Council to decide whether to close Engadine Leisure Centre pools from April to September each year

It is estimated savings of $185,000 a year could be made by closing the two pools at the end of the April school holidays and reopening them at the start of the September school holidays.

A group of 30 senior ladies who attend aqua fitness classes four mornings a week would be among those affected by the closure.

Council staff have recommended the closure of the pools in the low season.

The proposal will be considered initially by the Services Committee on Monday night before the matter goes to the full council meeting on July 16.

The staff report said it was forecast in 2017 that rapidly escalating energy / gas prices would have a $500,000 negative impact on the operating budget of the shire’s three leisure centres.

“Initiatives taken to date have reduced this impact by approximately $300,000,” the report said.

“In the low season, Engadine has by far the lowest visitations of the three centres’ outdoor pools.”

Closing the Engadine Leisure Centre (ELC) pools at the end of the April school holidays and reopening at the start of the September school holidays would reduce overall operating costs by approximately $185,000 per annum.”

The report also recommended covering the Sutherland centre’s utility pool, used for water polo, between 11am and 3.30pm between April and September.

This would reduce heating costs by approximately $11,000 a year.

The report said the use of ELC pools “drops dramatically in the low season”.

“Thirty per cent of Learn to Swim patrons already move to Sutherland Leisure Centre in the low season because of the enhanced customer experience,” it said.

“In effect, council now provides a subsidy of $19 each time a patron uses the pools at Engadine in the low season.

“This is clearly not sustainable.

“The estimated savings of changing to high season use only would amount to an average of $185,000pa or $1.85 million over a 10 year period.”

The report said there would be “limited impact on current users.”

The main users in the low season (term 3 – mainly in September) were five local schools.

“NSW Department of Education officers have already indicated that the department’s preference would be to move this program to term 4.

”Due to the renovation currently being undertaken, there is currently no Learn to Swim program operating in this low season.

“A new tender has been advertised on June 11 to provide squad and a Learn to Swim program at ELC in the high season, with squad relocating to the SLC in the low season, subject to ELC becoming seasonal..

“Learn to Swim programs (the Dolphin Swim School) are available at the indoor private pool located at 62A Anzac Ave, Engadine, less than 500m away from ELC.

“ELC runs Aqua Fitness Classes four mornings per week, attracting a group of approximately 30 senior ladies (approximately 10 per session with some attending more than one session a week).

“No engagement has been undertaken with this group to date.

“A broader range of Aqua Fitness Classes (33 in total) are currently “provided at Sutherland Leisure Centre.

“Opportunity for the Engadine aqua group to continue both exercise and socialisation during the low season at Sutherland Leisure Centre can be fostered with complimentary beverage cards and several added classes provided for regular ELC aqua participants.

“Should any of the above group have difficulty accessing the Sutherland Pool due to age or disability and this is made known, staff will assist in liaising with Activus (Community) Transport with a view to assessing their eligibility for a support service.” 

The report said the two largest council providers of aquatic facilities in the Sydney region, Wollongong and Blacktown), each provided a total of five aquatic centres. 

“Both of these councils maintain access to two centres all year, opening the three remaining outdoor pools in the high season only,” the report said.

“The adjoining Georges River Council operates three aquatic facilities, closing one of its outdoor pools in the low season, while Liverpool offers two aquatic facilities, closing the outdoor pool at one centre in the low season.

“Sutherland Shire Council is the only middle and outer ring Sydney council to sustain three, year round, outdoor pool offerings.”