Essential maintenance for Fleurieu Aquatic Centre
The Fleurieu Aquatic Centre – jointly owned by Alexandrina Council and the City of Victor Harbor and managed by the YMCA South Australia – features a 25-metre lap pool, multi-use hydrotherapy pool, program pool, outdoor splash park, crèche, fitness facilities, and kiosk.
After nearly a decade of continuous operation, the pools are due for an important ‘health check’ and upkeep to optimise operations and to ensure the long-term viability of the assets.
Starting on the 30 June 2025, the Councils will stagger the closure of the three pools to replace the epoxy coatings and filter media and inspections and maintenance will be done on the expansion joints.
Expansion joints are flexible seals in the concrete that allow the pool to expand and contract with temperature changes without cracking. Over time, the sealant in these joints wears and needs to be maintained.
The epoxy coating is a protective layer inside the pool balance tanks and overflow channels. Over time, chemicals such as chlorine, water and general wear cause the coating to start to break down. Replacing the coating helps prevent damage to the structure of the pools.
The filter media cleans the pool water, trapping dirt and debris. After years of use, the media becomes worn and doesn’t work as effectively. Replacing it makes sure the water stays clear and hygienic.
The Councils and the YMCA are planning to start the maintenance project by closing the hydrotherapy pool, then the children’s program pool, and finishing with the 25-metre lap swimming pool.
“The pools will be closed sequentially to minimise the disruption to users, water will be transferred from one pool to another where possible to conserve water, and the aim is to have the children’s program pool available for the July and October school holidays,” said City of Victor Harbor Mayor Moira Jenkins.
Work on each pool is expected to take four weeks to complete, barring any unforeseen issues, with the project expected to be completed by October. Weather, humidity and the ability to dry out the pool areas being worked may affect the timing of works.
Throughout the rolling shutdown, the YMCA will relocate classes and programs to available pools wherever possible, ensuring minimal disruption to members and swimming lesson students. Membership suspension options will be available during the works.
Late in 2025, once all the maintenance work is done, Alexandrina Council, the City of Victor Harbor and YMCA South Australia will host a reopening event to celebrate the completion of the project and the facility’s eighth birthday.
The event will also highlight some planned purchases of new equipment for the Centre including new gym gear, and a mobile lifter to improve accessibility to all pools.
The aquatic Centre is a multi-million-dollar premier recreational facility that was launched as a joint initiative in 2015, supported with funding from the Australian Government and operated as a regional subsidiary until becoming a Joint Venture in 2024.
“The Fleurieu Regional Aquatic Centre is much-loved and well-used by the Alexandrina and Fleurieu communities. The health and wellbeing benefits to our community are outstanding the facility is a key attraction for visitors to our region, especially families,” Alexandrina Mayor Keith Parkes said.
“We are excited to embark on this important maintenance project to ensure the longevity of these important assets, and we look forward to celebrating the Centre’s eighth birthday later this year.”
More than 183,000 visitors come through the door of the Centre every year. The YMCA has over 1,200 members at the facility and more than 13,500 swimming lessons are attended annually.
Using government-endorsed social value calculations, the facility delivered $3.3 million worth of community benefits in 2023/24, representing the real-world health and social outcomes achieved through local participation.