Cool off over summer at one of Council’s outdoor pools

Published on 27 November 2023

Council’s outdoor pool season kicks off in Castlemaine, Harcourt, Maldon and Newstead from Saturday 2 December until Monday 11 March.

The pools are managed and operated by YMCA Victoria, and will each offer a variety of events throughout the summer including barbecues, inflatable fun and free entry on Australia Day.

Karen Evennett, Mount Alexander Shire Council’s Manager of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, said she expects local pools to be very popular this summer.

“With a warm and dry summer predicted, our local pools are a great way to cool off,” said Ms Evennett.

"Each swimming pool offers a variety of water activities throughout the season and all pools are staffed by appropriately qualified lifeguards during opening hours.

“Pools will also offer the VicSwim program which focuses on swimming and water safety for children from four years in early January.”

Other pool activities will include aqua aerobics, junior lifeguard program, lap swimming and aqua playgroup.

“We’ve also undertaken some improvement works on our pools over winter,” said Ms Evennett.

“In Maldon, we were successful in obtaining a grant to install a new shade sail on the lawn, and we replaced the shade sail over the toddler pool.

“The Maldon Focus Pool Sub-Committee were also successful in obtaining a grant to install a more accessible entry point to the pool – so, a big thank you to the committee!

“In Newstead, we’ve put doors on showers in the female changerooms, and installed baby change tables in the male and female changerooms.”

“I’d like to thank pool managers YMCA who always do a fantastic job of looking after the community’s safety during the summer pool season.”

Bookings can also be made for lane hire and birthday parties, and the YMCA continues to offer free access to their Virtual Y online health and wellbeing resource website.

Council follows the Victorian Government’s Watch Around Water requirements. These requirements are compulsory for public pools and govern the number of children that adults are able to supervise: one adult can supervise two children under five years of age, or four children aged five to nine years.

Opening hours at Council’s outdoor pools are guided by our weather policy. Pools will not open if the forecast temperature for the day is lower than 23ºC. This is based on the temperature forecast for Castlemaine on the Bureau of Meteorology website at 6.00pm the previous day. If the temperature is over 32ºC at 6.00pm pools may stay open until 8.00pm. Information on additional hours and closures will be placed on the Mount Alexander Pools Facebook page at www.facebook.com.au/mountalexanderpools.

For more information, including opening times, entry fees, activities and events visit www.mountalexanderpools.com.au.

The Chewton pool, which is run by the community and with funding support by Council, will be open from Saturday 2 December through to Monday 11 March. For more information visit www.chewtonpool.com.au.