should be provided 

• A caravan/van toilet pump out station should be provided in the overnight stop area 

• Improve the quality of the food sold through the kiosk 

• A spa should be considered although it is recognised that water costs and water treatment are costly 

• Key needs at the pool are: 

Aquarobics 

More programs for users 

Replacement of toilet/change facilities (also a town priority) 

More shade over the deep end of the pool 

Automated pool cleaner (est. $8-9,000). 

5.3.5 Quambatook 

• Quambatook pool is the “centre of the community”, is great for families, and widely used 

• The pool needs a solar blanket 

• There is cracking in the wall of the men’s toilet 

• Pool activities ought to be offered and could benefit from an equipment pool which committees could 

manage 

• Lane ropes –even one—would help better manage pool use 

• More shade is needed 

• New seating is needed 

• The land sloping to the back fence needs to be levelled and reseeded. 



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5.3.6 Meetings Overview 

It is evident that the range of actions requested in relation to each of the pools in the Shire is quite broad. In 

many ways, however, the list endorses the ideas identified by the survey of pool users. There was a strongly 

perceived need to improve the facilities which presently exist: improved maintenance; more and better shade; 

more seating; improvement toilet change facilities; shade and perimeter plantings; solar heating of the pools; 

signage; improvements in the kiosk food; improved pool cleaning; more consistent and longer opening hours, 

and improved management inputs. The training and employment of more pool staff was seen to be critical to 

continued operation of several of the venues. 

There was an equally strong demand for provision of a wider mix of user programs and facilities 3 . These 

ranged from programs targeting a range of user groups –with a number of meetings calling for the establishing 

of an equipment pool—through to multi-purpose rooms, non-aquatic activity facilities (barbeques, mini-golf, 

beach volleyball, fitness gyms), water play facilities and indoor pools at several venues so as to meet the needs 

of a far wider cross-section of the community. 

All the proposals have merit and a number can or should be acted on immediately. Others will take some time 

to achieve and many are to be found at modern aquatic leisure /community venues in larger towns and cities 

across the State. Unfortunately, the small total size of the Shire population, the even smaller size of the 

individual towns and the significant distances across the Shire mean that while some of the “core” initiatives 

should be pursued at every pool, some of the higher cost items may not be achievable at all in Gannawarra 

Shire or if they are, it will only be practical to provide them at one location. The obvious example here is an 

indoor lap and program pool. 

5.4 Special Interviews and Submissions 

Special interviews and meetings were help with several groups following an invitation from them and 

submissions were received from a small group of residents. 

Interviews and Meetings 

The senior management of Cohuna Hospital indicated that both Cohuna and Kerang Hospitals had substantial 

numbers of patient beds and associated nursing home beds and that both served large catchment populations 

reaching beyond the Shire. 

It was noted that the hospitals run programs for type 2 diabetes, cardio rehabilitation in association with North 

District Community Health. The small indoor pool in Kerang is not used as the hours of opening are too short 

and the facility cannot effectively meet needs. Local aerobics programs could be extended to aquarobics for 

active people, for those with lung problems and for people who have undergone knee and hip replacements. 

Special visiting and local practitioners could run these programs. 

It was argued that there is a need for a warm water program pool and for proactive health and wellbeing 

programs in the community. The hospital indicated that it supported a public provision model for the pool rather 

than a hospital-based pool. It was indicated that high temperatures were not needed for all users and that they 

could in fact, be detrimental to some user groups. It was noted that Cohuna has a strong walking program and 

that members of that group would make use of an indoor pool. 

A class workshop was held with teachers (Ms Fiona Fenton and Ms Lyn Veall) and students of grades 3 and 4 

classes at Kerang South Primary School. The majority of students indicated that they had used one or more of 

the Council pools over the previous summer. Those who did not indicated that they lived out of town, were 

away, or pursued other activities. 

Some 29 students prepared and submitted reports on the meeting to this report. These identified a range of 

facilities and programs which they felt they would like to see provided at a public pool in the Shire: 

• Diving boards 

• New and better support facilities: toilets, change, change room floors, toilet doors 

• More shade, trees and seating 

3 A small number of program suggestions has been raised in the course of this study and it is beyond the scope of the 

report to develop a full list of what could be offered or how they could be offered. That said, several ideas which have 

worked well elsewhere include the mobile play trailer (either booked by each pool manager on a cyclical program or tendered 

out as a business); come and try days wherein Shire sporting, leisure, cultural, cooking, community service and other groups 

use the pool grounds as the base for sports and cultural picnics (often in association with a Riding/Ward Councillor picnic); 

round-robin swim championships, wherein each pool sequentially hosts a Shire swim championship day over summer with all 

ages, skills and degrees of entertainment catered for; community picnics; community art shows; community music festival (all 

of which could be on a round-robin basis); inter-town tugs of war, and many more. 



44

• New café, shop 

• Pool heating 

• Improved water quality 

• Longer opening hours, especially on hot nights 

• Day care centre 

• More activities: birthday parties, school break ups, entertainment, toys, water play sprinklers, sports 

days, and 

• All year opening. 

These are excellent suggestions which are widely supported by the other consultation stages. The Kerang 

South Primary School students and staff are to be congratulated for their valuable input to the planning study. 

Submissions 

Only one submission was received, that being from a Koondrook resident. However, although material 

prepared by a Cohuna Reference Committee in relation to a proposed aquatic, sports function centre is 

reviewed here as is preliminary information from a survey of potential users of an indoor pool in Kerang. 

The Koondrook resident wrote: 

“I would like to see the pool used as a base for promotion of a ' whole town ' involvement in wellbeing. 

Examples other than the current swimming activities could be: walking/riding group, weigh-in for weight loss, 

gentle exercises in the pool grounds or covered rooms, leave your car at home, and water sports such as 

water polo. 

All ages could be involved. Management of activities could be by a co-ordinator or a joint project between 

the pool and tennis committees and the Koondrook Development Committee. 

The current early morning swimming (6.00am - 8.00am) needs to be promoted and a name given eg. 

