Earlier this month, residents of Port Fairy, Victoria, got an unwelcome announcement
According to the ABC, Moyne Shire Council declared that it was permanently closing Belfast Aquatics Community Pool.
Moyne Shire Council conducted an inspection and found mould and algae in the facility.
Residents said they were blindsided and disappointed. Jacqui King has three daughters, all who learnt to swim at the facility. One is a competitive swimmer. She told ABC:
Without the pool she would have never had that [to become a competitive swimmer] opportunity.
(‘Port Fairy residents demand answers after council abruptly closes only all-abilities pool’, ABC Coco Velcamp and Ted O’Connor, 12 December 2025)
King claimed that Belfast Aquatics had been crucial in teaching Port Fairy residents water safety. Port Fairy is a coastal community. Many life savers have done their training there.
Another resident, Peter O’Keeffe said Moyne Council hasn’t been upfront about the needed repairs:
The council has [mentioned] A$2million to repair the pool, but there is no detail on the repairs.
Over three hundred residents attended a community meeting to protest the shutdown.
Risks of indoor pools
According to The Pool and Laws, there are risks of having indoor pools that need to be minimised. Indoor pools have a higher risk of algae and mould growth. They require extensive chemical treatments.
Air quality can pose a hazard to those who use an indoor pool. Due to a lack of open air, indoor pool water can react to human contaminates (sweat, urine, etc) and cause irritation.
Moisture causes condensation. Overtime, this can damage the insulation, walls, ceilings, and its mechanical systems.
Indoor pools take a lot of work to maintain (a lot more than I initially thought, to be honest). But that does not mean Moyne Shire Council should have penalised the elderly, children and disabled by shutting it down!
Belfast Aquatics’ closing is a kick in the teeth for children, elderly and disabled people
I can say from personal experience that some pools can be awkward to get in and out of. Sometimes, I’ve found ladders to get out of pools daunting.
Fortunately, some public pools are becoming more accessible. The pool in the town I used to live in has a ramp. Pools often have steps that are easier to go in and out of the water.
Getting rid of ladders embedded in pool walls would be a great next step, (no pun intended). A ladder outside the wall is better. Maybe that’s just me.
My point is, public pools can and should be accessible to all, no matter age, or abilities.
It sounds like the Belfast Aquatic Community Pool was great for the Port Fairy community. The Moyne Council neglected it, let it get hazardous, and penalised the community.
Now, there is one less pool that children, disabled and elderly people can go to that isn’t awkward to get in and out of or learn about water safety. It’s one less space where all people can gather, socialise and improve their fitness.