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Royal Life Saving Society - Australia has highlighted the safety benefits of public pools as a safe and fun place for leisure, citing that they are “generally much safer than swimming in rivers or the sea”

In addition, the organisation is pointing out how many councils around Australia are making it easier for the public to enjoy public pools with reduced entry fees, and some even allowing free entry, over the Christmas and New Year period.

Welcoming initiatives that are aimed at ensuring everyone in the community can enjoy these facilities, Royal Life Saving Society - Australia’s RJ Houston explains "public pools are vital for individuals and the community. "It is important that we make everyone aware of how essential these pools are and keep them accessible and affordable. This will encourage more people to use them."

However, with Royal Life Saving research released in 2022 showing that about 500 of Australia’s public pools are ageing and will soon need major repairs or replacement, Houston warns "by 2030, about 40% of public pools will be too old to use properly, and we will need about $8 billion to replace them. Communities across Australia need to use these pools as much as they can now, or risk losing them."

In Queensland's far north, Townsville City Council is heeding the call to make swimming pools more accessible by offering free entry to their public pools until 24th December 2023.

Excited to announce the free entry initiative, Townsville Mayor, Jenny Hill stated "I know that almost everyone in Townsville wants to be in a pool right now. The mercury is soaring, and there's no better time for Council to offer free entry to our public pools.

"Our free entry will cover individual and family entry for adults, children, concessions and spectators but won't cover swimming lessons, group bookings like birthday parties, aqua aerobics or multi-pass entries.

"Council takes a lot of pride in working with its lessees to deliver our public pools to Townsville, and I know this free pool period will be well received by the community."

Earlier this year, Brisbane City Council announced it would be offering $2 swimming through summer.

Brisbane Lord Mayor, Adrian Schrinner commented “with summer officially here, we want residents to make the most of Council’s 22 pools and our $2 Summer Dips.

“Dropping the general admission fee to pools across the suburbs will relieve some of the cost pressures associated with the summer break and allow residents to get out and enjoy our fantastic outdoor lifestyle on a budget.

“I’m confident this initiative will encourage residents of all ages to get active, cool down and have some affordable fun at our pools this summer. Importantly, there’s no limit; residents can go as often as they like to their local pool and continue to save.”

Free or discounted entry for swimming pools are being offered by the following councils:

• Ararat Rural City: free entry at all outdoor pools for the 2023/24 summer, including Ararat Olympic Outdoor Swimming Pool, Lake Bolac Peter O'Rorke Memorial Swimming Pool and Willaura Outdoor Memorial Pool.

• Alice Springs Town Council: free entry 16th December - 28th January at Alice Springs Aquatic and Leisure Centre.

• Brisbane City Council: $2 entry to 22 public pools from 1st December 2023, to 29th February 2024.

• City of Sydney: offered free access to six of its public pools on Saturday 9th December 2023.

• Campaspe Shire Council: free entry to outdoor pools for the 2023/24 season. This includes the Colbinabbin, Kyabram, Lockington, Rushworth, Stanhope, and Tongala outdoor pools.

• Central Goldfields Shire Council: free entry at the Dunolly and Talbot outdoor pools from Saturday 2nd December 2023 to Monday 11th March 2024.

• Murrindindi Shire Council: free entry to its swimming pools for the 2023/24 season. This includes pools at Alexandra, Eildon, Marysville, and Yea.

• Shire of Mitchell: free entry for casual recreation swimming at their three outdoor pools this summer.

• Townsville City Council: free entry to public pools until 24th December 2023.

• Warrumbungle Shire Council: free entry to all pools for the 2023/24 season during casual entry times.

• Moora Shire Council: free entry to the Moora public pool during the school holidays.

Royal Life Saving highlights that with 2,100 pools across the country, nine out of 10 Australians live within a short drive of a public pool and that in addition to their community and health benefits they contribute over $9 billion a year to the nation’s economy.

Main image: Townsville's Tobruk Memorial Baths (top) and the Alice Springs Aquatic and Leisure Centre (below).

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