Koondrook Crays because the pool is under utilised when caretaker/manager/life saver opens this early. 

Invitations to the many other community groups to use the pool as a special outing where facilities would be 

used for social interaction and involvement encourage in the Wellbeing activities. 

Courses on stroke improvement, water activities, distance swimming etc could be made available. 

Adult learn to swim lessons could be promoted. 

… the infrastructure of the pool is getting old and there may be issues of management and committees… 

but funding will be difficult to secure unless proper planning for the pools ongoing future is completed now.” 

This is an excellent submission which endorses the findings of many of the meetings held with committees of 

management and the wider Shire community. It highlights the importance of all the pools to the community; the 

opportunity to use the pools and the associated facilities as a base for a wide range of other community 

activities; the need to promote the pools and other facilities to the wider community, and the need and 

opportunities to run a range of attractive and interesting activities different groups in the community. It also 

highlights the need for long term planning of works at the pools. 

The Cohuna Reference Committee project grew out of the preparation of the Cohuna Community Plan which 

is reviewed in the following Chapter. The Reference Committee has prepared concept sketches for a multipurpose 

venue which, it is proposed, would incorporate: 

• 25 metre 10 lane pool 

• 10 m. by 5 m. exercise recovery pool 

• 15 m. by 10m. multi-purpose aerobics room 

• Outdoor 50 m. unheated pool 

• Day care centre 

• Café/restaurant with function room with commercial kitchen for large functions 

• Guest accommodation/small businesses 

• Lecture room 

• Fitness gym, and 

• Regional promotion centre. 

The Reference Committee has proposed that the development is sited in Lions Park on Gunbower Creek. It 

believes that the range of services offered will keep local business in town as well as attracting events to 

Cohuna. A joint venture is proposed for the project with funds coming from a range of local organizations. At 

the time of preparing the present report, no capital costs or business planning had been carried out. 

The mix of elements proposed by the Reference Committee is well beyond the scope of the current study and 

are targeted at wider regional and tourism markets as well as the local Shire community. Some of the facilities 

proposed by the Reference Committee would be relevant to meeting the aquatic and health needs identified by 

the present study although it is probable that most of the components would be too large while the proposed 



45

10m. by 5 m. exercise recovery pool would be too small, as well as being too deep and possibly, of the wrong 

temperatures to meet many of the needs which have been identified. It is probable that there may also be 

issues associated with community and children’s use of the pools and with State government funding if the 

catering facilities are to include a bar. Those undertaking the survey are to be congratulated for their initiative 

although it is evident that the proposal reaches well beyond what the Shire could be expected to provide to 

meet community needs. 

The Kerang survey of possible users of an indoor heated pool at the Kerang swimming pool complex was 

at an early stage at the time the present Study was completed. As a result, only a small number of responses 

had been received with support for the proposal coming predominantly from health service providers, older 

residents groups and their support agencies and sporting bodies. Those undertaking the survey are to be 

congratulated for their initiative. 

5.5 Consultations Summary 

The program of consultations with the Shire community identified some excellent proposals for the future 

improvement of aquatic facilities across the Shire. There was an excellent response to the survey of pool 

users while the committee of management and community meetings held in each town with a pool were well 

attended. Special meetings and submissions added further details. 

Overall, the consultations indicated that the five outdoor pools and one small indoor public pool in the Shire 

make an important contribution to community recreation opportunities and to community social and health 

programs. However, it was evident that the community sees significant opportunities and needs for action in a 

range of areas if the provision is to continue to make a valued contribution to community life. The main areas of 

need were: 

1. Upgrading of plant, equipment and pools at each venue so that they remain operational 

2. Upgrading of service facilities at each venue to the better meet needs and to ensure compliance: 

toilet/change facilities, kiosk services, parking, safe access 

3. Improvements to the quality of pool user experiences: improved water temperatures though the use 

of blankets and solar heating, water quality and testing, shade, seating, windbreaks, higher 

maintenance standards 

4. The improved availability and hours of opening of the venues through improved staffing and contract 

supervision 

5. The provision of resources which will allow more diverse use of the existing assets: program 

equipment, staff training in life guarding, and program facilities, equipment and activities of interest to 

users and the wider community, and 

6. The provision of new facilities to better meet health and aquatic needs in the community, to make the 

pool venues more appropriate to changed needs in the community and to make them more attractive 

and viable. These initiatives included indoor heated pool(s), multi-purpose rooms for the delivery of 

a range of special services, storage, improved links to town centres and for access and social and 

café facilities. 

These proposals have been taken into consideration in the development of the final recommendations for 

action reported in the final Chapter of this report. 



46

6 

Previous Reports 


A small number of reports has been prepared by or for Gannawarra Shire Council over recent years which have 

a bearing on the redevelopment of the existing swim centres in the Shire or on the provision of new facilities. 

The most significant of these reports are the 2002 Gannawarra Shire Council Recreation Strategy and the more 

recent Community Plans prepared for each main Shire town. These and any other reports are reviewed in the 

following paragraphs. 

6.2 Gannawarra Shire Council Recreation Strategy, 2002 

The Gannawarra Shire Council Recreation Strategy was prepared by Garry Henshall and Associates. The 

report commenced with a explanation of the scope of the study, and definitions of recreation. Other key 

sections provided a review of the demographics of the Shire and the individual townships; a listing of the 

recreation facilities in each town, the findings of random household survey conducted as part of the study, 

together with the findings for each main Shire town; a review of issues which emerged in each town in the 

course of the study, and a schedule of recommended actions in each town across the Shire. 

