Council will vote on the matter at the Tuesday, October 20 meeting, with officers recommending scrapping the fee-free initiative.
Since 2022, residents have been able to enjoy free general admission to the shire’s six outdoor pools, with council anticipating the move would see an uptake in usage.
After an initial increase in pool attendance, numbers have been falling steadily, with season pass holder and casual attendance numbers having dropped from 24,994 in 2022/23 to 16,739 in 2025/26.
The decline in numbers combined with a spate of high-profile incidents of harassment and abuse towards staff last summer has led council to reconsider the free entry program, with officers presenting councillors with two potential options.
The first of these, which the officers recommend, is to implement fees for the pools as adopted in the shire’s 2026/27 budget, with no free entry.
The proposed fees are:
Family day pass - $20
Adult day pass - $6.20
Adult day pass - concession - $4.70
Child day pass (children aged 5 years to under 18 years of age) - $4.70
Family season pass - $195
Adult season pass - $92.50
Adult season pass - concession - $70
Child season pass - $70
The other option presented proposes continuing the free membership for one more summer along with the introduction of a casual entry fee for visitors who refuse to provide their details.
Officers estimate waiving membership fees for another summer would lead to around $21,000 in projected income being lost from the 2026/27 budget.
In response to concerns about staff safety, council has committed to engaging a security person as needed to deal with incidents and during periods of increased pool attendance.
For a full wrap-up of this week’s council meeting outcomes, stay tuned to The Riv online over the coming week.
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