It’s been fantastic to see a groundswell of positive community support for the rebuilding of the Maryborough Olympic Outdoor Pool Complex.
The formation of an advocacy group to collaborate and advocate alongside Council is critical as we seek the funding needed to re-open this much-loved community asset.
We know our community is keen to better understand why the facility is closed and what it will take to see it re-opened.
We’ve worked in partnership with The Friends of the Maryborough Outdoor Pool Precinct to provide answers to the most frequently asked questions.
An independent, technical assessment of the pool was carried out in 2022. It determined that the 50-metre pool had reached ‘end of life’ stage and that it should not re-open until it is demolished and rebuilt.
It identified that the structural cracking had deteriorated and that the pool had effectively ‘broken it’s back’ due to the subsidence of the deeper and heavier diving end of the pool.
Water was leaking from the pool into the surrounding ground and also no longer preventing ground water from entering the pool.
Evidence of spall damage and more minor cracking was found throughout the pool slab and walls and it was noted that this has likely resulted in the exposure of the embedded steel reinforcing to chlorinated water, which only serves to accelerate the damage.
The decision to close the pool was made by the then Council in July 2022.
The Complex was first opened in 1940 – making it 85 years old – and the intermediate/learn to swim pool was added in 1973 – 52 years ago.
It is registered on the Victorian Heritage Register as having architectural, aesthetic and historical significance.
It is the only heritage-listed outdoor Olympic sized pool in regional Victoria.
The only other heritage-listed Olympic outdoor swimming pool operating in Victoria is the Harold Holt Swimming Pool in Melbourne.
The Complex is a much-loved facility that holds special meaning within our community which has been enjoyed by many generations.
Because it is considered a significant part of Victoria’s history and development – any changes or modifications to any part of the complex require approval from the relevant heritage authorities.
Any changes or upgrades to the Complex must look the same as the original and be reconstructed using like for like materials.
The only exception to this is where modifications are required to meet modern standards, such as compliance with current building regulations and the Disability Discrimination Act.
In these instances, Council is required to undertake careful negotiations with Heritage Victoria to achieve a solution that is both in keeping with the heritage fabric of the structure but also meeting modern safety and accessibility standards in a practical way.
You can read more about the significance of the Complex at www.vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au
In 2020, we received a $2 million Victorian Government Living Heritage grant to restore the pool.
Following the independent, technical assessment that determined the 50-metre pool was at ‘end of life’ – a full demolish and rebuild was considered the best return on investment.
Because $2 million wasn’t enough to demolish and rebuild the 50-metre pool, it was decided that Council would use the funding to upgrade the other components of the Complex that also needed attention.
To meet the grant requirements, the funding had to be spent on the heritage listed elements of the Complex.
A Conservation Management Plan for the Complex(PDF, 11MB) was developed in 2018 and identified that the Octagonal Toddlers Pool and sections of the Pavilion required reconstruction.
These elements were prioritised as they were also feasible within the budget.
This project was completed in December 2024 and included:
Full demolition and reconstruction of the octagonal pool.
New roof to the Heritage Listed Pavilion along with new box gutters, flashings, rainwater heads and downpipes.
Extensive carpentry works to lift the roof and allow installation of new deeper box gutters to prevent repeated flooding and leaks.
Render repairs to the top and inner face of all the parapet walls of the pavilion – to stop moisture from leaking into the building and causing damage.
Removal of redundant services.
Asbestos removal.
General carpentry and repair of various timber elements within the pavilion including windows, doors, architraves and change room benches.
Ceiling and wall repairs and painting.
Reinstatement of the glass curved windows at the entry.
Render and crack repairs on the Pump room building.
Roof repairs to the pump room.
Door reconstruction and window repairs to the pump room.
Stormwater repairs and upgrades.
The Victorian Government grant was also used for design and documentation for other elements of the Complex – which is required in order to pursue funding applications and carry out future works.
This included:
Investigations and significant design work for the 50-metre pool were undertaken prior to the change to the Octagonal Pool. This is not lost and forms the basis of our ongoing works for the 50-metre pool.
A schedule of conservation works and a full architectural package for the restoration of the pavilion.
Structural and heritage advice regarding works required for the plant room
A full DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) and BCA (Building Code of Australia) review of the entire site.
Architectural site plans.
Whilst the octagonal pool is now fully operational the intermediate/learn to swim pool shares its filtration system with the 50-metre pool. This means one pool can’t operate without the other. To do this, the filtration system would need to be separated, and this would come at a significant cost.
The intermediate/learn to swim is 52 years old and is also in need of upgrades. While the shell is currently structurally sound, it does require significant maintenance along with a new filtration system and balance tank required to separate it from the 50-metre pool. It also needs work to the hob and tiling to be safe and fit for purpose.
There are many reasons why the estimated cost is so high:
The Complex is heritage listed – which means any changes or upgrades to the Complex must look the same as the original and be reconstructed using like for like materials. The original construction with the raised hob, scum gutter arrangement and the intricate tiling arrangement are not often used in modern pools that have a cheaper ‘wet deck’ construction. The construction methods, along with gaining and adhering to heritage permits add significant cost to the project.
A commercial pool is much more expensive than a residential pool. This is because of:
3. It’s location in the ground and water table issues. The presence of water in the surrounding ground means that we need to allow for costs to dewater the site during construction. This means it may need to be ‘sheet piled’ and have pumps running to remove water during works – essentially we need to allow for the worst-case scenario.
