The Derwent Valley Council will decide on Thursday what to do with the Bushy Park Swimming Pool, which has been out of action for two seasons and needs $150,000 in repairs.
Closed since 2023, the pool drew just 1,732 visitors in its last open season and costs around $70,000 a year to run.
Mayor Michelle Dracoulis met with local petitioner Tamara Walton last week to discuss the facility’s future, acknowledging the community’s attachment to the pool.
“I understand the issue here and the community’s determination to retain its only major recreational asset,” she said.
But council documents paint a bleak picture. The chemical dosing system needs a full $40,000 replacement, with the required chemicals no longer available for the outdated equipment.
Pool backwash is also being discharged straight into the Styx River, breaching environmental regulations, the council says.
Attendance figures show the pool was empty on 39 of its 112 operating days, while 78 days saw fewer than 15 visitors. The busiest day was December 27, when 144 people turned up.
Council staff have hinted at shutting the facility for good, noting that most Tasmanian councils operate only one public pool. New Norfolk’s pool is a 20-minute drive away.
Dracoulis said community workshops will be held at Glenora District School on September 6 from 4-6pm and September 8 from 2:30-4:30pm.
“Options to be explored will include pool renovation, alternate recreational uses, memorial space enhancement and any other community infrastructure priorities,” she said.
The petition to save the pool has so far attracted 915 signatures.
“The closure of the pool has left a significant gap for families, schools and community groups,” a petition organiser told Pulse.
“Reopening it is not only about preserving our history, but also about investing in the wellbeing and future of our community.”
