Water to flow again as locals take control of Southern Grampians public pool

After a year of uncertainty, Glenthompson’s pool will reopen this summer after missing last season - but this time, the community will be running the show.

For locals Ian and Sylvia Murray, the news is a relief, though they acknowledge the work ahead.

“It’s a relief to have the swimming pool operating again this coming season,” Ian told the Brolga.

“But it does come with a lot of work and trepidation of starting something big and new for us again,” Sylvia added.

Southern Grampians Shire councillors unanimously voted last Wednesday night to hand control of the pool to the Glenthompson Pool Committee Inc, in what Councillor Adam Campbell called “a watershed moment” for the town.

Under the new model, Council will lease the pool to the committee for a nominal $1 and provide $120,000 for start-up costs and repairs. 

The community group will manage day-to-day operations, including hiring lifeguards, cleaning and rostering, and must hold $20 million in public liability insurance before the lease is finalised.

While concerns remain over the insurance cost, council’s Director of Wellbeing, Planning and Regulation, Rory Neeson, said it was “fair the group fund it”, as they will be “responsible for operations”.

As part of the agreement, the committee will also staff the Glenthompson Transfer Station on a volunteer basis, operating Wednesdays and Sundays. Ian said the town accepted this extra responsibility to support broader community assets.

“I think it's achievable. We will review the situation after 12 months, after the first season,” he said.

“A part of the deal is that we will supply someone or people to run the local rubbish tip; the money for that will go towards the capital works required for the swimming pool in the future.”

The committee is now preparing policies, training lifeguards and planning fundraising, with guidance from the council, local businesses and other community-led pools like the Macarthur facility in Moyne Shire.

“People are volunteering in all sorts of ways, from running the canteen to mowing lawns, because they want the pool to succeed,” Ian said. “We’ve lost a lot of schools and shops, we’ve lost a lot of facilities in the last 15 years. So it’s the last big community facility we have left.

Sylvia said they were looking forward to holding barbecues, learning to swim classes and adult exercise.

The committee’s longer-term goal is to heat the pool in its second year. The pool was closed in 2024 after councillors cited high costs and low usage, despite visitor numbers rising from 602 to 949 over two seasons.