Proposed Dimboola Swimming Pool Upgrades

Background

In 2023, Hindmarsh Shire Council commissioned aquatic engineering reports on the condition of all four pools within the shire. The combined reports show that a significant amount of work and funding is required to keep the pools within Hindmarsh operational as they are predominantly at end-of-life stage in the asset cycle.

In recent years, funding has only been available for change room upgrades and the pools themselves have been considered council maintenance budget responsibility. However, after effective lobbying from many councils and other bodies – since 2024, the Regional Community Sports Infrastructure funding guidelines has included outdoor aquatic facilities including pool shells as an option for funding.

Dimboola Swimming Pool meets the criteria for this funding most strongly out of all four Hindmarsh pools as it has nearly 50% more attendance than the next pool (Nhill) and has an engineering report that best supports a pool shell replacement and wet deck conversion. With swimming pool entry now being free of charge, utilisation is likely to increase significantly. Dimboola Pool was also ranked as medium to high priority in the Community Action Plan 2024-2028 that was developed by the community and adopted by Council in February 2024.

What does the funding cover?
The funding is only available for upgrade of existing or creation of new facility that is likely to serve larger population. Some of the activities that it does not fund include:

• Facilities where little or no public access is available.
• The replacement of like-for-like surfaces (for example, synthetic surface replaced by a similar synthetic surface) are ineligible for funding.
• Upgrading or redeveloping kitchens or public toilet facilities, except as part of a larger project that meets the objectives of the relevant Fund stream.
• Routine or cyclical maintenance works.

You can view the full funding guideline's here.

Council is proposing to apply for this grant to undertake the following works at the Dimboola Swimming Pool:

• Wet deck conversion to the pool
• Installation of a balance tank and in pool hydraulics.
• Filtration upgrade to meet Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) requirements.
• Expansion joint upgrade
• Construction of an all-abilities access ramp

Hindmarsh Shire sought funding for Dimboola Swimming Pool upgrade under round 1 of Regional Community Sports Infrastructure Fund (RCSIF) with an unsuccessful outcome. At the Council meeting on 18 December 2024, the council resolved to make an application under Round 2 of RCSIF for the Dimboola Swimming Pool upgrade with the total project cost up to $1.1 million and made a commitment of $275,000 as Council contribution.

How can the community support this project?

Councils grant application will be strengthened through demonstrated community support for the project. Council is encouraging the community to show their support by completing the Community Support Response Form below. The responses received will be included with Council's grant application with the email addresses removed.

Please provide your responses by 5:00pm on Friday 21 February 2025.

Community Drop-In Sessions

Council will be holding two drop-in sessions where members of the community can pop in to ask Council Officers questions about this grant application and Council's proposals. These will be held:

• Friday 14 February 2025 at the Dimboola Old Shire Hall from 10am to 1pm.
• Friday 14 February 2025 at the Dimboola Swimming Pool from 2pm to 5pm.

Have any questions?

If you have any questions and are unable to attend the community drop-in sessions, please contact Ram Upadhyaya, Director Infrastructure Services, on 03 5391 4444 or email info@hindmarsh.vic.gov.au.