At least three Sunshine Coast towns have swimming pools that the public cannot swim in because nobody can be found who can afford the time or money to run them.
The pools at Pomona, Mooloolah and Maleny state schools have previously been open to the public outside of school hours.
However, they are not currently open and look like remaining closed for another season because nobody has been willing and able to take on the leases.
Member for Noosa Sandy Bolton said a suitably qualified operator was needed to run a state school pool after hours for the community to use and they needed to comply with public pool regulations.
“Each school principal considers applications and makes all decisions in relation to this, including ensuring that hire fees cover the provision of maintenance and other operational costs related to the extended usage of the pool,” Ms Bolton said.
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Member for Glass House Andrew Powell, whose electorate includes Maleny and Mooloolah, has previously tried to take up the school pool issue with the Education Department.
Mr Powell said the restricted and seasonal hours meant operating the pools was often not viable for lessees.
He said the Maleny pool had struggled to reopen after Covid and rising costs since then made it too difficult for someone to take a lease on.
“The cost of running them is challenging. They might make a bit out of coaching and learn to swim,” he said.
“The insurance didn’t used to be so steep. And often they don’t live in the area themselves and the cost of housing is so high.”
Mr Powell said the situation was much the same at Mooloolah but was further complicated at Maleny because money needed to be spent on the amenities and bring the pool up to modern compliance standards.
Vicki Heading, who was part of the committee that fundraised to build the pool in the late 1970s and early 1980s, said it was disappointing to hear it was not open.
A group of people in Maleny have decided it would be more sensible to build a new public pool.
Peter Grifffey, president of the Maleny Indoor Aquatic Centre Steering Committee, said a 25m pool, which could be efficiently heated indoors and operate year-round, would be viable.
Mr Griffey said the school pool was nearing the end of its life at 47 years old and 70 per cent of respondents to a survey had indicated their support for a new pool.
He said plans had been drawn up and the committee was hopeful that the pool could be located on Maleny Sport and Recreation Club land, adjacent to a hydrotherapy pool, but government investment would be required to pull it off.
“We already have a 25m pool and we’re not asking for anything more than what we have,” he said.
Mr Griffey said a drowning in Obi Obi Creek had prompted fundraising for the original Maleny pool so there was somewhere local to learn to swim.
He pointed out there had been three deaths at Gardners Falls in the past five years while there was nowhere for the public to learn to swim.
“What’s ironic is here we are again. We’re back here doing the same thing when it should have been moved forward,” he said.
A community committee has managed to open the Conondale pool to the public with very limited hours.
Ms Bolton said it was good for Pomona residents that the Noosa District High School pool in nearby Cooroy was now open to the public but she intended to speak to the Noosa mayor about the council taking on the Pomona pool lease.
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