4. Any upgrades to the Complex also trigger current building/swimming pool regulations. This means any upgrades to the pool must incorporate a ramp into the pool, disabled access upgrades from the carpark, through the entry and along all paths of travel to each pool. DDA compliant change rooms must also be constructed along with upgrades to the current change facilities. All of these elements are complicated by the Heritage Listing which places limits on how these works are carried out and adds cost to the project.
Yes – any new pool of this size built to modern regulations is required to have a ramp entry. Whilst Heritage Victoria require us to rebuild the pool like for like - this is one area they will allow modifications.
To repair the pool would still be costly and would essentially be a ‘patch job’. The reality is the pool is 85 years old so there’s a high probability of further cracks and failures to continue to occur.
The options Council is exploring are to ensure that the project is both cost-effective and will have longevity, so that the pool can be enjoyed for many years to come.
Because there are heritage concerns. The installation of a liner fails to meet heritage requirements around material consistency.
The failure of the shell allowing ingress of ground water also makes lighter liners or membranes impractical, as the water pressure will likely delaminate them from the shell.
Council is not in a financial position to fund the project alone. It is outside our financial capability to fund the project without Federal and State funding.
Council has a contract in place for the management of all outdoor pools in the Shire. Any variations to that contract following the closure of the Maryborough Outdoor Pool are commercial in confidence.
Following the closure of the pool in 2022, Council negotiated extended opening hours at the Maryborough Sports and Leisure Centre and free entry to the Dunolly and Talbot pools during the summer season.
Budgets are tight which makes the current funding market highly competitive.
To give us the best chance of being successful, the State Government have advised us any future funding application must include equal access upgrades and show strong community support.
They have also advised it is unlikely they would fund the project in its entirety and have suggested that the project be staged.
Based on State Government advice we are developing an extended project scope and a staged approach to the project.
Adding additional scope to the project such as the intermediate pool upgrades and improved equal access facilities, will increase the overall project cost – however it will deliver a more comprehensive upgrade of the Complex.
The staged approach would also allow Council to renegotiate with the contractor the opening of the octagonal and immediate/learn to swim pools until such time as the 50-metre pool is rebuilt.
The staged approach was endorsed by Council at a Special Council Meeting on 12 March 2025 with Council supporting a funding application to the Victorian Government’s Regional Community Sports Infrastructure Fund – Round Two and a co-contribution of $1.5 million ($150,000 in the 2025-26 Annual Budget and $1.35 million in future borrowings in the 2026-27 Annual Budget).
Stage One:
Full renovation of the intermediate/learn to swim pool including new filtration system and balance tank, renovation of the tiling and shell and construction of a disability access ramp.
Upgrade to pavilion to accommodate a new compliant entry with ticketing, kiosk, car parking, footpaths, ramps and landscaping
New change room facility – this would be a new standalone building including family change rooms, accessibility and a changing place facility.
Plant room structural repairs
Upgrades to the existing male and female changerooms including new toilets, showers.
Upgrades to services the site including power and sewer.
Estimated cost: $4.5 million.
Stage Two:
Demolition and rebuild of 50 metre pool
New concourse
New filtration system and balance tank
Footpaths connecting all areas
Estimated cost: A high-level cost estimate for Stage 2 is projected to be at least $5.5 million, with the final cost to be determined through the detailed design process.
We will also continue to lobby the Federal and State Government to show commitment for the project.
In May 2024, we were notified our application to the Federal Government’s Growing Regions Fund had been unsuccessful.
This meant, in order for our funding application to the Victorian Government’s Sport and Recreation Victoria Regional Community Sports and Infrastructure Fund to be successful, we were required to commit to a co-contribution of $4 million in future borrowings.
Councillors decided to defer the commitment to contribute to the project through borrowings until further information and options were considered.
$4 million is a lot of money to a small rural Council – to borrow this much money would mean we would have been paying this off over 15 years. This would have pushed our financial limits in an already constrained financial environment.
It also would have meant we wouldn’t have the funding we might need to support other projects in the community.
It was determined that funding from both Federal and State Government is critical to deliver this project.
Construction costs have risen by around 40% since this project began.
A highly competitive funding environment (there are so many pools across Victoria at their end of life), which means we have to increase the project scope to address key funding requirements when making an application, to give us the best chance of being successful.
The extended project scope includes:
A new stand-alone building to incorporate family change, accessible change and changing places facilities. The Changing Places facility will be accessible outside of the pool season, year-round, for community use.
New ticketing and kiosk facilities that will facilitate universal access.
New balance tank, hydraulic piping and filtration system for the intermediate learn to swim pool, allowing it to function independently from the Olympic Pool.
A full renovation of the intermediate/learn to swim pool, including repairs, new tiling and a compliant disability access ramp.
New shade structure to support the Intermediate/Learn to Swim Pool.
If you have the opportunity, we encourage you to chat to our local State and Federal Ministers about why the project is important to you.
You can also join The Friends of the Maryborough Outdoor Pool Precinct by emailing swim@maryboroughswimmingclub.org.au
For facility related enquiries:
Phone: 0427 524 904
For project related enquiries:
Phone: 0419 448 281
In 2018 a Conservation Management Plan was developed for the facility. You can access it here.(PDF, 11MB)