Somewhat surprisingly, with the exception of pipe work replacements at Quambatook, action on the Shire pools 

was not given a priority in the final recommendations by the Recreation Strategy. However, a number of other 

findings reported throughout the Strategy warrant noting as they have relevance to the present study: 

• Overall, using local pools was the least common recreational pursuit of the community. This was 

particularly so in towns without pools but also in Cohuna. Apart from these three towns –where rates 

ranged from 0 to around 13 percent of the community used a local pool as opposed to 15 percent 

who used community facilities and 20-25 percent who used local parks, walked, and attended local 

events 

• Despite the low use rates, the pools were rated as the “best” recreation facilities in the Shire, closely 

followed by recreation reserves. Less than 3 percent of the community survey respondents rated the 

pools as the “worst” facilities 

• Only 3 percent of Cohuna residents rated the swimming pool as the town’s “best” recreation venue 

compared with 24 percent in Kerang, 38 percent in Koondrook, 29 percent in Leitchville and 20 

percent in Quambatook –with all of the latter being considered to be in the top 2-3 recreation venues 

in each town 

• A heated pool was ranked as a number 1 priority for action in Cohuna and Koondrook so as to meet 

rehabilitation and hydro needs and as a means of increasing pool use although cost, upkeep and 

running costs were seen as barriers to provision 

• In Kerang, a heated outdoor pool was ranked as a number 3 priority for action with this being seen to 

allow all year use and to meet special needs 

• The Leitchville pool was not recorded as a priority for action although the upgrading of the pool lights 

was proposed as a means of extending use, increasing family involvement and allowing more 

activities to be pursued 

• In Quambatook, number 2 priority was given to keeping the pool open and a need was seen for 

action to improve venue safety, provide social areas allow swim training and support training by 

other sports. 

An earlier chapter of this report discussed a number of trends in aquatics provision and noted the strong move 

toward the co-location of a range of other community and recreation opportunities in association with pools. 

Although it did not list other activities in association with the Shire pools, the Recreation Strategy identified a 

wide range of other action proposals which could be associated with them and which should be considered as 

ways of enhancing and diversifying what the pools can offer. These needs included cycling and walking tracks 

(which could start from or be based at the pools so as to provide storage, a café/kiosk, showers and toilets and 

safe parking); exercise activities for older residents (using lawn areas and existing or new multi-purpose 

rooms); non-sporting opportunities for young people (including after school social activities, drop in programs, 

pool discos, pool play parties and similar activities), Shire support /capital contributions for community 

initiatives; signs; children’s playgrounds (which can be provided within the pool grounds), club support; 

wheelchair/disabled access, opportunities for teenage girls (as for provision for young people); barbeque 

facilities, and netball courts (along with badminton, beach volleyball and other social sports). 



47

6.3 Cohuna Community Plan, 2007 

The Cohuna Community Plan was prepared by Neil Noelker Consulting. The plan was developed through 

facilitated workshops with a group of independent resident planning group members. The objectives of the 

Cohuna and other town plans are to enhance the community, improve cooperation between people and groups 

so as to maximise resource use; embrace diversity of opinion and promote development through the 

recognition of the contribution of all groups and people in the community. 

Priority 2 of the Cohuna Community Plan focused on the improvement of heath and fitness facilities and 

programs and noted that “the Cohuna community would like to see improved health and fitness facilities and 

programs including such possibilities as a gymnasium and activities in the swimming pool” (p. 9). The priority 

statement identified the objectives of action on the issue, the relevant stakeholders and as a basis for action, 

the formation of an action group to identify community assets, needs and wants as the basis for a local area 

recreation strategy. No specific initiatives or needs are provided in the Plan. 

Other Community Plan priorities which could be linked to the heath and fitness facilities and programs theme 

where the accommodation and reception centre (reviewed in the previous Chapter), walking and cycling tracks 

(Priority 6), and the event, promotion and cultural hub (Priority 8). However, only Priority 2, the heath and 

fitness facilities and programs, identified the pool as a key element for action. 

6.4 Advancing Community Kerang. Community Action Plan. Community Building Project 

Initiative 2007 

The Kerang Community Action Plan was a State government-funded initiative designed to provide a framework 

for community development. The project was one of 19 funded across the State and used a process of 

community consultation and engagement to identify issues for action in the town. 

The Action Plan report provides a snap shot of Kerang, a vision and values statement and a set of priority areas 

for action. These were arts and culture; entrances to the town; festivals; employment and learning; history; 

renewable energy; adequate town facilities: aged and disabled, and tourism/information centre. 

The only apparent reference to swimming facilities is the suggestion on page 19 for a mural on the swimming 

pool walls. However, a number of the other action proposals –including festivals, educational programs, and 

the multi-use facility (see p. 21)—could use the pool, its facilities and the grounds. 

6.5 Koondrook, Leitchville and Quambatook Community Plans, 2007, 2008 

The Koondrook Leitchville and Quambatook Community Plans were prepared by Neil Noelker Consulting and 

used the same approach as in the preparation of the Cohuna Community Plan. 

The priority initiatives identified for Koondrook were coordinator for activities, improve town entrances, 

development of bicycle/walking/horse tracks, completion of Willow Park, clean up river/creek frontages and 

bushland, developing a new modern playground, economic strategy, and multi-purpose facility for the school. 

No mention was made of Koondrook swimming pool in the Koondrook Plan although the proposed activities 

coordinator could be based at the pool, bicycle/walking/horse tracks could link to the pool and the completion of 

Willow Park could involve greater integration with and shared programming of the new buildings and the pool. 

As noted earlier in this report, the focus should be on co-location and co-programming of action in order to 

optimise the use of existing resources. 

The Priority actions in the Leitchville Community Plan were tourism development, walking/bike tracks, Mile 

Corner intersection safety, buy local campaign, business attraction and assistance, residential development, 

transport links, and natural gas. Only the first priority referred to the swimming pool which was seen as an 

attractor to the town and the locale for the caravan stop-over point. 

The Priority actions in the Quambatook Community Plan were upgrading the hall, upgrading the recreation 

reserve and caravan park, supporting local business, a Quambatook community web site, parkland and river 

frontage improvements, and water recycling. None of the priorities refer to the swimming pool although an item 

in the list of “other issues” –engaging children, youth and older people—could use the pool and its grounds as a 

base for a range of programs and activities. 



