After an emotional debate between pool users and Campaspe Shire Council at the start of last year the council decided to throw open the gates of the pools — located at Tongala, Rochester, Kyabram, Lockington, Colbinabbin, Rushworth and Stanhope — for the 2022-23 season.
All but Rochester, which had its infrastructure destroyed during the October floods, doubled — and in some instances tripled — as a result of the council making the facilities available at no charge from late November to early March.
The success of the project, along with the continuing uncertainty over the future of the pools, saw the council offer a second free swim earlier this year — meaning Saturday’s season launch has signalled the start of another four months of free access to the pools.
There will, however, be a new component of the free entry and all users will be required to register as a user of one of the outdoor pools via a free digital membership.
Once that membership is in place they will be required to register with pool staff on entry and that usage will be recorded against their name for the duration of the season.
Using the pools is as simple as logging on to the Campaspe Shire Council aquatics page, clicking the outdoor pools icon, creating a login and password, selecting which free membership you would like (Tongala, Kyabram, Colbinabbin, Rushworth, Stanhope or Lockington) and then saying a quick hello every time you walk through the gates.
The information collected via the free online membership includes the age of the members and their address, however, it is a little difficult to access from your phone. I would suggest completing it on a laptop or desktop computer prior to rocking up at the pool.
You can register family members as either individuals or a family.
There is no cost for completing the registration and no credit card details need to be provided in order to have the green member’s box added alongside your name in your My Info profile.
It will simply allow staff to access your details on entering the outdoor pool and register your attendance.
The entire process appears designed to capture initial details and allow pool staff to wave you straight through the gates on hot days. It will also give the council an accurate record of how many people enter the pools of the various facilities between November 25 and March 11.
Operating hours for the pools are: School term: Weekdays from 4pm to 8pm. Weekends from 1pm to 8pm. School holidays: Weekdays from 1pm to 8pm. Weekends from 1pm to 8pm.
The Kyabram pool has early morning openings on weekdays from 6.30am to 8am.
For more information regarding outdoor pools including booking requests please visit www.campaspeaquatics.com.au or call the council on (03) 5483 9698 to register for your season pass.
