By Justin Flynn
Geelong Swimming Club (GSC) held a ‘community swim-in’ on Saturday May 27 to protest the City of Greater Geelong’s proposal to close Kardinia Aquatic Centre (KAC) for six months of the year.
Council’s proposed 2023/2024 budget will result in the centre reverting back to pre-pandemic levels of operating only during the warmer months.
GSC held the protest at KAC in South Geelong and wants the facility open all year. The centre operated as a seasonal facility until the COVID pandemic, when council allocated extra funding to open it during winter due to capacity restrictions at indoor pools.
GSC said the proposed closure will hinder local competitive swimming in the lead up to the 2026 Commonwealth Games. The change in pool operating
hours will leave talented swimmers without a long course training facility which in recent years has shown to elevate the results of local swimming clubs and other aquatic sports, it said.
“KAC is the only 50 metre facility that has been available year-round and has directly contributed to the success of our training program,” GSC head coach Aaron Tenabel said.
“Competition swimming is supported by building cardiovascular capacity in the longer pool. KAC is a world class FINA accredited pool, and we are fortunate to have it on our doorstep.
“Taking this facility out of circulation will put our athletes at a deficit to their metro counterparts who have access to 50 metre pools 12 months of the year.
“KAC is our home base, our club rooms are there, and we have multiple squads rotating through the facility six days of the week.”
GSC president Glenn Benson said swimming clubs, surf clubs, aquatic groups and community members all jostle for lane space.
“Closing KAC for part of the year will place greater pressure on other venues
that are already at capacity – it will impact all aquatic users,” he said.
City of Greater Geelong director of community service delivery Robyn Stevens said council had been forced to make many tough decisions in its draft budget.
“Faced with rapidly rising costs, we are making difficult budget decisions across all of our operations as we look to remain financially sustainable,” Ms Stevens said.
“Based on attendance numbers and the facility’s running costs, ratepayers are subsidising each swim at KAC during winter by $22.50.
“The funding via this year’s proposed budget would see a return to the facility’s seasonal operating period.”