New Splash Park being considered to replace Ballarat’s Brown Hill Outdoor Pool

A new aquatic splash park precinct is being considered by the City of Ballarat to replace the existing Brown Hill Outdoor Pool.

Council will consider adopting the Brown Hill Recreation Reserve Master Plan and noting the Brown Hill Recreation Reserve Master Plan Implementation Plan.

A key aspect of the proposed Master Plan is to replace the pool with a major investment in a new Splash Park Precinct including supporting community amenities such as public toilet, half-court basketball, grassed areas, shade and seating.

The proposed Master Plan was created after extensive community consultation and expanded on previous consultation work conducted by the Brown Hill Progress Association regarding the future of the pool and the overall amenity of the reserve.

If approved, it would become Ballarat’s third Splash Park following the construction of widely popular Midlands Reserve Splash Park (on Doveton Street) and Victory Park (on Vickers Street) in recent years. 

Compared to pools, Splash Parks in Ballarat receive far greater usage, can open for longer hours as staffing requirements and temperature policy are not applicable, and can also be converted into usable community spaces during winter months.

According to an officer’s report to be considered by Council, the Victory Park Splash Park in Sebastopol and the Midlands Splash Park in Ballarat North (pictured top) recorded more than 60,000 combined visits across the two months of December 2022 and January 2023.

The Brown Hill Outdoor Pool recorded 1073 visitors during the 2022-23 summer season through until the end of January 2023, making it the least visited outdoor pool within the City of Ballarat. The cost of operating the pool is also high, with each visit resulting in an average operating cost of $11.95, higher than Black Hill ($9.39), Buninyong ($6.62) and Eureka ($5.79).

It is also noted that both the Eureka Pool and Black Hill Pool are within 2.4 kilometres of the Brown Hill Pool, and a new indoor pool operated by the YMCA in nearby Water Street also provides swimming lessons.

The report also states an independent report received in 2020 estimated the Brown Hill Outdoor Pool would cost a minimum of $1.3 million to be restored to its fully functioning condition.

It is estimated it would cost $231,000 to de-commission the pool and re-instate the site for delivery of the splash park development.

Other key elements in the Master Plan include new public toilets; an extended path network to link key infrastructure; new seating, tables and shade; an improved play space and improved oval surface with drainage and irrigation.

The Brown Hill Recreation Reserve Draft Master Plan has been publicly available through the community consultation sessions and was recently included in the Brown Hill Community Newsletter which goes directly to more than 2,000 residents. 

Image top: Midlands Splash Park in Ballarat North. Credit: City of Ballarat