Local campaigners aim to halt permanent closure of Bendigo’s Golden Square Pool

Users of the Golden Square Swimming Pool are campaigning against a planned permanent closure of the facility after the opening of the new Gurri Wanyarra Wellbeing Centre.

With the City of Greater Bendigo to vote next week on a recommendation to not reopen the Golden Square Pool after it closes at the end of the current summer season, the community has vowed to keep the pool open, launching the Let’s Keep it Open campaign.

The current Council recommendation follows a significant and prolonged community fight to keep the pool open.

In 2013, Councillors voted unanimously to keep the pool open under the management of an incorporated community group, following a campaign led by the Save the Golden Square Pool committee. The Golden Square Pool was to close when the new indoor swimming pool opened at Kangaroo Flat, but in 2016 Councillors said they were open to allowing the committee to continue operating the facility in the longer term.

However, the Council will next week vote on whether to close the pool when the Gurri Wanyarra Wellbeing Centre opens.

The report to Councillors reads:

“At the Council meeting of 6 March 2013 Council resolved amongst other things: the pool will be permanently closed and be decommissioned:

1. In the event that conditions of the lease cannot be met; or

2. In the event of continued successful operation, no later than the opening of the proposed new Kangaroo Flat Aquatic Centre. With the Gurri Wanyarra Wellbeing Centre at Kangaroo Flat expected to open prior to the 2018/19 summer, the Golden Square Swimming Pool will be decommissioned at the end of the 2017/18 summer season in accordance with this resolution.”

The report notes Golden Square Swimming Pool Inc. had successfully operated the Golden Square Swimming Pool since it reopened in 2013 and attendances and community engagement with the site had “significantly increased”.

The Golden Square Pool Committee of Management argues the recommendation has not taken into account the population growth in the area or that Golden Square is under-resourced in relation to parks and recreational areas.

Golden Square Pool President Bernadette Wright urged residents to contact their local Councillors, and ask them to vote against the recommendation, telling local media “we need the community’s support to help us keep Golden Square Pool open.”

For more information on the Golden Square Swimming Pool go to www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/Things-To-Do/golden-square-swimming-pool 

Click here to visit the Let’s Keep it Open Facebook page.

Top image of the Golden Square Swimming Pool courtesy of the City of Greater Bendigo.

21st August 2017 - BENDIGO COUNCIL VOTES TO NAME NEW INDOOR POOL THE GURRI WANYARRA WELLBEING CENTRE

7th September 2016 - BELGRAVIA LEISURE APPOINTED TO MANAGE NEW GREATER BENDIGO INDOOR AQUATIC AND WELLBEING CENTRE 

1st April 2016 - AQUATICS AND RECREATION VICTORIA RELEASES ENERGY BENCHMARKING STUDY FOR AQUATIC CENTRES

16th October 2015 - BENDIGO COUNCIL PUSHES AHEAD WITH PLANS FOR NEW $30 MILLION BENDIGO AQUATIC CENTRE 

8th July 2015 - BENDIGO COUNCIL AGREES TO DEVELOP 50 METRE SWIMMING POOL AT KANGAROO FLAT 

18th June 2015 - VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT BACKS STADIUM UPGRADES IN BALLARAT AND BENDIGO 

4th May 2015 - OUTDOOR SEASONAL POOLS UNDER ONGOING THREATS

15th September 2014 - CITY OF GREATER BENDIGO TO END SEASONAL POOL PASSES

18th June 2015 - VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT BACKS STADIUM UPGRADES IN BALLARAT AND BENDIGO