48

6.6 Cohuna Holiday Park, 2009 

Plans have been submitted to Council by Australian Tourist Park Management Pty Ltd for the substantial 

redevelopment and expansion of the Cohuna Caravan Park on Cohuna Island Road, Cohuna. 

The proposal entails redevelopment of amenities, the addition of substantial numbers of annual and tourist 

cabins, restructuring of van and camping areas and new play facilities. The play facilities include a small 

outdoor swimming pool of around 12 m. by 8m. The pool is “subject to final design” but the existing layout 

suggests it will be a children’s play pool which would be unsuitable for laps or formal swimming. 

The redevelopment proposals and the small pool will add to the attractiveness of the Park and could well bring 

more family campers/tourists to Cohuna. Because as many as 20-30 percent of Cohuna Pool users are visitors 

to the town --many of whom stay at the Caravan Park— the small pool is likely to draw custom away from 

Cohuna swimming pool. However, experience at other parks with similar small pools suggests that the facility 

will only be attractive to one group of users, that being parents with quite young children who need parental 

supervision, and predominantly only when the time available or weather conditions deter a family visit to the 

public pool. 

In summary, the market impact of the proposal is likely to be quite small. It could be offset by the provision of 

more modern water play features at Cohuna Pool which provide for locals and tourists staying at other 

accommodation venues. 

6.7 Reports: An Overview 

The foregoing reports are of interest in that they suggest quite strongly that while the managers and users of 

the Shire’s swimming pools have long seen them as key community assets, they are not always viewed the 

same way by the wider community. This is evidenced by the generally low to “non”-rating and use of most 

pools in the 2002 Recreation Strategy and the substantial absence of major references to them in the far more 

recent Community Plans. 

The apparent lack of interest in the Shire’s aquatic facilities reflects the traditional unchanged and largely 

outdated nature of the venues in contrast with the dramatically changed demographics of the Shire and town 

communities, as discussed in Chapter 4. This raises the question of how valuable the assets are to the Shire 

and whether the very substantial repair and redevelopment costs detailed in Chapter 2 can be justified. This 

point may have to be considered by Council if the population continues to age and decline and if pool repair 

and redevelopment costs cannot be met over the coming years. 

In the meantime, a more positive response is to take action on a range of the management, promotional and 

programming needs identified throughout this report and to link a number of the wider Recreation Strategy and 

Community Plan initiatives to the pools. As was argued earlier in this report, swimming pools are invaluable 

assets because they are serviced with toilets, parking, kiosks, phones, secure fencing and trained staff and 

because they have a capacity to provide a diversity of aquatic and non-aquatic activities for the community. As 

such, every effort should be made to use these assets as part of wider community development initiatives and 

to strengthen their capacity to fulfil these wider roles. 



49

7 

An Aquatic Facilities Development Plan 


This chapter presents an aquatic facilities development plan for the overall Shire-wide system of pools and for 

each pool. The plan commences with an aquatic provision policy for the Shire. This is designed to reflect the 

current role of the pools, the more diverse roles which aquatic facilities can play in the community, and the 

capacity for aquatic venues to be linked with a wide range of other recreational, community, health and 

commercial facilities, programs and services. 

The recommended aquatic provision policy is followed by a set of recommendations which should be undertaken 

or sponsored by Council on a Council-wide basis. This is followed by a brief discussion on the issue of 

indoor aquatic facilities in the Shire before recommendations specific to each venue are presented. 

7.2 An Aquatic Provision Policy for the Shire 

The following aquatic provision policy is proposed for the Shire: 

That Council works with the total Shire community and the communities in each town to: 

1. Retain and further develop a viable number of outdoor and indoor aquatic facilities which make a 

measurable positive contribution to the recreational, sporting, health, community wellbeing, 

economic and environmental benefits, strengths and opportunities in the Shire 

2. Identify capital development, investment, programming, servicing and community support 

initiatives which will strengthen and broaden the role of the aquatic centres through the colocation 

of a range of other initiatives with the pools and through the use of the pool venues 

as a base for a diversity of other community, Council, government and possibly, not-for-profit 

and commercial initiatives. 

Point 1 of the provision policy is based on the premise that the Shire community benefits from having access to 

a number of aquatic facilities. It also recognises that to gain the optimal benefits, both indoor and outdoor 

provision is desirable and that all of the existing facilities and any additional provision is only possible if it is 

financially and operationally viable. Point 1 suggests that the “viable number” of facilities may be different to 

that which presently exists as some venues may need to be closed because the cost of repairs cannot be 

afforded or because the scale of the markets they serve means that they will not remain viable. 

Point 1 also indicates that Council and venue managers should develop opportunities which deliver recreational, 

sporting, health, community wellbeing, economic and environmental benefits, strengths and opportunities to 

the community and that strategies for measuring these benefits are put in place. These measures could 

include job creation, numbers of participants in particular types of programs, and energy savings. At present, 

the pools tend to focus almost exclusively on the delivery of recreational and sporting outcomes. The performance 

of all the pools is inadequately measured and this restricts the ability to understand the outcomes of any 

actions which are taken, the evaluation of expenditures and building a case for further investments. 

With regard to viability in point 1, this does not mean that a facility must achieve a financial profit: rather, it 

means that operational losses should be kept to a level which can be afforded by the pool committees of 

management and/or Council. Operational viability refers to technically sound and safe facilities and the 

capacity to staff facilities with the necessary skills and qualifications. 

Point 2 of the aquatic policy proposes that Council broadens the role of the swimming pools through action to 

co-locate other facilities with the pools and thereby expand the range and viability of the resources which they 

offer the community. The additional resources could include multi-purpose rooms, community services and 

programs such as neighbourhood centre facilities, child care, and health facilities. Where practical and 

appropriate, multi-purpose rooms are recommended for provision at each Shire pool in the following tables. 

