Tiny towns face losing public pools as repairs fall short

Samantha Brownlie worries about her children's swimming abilities as the Yaraka pool in rural Queensland remains closed. Severe cracks and a damaged shell have kept the pool unusable for five months, prompting the local council to consider its permanent closure. This situation highlights a broader crisis facing public pools across Australia, with Royal Life Saving Australia estimating up to 500 could shut down in the next decade due to an $8 billion repair deficit.

“

All they've got to do is disappear under the water and you don't know where they are.

Drowning deaths are a significant concern in remote and rural areas like Yaraka, which is surrounded by waterways and dams. Dams alone account for 65 percent of drowning deaths in Queensland waterways, and the risk in remote locations is 13 to 19 times higher than in major cities. For Yaraka residents, the loss of the local pool means long and difficult journeys for swimming lessons. Kathyrn Ross, a local grazier, faces a five-hour round trip to take her daughters to lessons in Blackall.

“

We have to be certain that if you're investing significant amounts of money into assets and infrastructure that it is the best use of those funds.

Longreach Regional Council Mayor Tony Rayner acknowledged the community's concerns but stressed the need for careful financial consideration. Replacing the Yaraka pool could cost over $1.4 million, with smaller alternatives ranging from $800,000 to $900,000. He noted that modern regulations also increase the cost of maintaining and operating public pools. The council must weigh the expense of repairs and replacement against other essential services, while also considering the cost of removing the existing structure if it is deemed beyond repair.

“

It's not viable for us to do that every week, so I try to supplement their lessons with swimming at the pool here [in Yaraka].