Council did not close the facility. Belfast Aquatics took the decision to close the facility on 21 November 2025 due to the presence of mould and algae throughout the building – which presented a serious public health safety risk. Council supported this decision based on the risk to public health.
The Belfast Aquatics Swimming Pool Committee of Management is responsible for and manages memberships for the facility. It is therefore important that you contact management and/or the committee directly with this question.
Council is unable to disclose these reports due to confidentiality requirements under the Local Government Act. To do so would breach the Act.
Council is unable to publicly release these reports at this time due to confidentiality and public interest considerations under the Local Government Act 2020 and related legislation.
The reports contain sensitive information relating to building condition, health risks and operational matters. Importantly, the Belfast Aquatics Committee of Management, as the operator at the time, was provided with copies of all relevant reports.
Council can confirm that multiple expert assessments by environmental health officers and structural engineers identified significant mould, structural and plant issues throughout the facility that must be rectified to ensure public safety.
Council is not in a position to release the reports nor discuss them publicly, as they are confidential documents. Importantly, as the managers of the facility, the Belfast Aquatics Committee of Management were supplied the reports. Council can confirm multiple expert assessments from expert environmental health and engineers have identified significant mould, structural and plant concerns throughout the facility that must be rectified in order to ensure public safety.
The pool and fitness centre was managed by the Belfast Aquatics committee of management since it opened in 2007. At no time has Council operated the facility since it opened.
Under the terms of the occupation agreement between Council and the committee of management, maintenance obligations lay solely with the Belfast Aquatics Committee of Management.
Since it was opened in 2007, Council has provided over $3 million towards the facility. Most recently, Council provided $290,000 in the 2024/25 financial year.
Degradation of building components over time, coupled with ageing plant and equipment, have led to emerging building structure risks, and the development of isolated pockets of mould.
The Belfast Aquatics Committee of Management were the operators of the facility. The committee of management advised they were not in a position to resolve the mould issue and in turn re-open the facility.
The lease overholding with the Belfast Aquatics Committee of Management concluded on 16 January 2026.
As to the costs of structural repairs, which would need to be done to current building standards, and upgrades to or replacement of plant and equipment to ensure continuity of services at an acceptable standard, Council is evaluating the building’s current condition so as to manage any health and safety risks. Council is also assessing the future options for the facility, in accordance with Council’s Aquatic Facilities Strategy
The Port Fairy pool facility is now under Council’s care and control. Council is evaluating the building’s current condition so as to manage any health and safety risks. Council is also assessing the future options for the facility, in accordance with Council’s Aquatic Facilities Strategy, and over the next few months will engage in community consultation as part of that assessment.
Naturally Council would like to see the facility available for community use. The reality of ageing infrastructure, plant and equipment, and the costs of repair and replacement, means that saving it will be a challenging proposition.
More information is required about the status of the facility and options to rectify the issues to determine this question.
Whilst historically there was levy on caravan parks which was wholly used by the tenant, that was discontinued some years ago. Nevertheless, Council has continued to provide financial support through its revenue base. The amounts previously obtained by way of a small levy would now pale in comparison to the magnitude of the amount the tenant would have needed to spend to fix the facility.
The lease stated the tenant must vacate the premises and return to Council in a well maintained and repaired manner.
Council provided the reports commissioned both via email and physically handed the reports to the committee. The committee also commissioned reports of their own.
Council has met with the committee twice since the December Council meeting
Council has met with community representatives in late December 2025 and has committed to another meeting in late January 2026.
The mould is through elements of the whole building not just the pool space, including in structural elements.
Council’s obligations under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 apply to the whole facility, so areas such as the gym or fitness room cannot be considered separately from the pool.
There are some matters that Council cannot disclose publicly, due to confidentiality requirements under the Local Government Act. It is routine for Council to be engaged in deliberations that are confidential in nature that affect the rights of a large number of persons.
The Port Fairy pool facility is now under Council’s care and control. Council is evaluating the building’s current condition to manage any health and safety risks. Council is also assessing the future options for the facility, in accordance with Council’s Aquatic Facilities Strategy, and over the next few months will engage in community consultation as part of that assessment.