Other provision could include facilities/spaces funded by government agencies, not-for–profit groups, service 

clubs and private developments. Several examples can usefully illustrate this proposal. One of Hume City 

Council’s libraries provides an after-school study room for children. Melton Waves Aquatic Centre includes a 

privately-operated hairdressing salon. Canberra Civic Pool is the base for a specialist rehabilitation and sports 

injury clinic. In West Tamar Council (Tas.), a local doctor’s practise and a pharmacy are planning to co-locate 

with a new indoor community centre. The Mildura Council library and aquatic centre are integrated on the one 

site. In Ballarat, a new primary school offers community performance spaces, a library, neighbourhood house, 

kindergarten, men’s shed and community drop-in spaces. It is thus recommended that whenever Council 

determines to make some new or replacement provision in one of the Shire towns, the planning process must 

assess the swimming pool sites in terms of the co-location opportunities they offer. 



50

7.3 Shire-wide Initiatives Sponsored / Undertaken by Council 

A range of maintenance, management and programming actions across all Shire pools have been identified 

across the previous Chapters which it is recommended Council seeks support funding for and initiates action 

on. These are listed in priority order in Table 7.1 and should be undertaken in parallel with the specific 

recommendations for each pool as detailed in Chapter 2 and in subsequent Tables of this Chapter. 


1 

Establish a Council officer responsibility 

for skill development, training and support 

in the management and operation of all 

pool plant and equipment and in effective 

use of equipment manuals (1) 

2 Initiate a systematic program of logging 

pool maintenance actions by providing log 

books for all pools to record chemistry 

levels daily and backwashes, chemical 

stock replenishment etc (1) 

3 Review and as appropriate revise the 

operational guidelines and responsibilities 

for venue manager’s and Committees of 

Management including a statement of 

roles and responsibilities 

4 Establish a mobile equipment pool for the 

delivery of activities /programs to the 

pools by management and Committees. If 

possible allocate a programmer budget to 

assist with this initiative 

5 Develop and implement an attractive 

Shire- wide signage system for the pools 

to promote awareness of them 

6 Develop a program of pool staff/ volunteer 

recruitment and training 

7 In the light of 6., develop strategies for 

improving and regularising pool opening 

hours 

8 Develop guidelines and proformas for 

accurate recording and reporting of venue 

attendances and maintenance and 

operational costs 

9 Develop a liaison and consultative process 

between Council, venue manager’s 

and Committees of Management to review 

budgeting, management, maintenance, 

promotion, and programming issues. 



Within existing staffing and allow 

$4,000 pa for 3 years for training 

courses followed by a review 

Within Committee responsibilities 

and Council officer records 

Within Council officer responsibilities 

Allow $5,000 for establishing the 

equipment pool. Assess capacity to 

appoint a contract programmer or 

establish a schedule for Committee/ 

manager use of the equipment 

To be determined 

Allow $2,000 pa. 

Within Council officer and 

Committee responsibilities 





Table 7.1: Shire-wide initiatives at Gannawarra Shire pools 

(1) It is understood that the professional skills for providing this training exist in the region 

7.4 Indoor Heated Pools in Gannawarra Shire 

The need for at least one indoor heated pool in the Shire has been raised at a number of points throughout this 

report. It is beyond question that indoor facilities offer a wider and different mix of use opportunities and 

benefits than do outdoor pools. These include health, wellbeing, rehabilitation, disability, aged and children’s 

needs. Heated pools are effective because the water is far warmer and also because they can operate all year 

and for long periods of the day. However, a modern, fully-compliant indoor heated pool of say 25 metres length 

by 6 to 8 lanes wide can cost of the order of $5-7 million. 

Even if they can be afforded, such facilities are almost universally not financially sustainable and as a consequence, 

have a mix of other dry health and fitness, learn to swim, sales, meeting and social facilities added 

to them as these have lower operational costs and can generate significantly more income. The provision of 

these elements increases the capital cost to the order of $8 to $12 million depending on the site characteristics, 

design, standards of finish and associated costs such as the provision of services, and car parking. Additional 

51

amounts may need to be allowed for in the Gannawarra case as a result of distances from major suppliers. 

Even a wider mix of facilities can generate operational losses of $300,000 to $500,000 pa., depending on the 

size, age distribution, cultural mix and use history of the catchment population. As a general rule of thumb, it is 

considered that a permanent catchment population of 25,000 to 40,000 is needed to operate an indoor 

aquatic/leisure centre with a 25 metre pool in south-eastern Australia in a financially viable manner. 

The small size of the Gannawarra Shire population, the scattered distribution of that population and the ageing 

of the community all lend weight to the conclusion that the Shire would be unlikely to be able to afford to build 

or viably operate a modern indoor aquatic leisure centre with a 25 metre pool. If a full 25 metre indoor 6 lane 

pool was to be built in the Shire, the market would actually be insufficient to fill it and it would either be empty 

for long periods of the day or no more than 2 to 3 of the lanes would be being used. As a consequence, this 

report does not recommend provision of a “standard” indoor 25 metre indoor 6 or 8 lane pool in the Shire, 

despite the strong calls from a small number of groups and individuals for this provision. Many aquatic and 

health needs can be met through the provision of far smaller indoor aquatic facilities. This is attested to by the 

substantial use figures achieved by the small indoor pool in Kerang (see Chapter 2), despite the significant 

physical shortcomings of that facility. 

Smaller pools are often described as “warm water program” pools which can be as small as 5 metres wide by 

12 to 15 metres long or 10 metres square or as much as 6 by 20 metres, depending on the uses to which they 

are to be put. Ideally, two rather than one small pool might be provided with one being a 2-3 lane 25 metre pool 

to provide for lap swimming, learn to swim, coaching, training, and school activities while a hotter, shorter and 

deeper pool would support health and wellbeing programs, aquarobics, aged and disability care, social 

activities and group fitness. 

While still very costly (with capital costs of $2-3 m.), warm water program and lane pools effectively meet many 

needs and have far lower operational costs. If rigorously programmed on an hour by hour basis (rather than 

being seen as a “public” pool which can be used at any time of the community’s choosing), they can be 

financially viable. As a consequence, such a facility is recommended for long term consideration by the Shire, 

by other groups and agencies or through a shared initiative in Gannawarra Shire. 

