FAQs

Council manages four aquatic facilities within the Kempsey Shire, as identified in Figure 1. These are located in: 

• Kempsey - Kempsey McElhone Swimming Complex, Belgrave Street 
• South West Rocks - South West Rocks Swimming Pool, Sportmans Way 
• Crescent Head - Crescent Aquatic Centre, Baker Drive 
• Gladstone - Macleay Memorial Pool, Kinchela Street

Council outsources the management of our aquatic facilities to external providers.  Providers are paid a management fee but are responsible for the day-to-day operations and costs including cleaning and power. Council remains responsibility for the infrastructure and any improvements.  The total cost of management agreements and infrastructure maintenance costs Council around $1 million / year.  

Council is facing significant financial challenges over the ten years and is reviewing all spending.  Details of Council’s Financial Future are outlined here: Our Financial Future | Your Say Macleay (nsw.gov.au). In addition to the $1 million invested in operating our pools each year, the aquatic strategy identifies that significant infrastructure spending will be required to upgrade our pools in the near future. In particular, the strategy recommends that a detailed investigation of the structural integrity of the Kempsey McElhone Pool be undertaken to support long term decision making and financial planning. Council will need to decide whether to continue investing in the ageing, flood-prone Kempsey facility, with a total estimated refurbishment cost of $10 million, or focus on a greenfield site, with costs ranging from $10 to $40 million depending on the features of the pool.

Council is seeking community feedback on the Aquatic Strategy, including the recommendation to close Gladstone pool.  The strategy will then be considered by Council.  

Council is seeking community feedback on the Aquatic Strategy, including the recommendation to close Gladstone pool.  The strategy would then be considered by Council.  If adopted, the aquatic strategy recommends that a Pool Closure Plan be developed that defines key issues, including timing, use of the land, and options to improve access for residents of the impacted area.

That aquatic strategy identifies significant spending is required to maintain our pools in the short to medium term, and savings from closing Gladstone Pool could be redirected to maintain or improve our other facilities. That said, Council is heavily focused on our financial future and will need to consider the recommendations from the aquatic strategy, in-line with the other commitments within the long-term financial plan.