Mountain Pool closure confirmed for 2025
Closure of the Mountain Pool formed part of the business cases that secured a total of $22.3 million funding support from by both State and Federal governments for the construction of the new RALC.
Mt Barker Council’s general manager corporate services, Alex Oulianoff said that the Mountain Pool is at the end of its functional life and there is no future budget allocated towards the maintenance and renewal of this asset.
“Council’s Long Term Financial Plan does not include funding for the Mountain Pool beyond mid to late 2025 when the Regional Aquatic and Leisure Centre will be completed,” he said.
Mayor David Leach said that the Regional Aquatic and Leisure Centre has been designed to cater for current and projected demand from a growing residential population.
“It will deliver a significantly improved facility for the region compared to the current Mountain Pool and has been designed to allow for a future expansion, including provision for an outdoor 50 metre pool and splashpad,” he said.
It is expected that the Mountain Pool will close at the end of the usual swimming season in March 2025 and the council will be working with existing users including the Mountain Pool Swimming Club to make sure there is a smooth transition to the new facility.
The Mountain Pool was built in 1957 on land granted to the council by John Dunn and Leonard Bickle in the late 1800s with a deed to control the future use of the land. The deed requires that the land be used for recreation and for the benefit of the residents of the Mount Barker district.
Future use of the land will be considered in conjunction with the updating of Council’s Town Centre Plan and broader Township Strategy.