- identify current defects, failures and compliance issues
- assess structural integrity of building and roof elements
- measure the extent, causes and remediation requirements for mould contamination
- assess plant and equipment safety, compliance, condition and expected remaining life,
- assess the pool shell, concourse and related structural components,
- identify short-term rectification works to enable safe operation (if feasible),
- identify and quantify the long-term renewal, upgrade or replacement requirements and
- prepare lifecycle-based cost estimates covering ongoing maintenance costs, and capital renewal costs
This investigation and report will enable a thorough understanding of the current condition of the facility and enable informed decision-making both short and long term.
Simply put, the remediation estimate in the Port Fairy Pool asset audit report should not be read as “$4.5 million gets the old pool back for another 30 years”.
The current building has not proven fit for purpose as an indoor pool environment. The report points to deterioration associated with humidity, ventilation and the pool environment. This is the main difference between remediation and a new build - the huge cost of the repairs results in the same compromised building form.
The 30-year reference relates to the expected life of the new components installed through the remediation works. The whole facility would not become a new 30-year asset. Parts of the existing building and other components would still be around 20 years old, and would continue to carry age, condition and compliance risk.
The remediation estimate is only for the works that could be assessed and costed. Some areas of the building and structure could not be fully accessed, so there is a real risk (almost certain) that further issues would be uncovered once works started. It is likely that would lead to increased cost, complexity and timeframe.
The works would also trigger building permit and compliance requirements, so it is not a simple like-for-like repair. New works would need to meet current standards, and that may bring other requirements into play, including fire services, accessibility, building services and safety compliance which have not been identified or costed.
There is also a contractor risk. The works involve hidden defects, temporary propping, mould remediation, structural sequencing, pool replacement, services upgrades and a constrained site. Contractors may be reluctant to tender for that level of uncertainty, or may price the risk heavily.
A new facility would cost more upfront, but it would allow Council to design for current standards, accessibility, energy use, operating costs, ventilation, patron needs and long-term service provision. Remediation of the existing facility would still involve major works, but with more unknowns and more residual risk.
Funding is also a practical issue. Council does not currently have the funding available to undertake repairs of this scale. There is also unlikely to be a grant pathway to repair an existing compromised asset. External funding is generally more likely to support a new, contemporary and fit-for-purpose facility than a high-risk remediation project on an end-of-life building.
The draft Council budget was prepared over several months, before Council had received the asset audit report. At that time, Council did not know the extent of works required, the likely cost, or the future options available for the facility. It would not have been responsible to include a capital allocation without that information. Council will consider the findings of the report before making any future budget decisions.
At the January 2026 Ordinary Council Meeting, Council resolved to undertake a technical investigation into the condition of the existing Port Fairy Pool facility. The purpose of the report was to assess the current building, pool shell, plant, equipment, compliance issues and risks. It was not scoped as a feasibility study or business case for a new aquatic facility. Future aquatic provision will be considered through the Draft Aquatic Strategy.
Council has not made a decision about future aquatic provision in Port Fairy. The asset audit report provides important information about the condition of the existing facility. The Draft Aquatic Strategy, which is expected to be tabled at the June Ordinary Council Meeting, will help Council consider aquatic services across the whole Shire, including Port Fairy. Any decision about a new facility would need to consider community need, location, design, capital cost, operating cost, funding opportunities and long-term affordability.
Council has listened to the community’s concerns about the closure of the Port Fairy Pool facility. After the facility came under Council’s care and control in mid-January 2026, Council resolved to undertake a detailed technical investigation before making any decision about its future. That work has now been completed and will inform the next steps. Council also undertook community engagement through the Draft Aquatic Strategy process, which will help guide future aquatic provision across the Shire.
The land is freehold land owned by Council. It is zoned Public Purpose and Recreation Zone. There are no plans for an alternate use of the site.
No. The asset audit report identifies that the existing facility cannot simply be converted into an outdoor pool. The pool shell, plant, equipment and surrounding infrastructure all have significant condition, compliance and safety issues. Removing the building would not resolve those issues and would create further design, structural, operational and compliance requirements. On that basis, converting the current facility into an outdoor pool is not considered a viable option
The term “condemned” is often used informally, but it is not the formal term used in the asset audit report. In Victoria, a Municipal Building Surveyor may issue notices or orders where a building presents a risk, including an emergency order where immediate action is required because of a danger to life, health, safety or property. At this stage, the facility is closed to the public and will remain closed because the audit identifies significant safety, compliance, structural, building services and environmental issues.