Given the size and distribution of the Shire population, the only towns where such provision should be considered 

are Cohuna or Kerang. Kerang is to be preferred because of its far larger population and its centrality to 

the Shire community. The existing outdoor pool site offers very positive opportunities in terms of its size, 

layout, street frontage and its proximity to the Highway, the library, retailing areas and the town centre. These 

attributes make it very attractive for the co-location of an indoor facility with the existing outdoor pools, and with 

a range of other community and social facilities, the library and potentially, commercial initiatives. A concept 

design illustrating this is provided in later paragraphs. 

Provision of indoor pool facilities in association with the existing outdoor complex in Cohuna would be compromised 

by the positioning of the outdoor complex on Crown land adjacent to a major irrigation facility and 

abutting and constrained by tennis and bowls facilities. Design concepts were prepared and reviewed as part 

of a second round of community consultations undertaken in the course of this study. Further, a second 

assessment of the condition and positioning of the existing pool facilities was also undertaken and these 

reviews have led to the conclusion that provision of new indoor aquatic and dry facilities in association with the 

existing complex would be inappropriate due to location, age and site issues. The community would be better 

served by new provision at a new site which would ultimately have other dry, social, health and fitness facilities 

co-located with it. Commercial initiatives and eventually, outdoor water play/ pool facilities could also be 

developed. Development of the indoor components could be commenced at any point in time with outdoor 

facilities and lawn areas being added when the existing complex has reached the end of its useful life. 

Although Kerang has been identified as the preferred location for public indoor aquatic facilities in the Shire, this 

does not mean that efforts to achieve provision in Cohuna should be rejected. The different economic base of 

the town means that wider commercial and tourism-related opportunities may arise, as mooted by the Cohuna 

Reference Group proposals reviewed in an earlier Chapter. If this occurred ahead of any provision in Kerang, 

Council should work closely with the proponents to ensure that provision appropriate to the needs of the whole 

Shire community (and at an appropriate location) was planned and budgeted for. If provision was achieved in 

Cohuna, Council would then need to review its longer term support for provision in Kerang as it would be 

improbable that two sets of indoor facilities could be supported by the Shire community. 

The foregoing discussion is reflected in the Cohuna and Kerang recommendations in the following sections. It 

is stressed that despite it being recommended that consideration be given to development of a quality indoor 

pool in the Shire in the longer term, it is recognised that action to maintain the existing public outdoor pools in 

the Shire should be given priority at this stage. If, however, the point is reached where retaining all of the 

outdoor pools is unsustainable, then consideration of an indoor pool might justifiably be brought forward due to 

the broader role and markets these venues can service. 



52

7.5 Recommended Actions at Existing Pools 

1. Cohuna 

As indicated in the previous section, Cohuna swimming pool complex is compromised by its position on Crown 

land adjacent to an irrigation facility and abuts and is constrained by tennis and bowls. It is also an ageing 

venue with nearly $200,000 worth of technical works being needed over the coming 5-10 years to keep it 

operating. It is recommended that while the cost of maintenance and repairs remains affordable, Council 

continues to operate the venue as is and undertakes items 1 – 8 of the works recommended in Table 7.2 to 

ensure its continued operation. However, if Council cannot afford major items (such as 6.) and if the fabric of 

the individual components fail, an alternate course of action may be needed. Further, if the opportunity arises, 

a community group / agency / consortium or Council should consider items 10.1 and 10.2., regarding indoor 

program and lap pools. This would then be followed by action on 10.3 to 10.7, with the latter only proceeding 

once a decision was made to close the existing complex. 

Priority Action Indicative Cost 

$ 

1 Assess structural leakage from the pools reported at the end of 

the end of the 2008-2009 season – causes unknown. 

Cost to investigate and determine remedial work necessary 

Allow $8,000 

2 Occupational health and safety, building code and Disability 

Discrimination Act compliance 

Allow $10,000 

3 Essential plant and pool initiatives $186,500 (See 

Chapter 2) 

4 Commission a structural engineering assessment of water 

slide tower due to rusting welds 

Allow $7,500 

5 Install pool blankets $ 40,000 

6 

Underpin 33 yard pool, convert to a 25 m. pool and a separate 

water slide landing pool. Raise water level to compliant depths 

Table 7.2: Recommended initiatives at Cohuna pool 

The concept design on the following page provides a guide to the type of indoor facility which might initially be 

developed in Cohuna. An indicative capital cost is provided. In the design, space is reserved on both of the 

north and south of the building for the addition of later provision stages as listed above. The direction of further 

development would be dependent on the location and nature of the site selected. 



$700,000- 

$1,000,000 

7 Install solar heating $100,000 

8 

Install lighting for evening use once management arrangements 

permit longer opening hours 

9 Undertake repairs to the learner’s and wading pools to ensure 

their continued operation 

10 Develop a new replacement facility within the Recreation 

Reserve but to the east immediately adjacent to the Cohuna 

Island Road bridge. Indicative components could include: 

10.1 Health pool of 16 m. by 8 m. with ramp, hoist and steps 

entry; wide compliant concourses; 2 unisex disabled 

change/ toilet/ shower facilities; male/female staff 

change;et/change amenities, café 

10.2 5 m. 2-3 lane indoor lap pool with pool blankets and solar 

heating 

10.3 Multi-purpose program room 

10.4 Fitness gym 

10.5 Two professional consulting rooms 

10.6 Beach-entry leisure pool or water play pad with water 

features, grading to learn-to-swim pool of 7 m. by 14 m. 

10.7 Replacement for existing outdoor lap pool and water 

splash pool 

$100,000 

Allow $50,000 

See indicative 

costs following 

for 10.1 and 

10.2 

53



54

It is evident from the scale of the capital costs cited above that achieving an indoor heath, wellbeing and 

program pool venue in Cohuna would require considerable effort. These costs are additional to those required 

to keep the existing outdoor pool operational. Government and other funding sources would be available to 

assist with these initiatives although the scale of what was available would need to be carefully assessed 

before any decisions to proceed were made. 



55

2. Kerang 

Table 7.3 lists the actions recommended for Kerang Pool. A continuing program of works on items 1. and 2. 

should be initiated as soon as possible. Action on items 3. to 7. could be initiated in any order depending on 

the funds available. 

Items 9. to 11. are significant capital items and will depend on the availability of funding. The order in which 

these latter items are commenced is not critical although item 9. will make a greater contribution to community 

health and wellbeing than will the others. Action on 9.2, to create a new entrance/ reception and café fronting 

the street and opening the venue up to the community would make a major contribution to attracting new and 

wider use. 



Chapter 2) 





Allow $5,000 

3 Pool blankets $60 – 75,000 

4 Solar heating $160 – 170,000 

5 Shade improvements Allow $35,000 

6 Seating improvements Allow $12,000 

7 Barbeques Allow $3,000 per 

facility 

8 Upgrade lighting for evening use once management 

arrangements permit longer opening hours 

9 9.1 Redevelop main building and amenities to provide: 

9.2 Indoor-outdoor café/social area servicing pool 

compound and street frontage. Provide outdoor 

decking with umbrellas in pool grounds overlooking 

splash deck/water play area 

9.3 Multi-purpose room 

9.4 Indoor pool (size and format to be determined) 

9.5 Fitness gym 

9.6 Spa and steam facilities 

9.7 Retail outlets eg: sports equipment, physiotherapy, 

massage, hairdresser 

10 Splash deck / water play area of around 300 sq. m. as a 

replacement for the aging toddler’s pool 

11 Provide a small “social pool” with shade and seating adjacent 

to the water slide for programming and use for children’s/ 

youth activities 

Table 7.3: Recommended initiatives at Kerang pool 

Allow $15,000 

See indicative 

costs following 

$800,000 

$500,000 

A staged and costed concept design for items 9. to 11. followings. This design follows 5 earlier drafts which 

were reviewed with Council officers and members of the Kerang Swimming Club and community as part of the 

study consultations. In the design, Stage 1 would provide a new café and entrance; Stage 2 a fitness gym and 

new amenities and multi-purpose/consulting spaces; Stage 3 a new water play splash pad, and Stage 4 an 

indoor learn to swim/program pool and specialist support amenities. The cost of these Stages is substantial 

and would require a concerted fundraising effort by the community and Council. Government and other funding 

sources would be likely to be available to assist with these initiatives. 

The design is indicative in nature and would require further development before action on it was initiated. 

However, it seeks to enhance the attraction of the swimming pool and to give it a strong street presence while 

providing a mix of additional facilities which would dramatically increase the role the venue played in community 

recreation and healthy living programs. 

56


HM Leisure Planning Pty Ltd./Suters Architects/David Powick & Associates 57



3. Koondrook 

The following works have been identified for Koondrook swimming pool. The venue has benefited from the 

redevelopment of the adjoining Willow Park multi-purpose community facilities although more use should be 

made of these for pool programs. With improvements to the plant and grounds, the venue will be able to offer 

attractive recreation opportunities to the Koondrook/Barham community, the wider Shire and to tourists. 



Chapter 2) 



$6,000 

3 Install shade over kiosk Allow $4,500 

4 Install more shade in pool grounds Allow $10,000 

5 Install external wind breaks on the side street fence with a 

combination of impermeable materials, shrubs and climbing 

plants 

6 Improve community and swimming pool user access to Willow 

Park multi-purpose room through a seasonal use agreement 

Allow $5,000 

Within officer 

responsibilities 

7 Solar heating $100,000 

8 Install splash deck/ water play once all water treatment is 

brought onto one system 

9 Redevelop forecourt to provide a shaded seating and 

gathering area with bike parking and signage 

10 Install lighting for evening use once management 


Table 7.4: Recommended initiatives at Koondrook pool 

$650,000 

Allow $3,000 

$45,000 

The Koondrook community is fortunate in that it has good quality pools, strong community support and access 

to the new indoor Willow Park facilities. Designs for new facilities or for an indoor pool have not been prepared 

for Koondrook as the small size of the district population and the location within the Shire renders such an 

initiative inappropriate. 

4. Leitchville 

The Table on the following page lists the works which have been identified for action at Leitchville swimming 

pool. These include the essential technical works detailed in Chapter 2 as item 2. 

With regard to item 1., Council has allocated a budget of the order of $260,000 for these works. Several 

alternate strategies could be pursued to achieve the desired outcome. These are: 

1. Strip out, reline, refit and roof the existing toilet/change facilities in situ to provide better quality 

facilities for both travellers, the general public and pool users. This would be the cheapest model but 

adds nothing new for pool users. To diversify use opportunities, a multi-purpose community room 

could be added to the east at a later date 

2. Build a new set of public toilet/change facilities at the front of the existing pool services building. 

These works could provide one male toilet, two female toilets and a unisex change/shower facility for 

public and traveller use. This design is shown as Option 03 Stage 01 on the following page. (Optional 

designs 01 and 02 were prepared as part of a second round of community consultations and have 

since been revised to prepare the options shown here). 

Stage 02 of this design (also shown below) would entail demolition of the existing building and its 

replacement with a new kiosk/reception area, a multi-use community room and new male and female 

toilet and change facilities for pool users. Action on this stage would allow separation of general public 



toilet use and pool toilet/change use. Equally importantly, it would provide a multi-use community room 

for a wide range of pool-related and general community activities. 

An alternative approach to the Option 03 Stage 02 design would be to reverse the pool toilet/change 

facilities and the multi-use community room so that pool users would have access to improved 

amenities at an earlier date 

3. A third design for the amenities building is shown in Option 04. In this model, the existing female 

change/toilets would be stripped out and renewed and new public male amenities would be added 

immediately adjacent and to their north. The redeveloped female facilities would initially be shared by 

pool users (as is presently the case). At the same time or as a later stage, the existing male toilet/ 

change facilities would be redeveloped as female amenities for pool users only and disabled amenities 

and new male amenities for pool users would be built behind these. The kiosk store area would be 

redeveloped either at the same time or as a later stage. Finally, a multi-purpose community room 

would be built to the east of the existing complex to provide for a wider range of uses. 

Each of these options will provide new community toilets and amenities and could eventually provide a multipurpose 

room for a range of pool-related or general community activities. 

Priority Action Indicative Cost 

$ 

1 Toilet/ change /kiosk /management facility reconstruction, 

with inclusion of a multi-purpose room 

See chart 

following 


Chapter 2) 



$5,000 

4 Windbreaks and screening along fence lines Allow $5,000 

5 Install additional shade areas Allow $15,000 

6 Install barbeque facilities with wind breaks Allow $6,000 

7 Install pool blankets $30,000 

8 Install beach volleyball and other activities in rear of site Allow $2,000 

9 Upgrade lighting for evening use once management 


10 Install solar heating if an assessment of the technology 

indicates that there is and adequate roof area and that it can 

be achieved at an acceptable cost 

Table 7.5: Recommended initiatives at Leitchville pool 

Allow $45,000 

Allow $70,000 

Costings for the two stages of Option 03 are provided following the designs. As with the Cohuna and 

Kerang design concepts, further design development work would be required to refine these optional 

proposals once Council determines to proceed with the redevelopment. 

Stage 01 of Option 03 has been designed to allow the initiation of works within the budget allocated by 

Council. The Stage 02 works, however, would cost an additional $850,000 at 2009 prices. Option 04, 

while an attractive strategy to follow, has not been costed at this stage as it is probable that it would be 

beyond the financial capacity of the community and Council. 









5. Quambatook 



64

The following works have been identified for action at Quambatook Swimming Pool. 

Priority Action (1) Indicative Cost $ 


Chapter 2) 





$8,000 

3 Install additional shade structures Allow $10,000 

4 Install pool blankets Allow $40,000 

5 Monitor wall cracks in office/ store area and undertake 

structural engineering assessment if required 

6 Undertake landscaping and plant screening around plant 

room 

7 Restructure change/ toilet facilities to create male/female 

facilities in the shell of the existing women’s toilets. Convert 

the male toilet/ change to a multi-purpose room with a 

kitchenette and with external access via storeroom door 

8 Install lighting for evening use once management arrangements 

permit longer opening hours 

10 Install solar heating if an assessment of the technology 

indicates that there is and adequate roof area and that it can 

be achieved at an acceptable cost 

Table 7.6: Recommended initiatives at Quambatook pool 

6. Kerang Indoor Pool 

See discussion in section 2.1.6. 

Within Council 

officer and 

Committee 

responsibilities 

Allow $1,000 

Subject to 

engineering 

assessment and 

allow $40,000 

$100,000 

Allow $70,000 

65

8 

Conclusion 

The objective of the present study has been to provide Gannawarra Shire Council and the Gannawarra 

community with advice as to the future maintenance and development of the 5 outdoor public pools and one 

indoor pool in the Shire. 

The research undertaken as part of the study has found that most if not all of the pools require significant 

maintenance and/or redevelopment works if they are to be retained in the longer term. The cost of these works 

is nearly $1.9 m. and will require significant investment from Council and the Shire community over the coming 

5 years. 

The study also found that while technical and maintenance works will keep the facilities operational, they are 

not providing the optimum service to the Shire community because they are outdated, summer-only facilities 

which lack quality support facilities, and which cannot meet the wider health and wellbeing needs of an ageing 

community. The study also found that the pools would benefit from substantial improvements in the way they 

are promoted and programmed. These issues, together with the slow decline in the total Shire population, have 

meant that the facilities are increasingly marginal from each of a recreational, financial and operational 

perspective. 

The study found that to overcome the problems faced by the pools and to ensure they more effectively meet 

community needs, not only did maintenance needs have to be addressed but new leisure, recreation, social, 

and health and wellbeing opportunities needed to be provided. It was found that action on some of these needs 

could be pursued at each of the pools especially through summer programming initiatives. However, it was 

found that action to address others of the needs would require significant changes and additions to one or more 

of the venues. Most significant amongst these other needs were dry health and fitness gyms, multi-purpose 

program rooms, specialised consulting suites, modern indoor or outdoor water play facilities, social and café 

facilities and, at one venue, one or more specialised indoor pools. Concept designs have been prepared for 

Cohuna and Kerang with the latter being the recommended location if provision was ever to be made. 

Council has allocated a budget for the provision of new toilet/change facilities in Leitchville to serve both the 

pool, the wider public and travellers and costed designs have been prepared for this initiative. Smaller scale 

initiatives have been identified for the other Shire pools with the focus being on improving the quality of the pool 

settings and gaining access to a multi-purpose indoor space to support a wider range of uses and new 

programming initiatives. Such a space has recently been built at Koondrook while there is potential for it to be 

achieved at Quambatook through the redevelopment of spaces in the existing toilet/change facilities. 

The levels of use of the small indoor program pool in Kerang attests to the value of such a facility in the 

community. However, the siting and shortcomings of this facility are such that action to extend and upgrade it 

cannot be justified. Rather, it is recommended that Council continues to make the facility available to the 

community until it reaches the end of its useful life. 

In the immediate to medium term, action to maintain the existing pools should be given priority attention by 

Council. However, if the cost of these works cannot be afforded by Council, it may be forced to determine that 

one or more of the existing pools may eventually have to close. No attempt has been made to determine which 

pool or pools this might be as such a decision is beyond the scope of the present study which will be influenced 

by demographic, economic, political and possibly, climatic considerations. However, if one or more pools does 

have to close, Council should renew its efforts to enhance the quality, attractiveness and programming of the 

remaining venues and it should make every effort to replace the closed venue or venues with a modern, indoor 

health and wellbeing, learn to swim and program-focused pool. This will ensure that the community has access 

to improved aquatic opportunities rather than reduced opportunities. The cost of this action would, however, be 

substantial. 



66

gannawarra shire pools strategic plan - Gannawarra Shire Council

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