New Era for Wakefield’s Pools as Belgravia Takes the Reins
Wakefield Regional Council has appointed Belgravia Leisure as the “preferred provider” to manage the region’s three swimming pools — a move aimed at keeping them running safely and sustainably, but one that’s stirred up plenty of conversation.
Council says rising costs, complex compliance requirements, and growing safety risks made it “unsustainable” to keep managing the pools in-house.
Mayor Rodney Reid said bringing in Belgravia, which already manages 80 local and state government facilities across Australia and New Zealand, will help ensure the Owen, Hamley Bridge and Balaklava pools are well-run and ready for summer.
“Belgravia will work closely with council and pool committees to make sure there’s a high level of service, and there will still be local staff running the day-to-day operations,” Mayor Reid said.
“Pool users should notice minimal changes — swimming lessons, school carnivals and community events will continue.”
Belgravia is set to manage the pools for two years, handling lifeguards, opening hours and upkeep.
The End Of An Era For Local Volunteers
For Balaklava local Simon May, this decision hits close to home. His grandfather was one of the volunteers who dug the town’s first pool back in 1968.
“Passionate locals have been the backbone of the pool for more than 50 years,” Simon said. “From digging the first hole, to fundraising for maintenance and upgrades, to running it every summer — it’s been a true community effort.”
When the pool was forced to close for two years due to cracks, Simon led the volunteer committee that fought to get a brand-new 25-metre, eight-lane accessible lap pool, splash pad and refurbished learn-to-swim pool reopened in 2022.
“It took an enormous amount of volunteer hours and in-kind support from locals,” he said. “Farmers donated sand, locals turned up with tractors to do demolition, and $8,000 of lane ropes were bought by the committee so we didn’t miss the season. This is what country communities do.”
Community Pools – “More Than Just Swimming”
The effort was worth it — the pool recorded 20,000 visits through the gate during the 2022/23 season, proving just how vital the facility is to locals and visitors alike.
But Simon worries that Council’s cautious approach could threaten what makes the pool special.
“Council’s adversity to risk could kill a lot of things our communities are passionate about” he said. “There’s risk in all things — from old town hall buildings to playgrounds and swimming pools. We’ve always been able to evaluate and mitigate those risks successfully and professionally.
While Simon is no longer on the committee, he worries the shift to professional management could change the pool’s community-first approach.
“Morning lap swimming has become really popular. The committee has always kept hours flexible to suit the community and the weather. I just hope that continues,” he said.
Simon said the community pool is about more than just swimming.
“Facilities like this help make our town a place people want to live. They’re a hub, a meeting place — and they say a lot about the kind of community we are,” he said.
Mayor Reid thanked volunteers for their decades of work and said he hoped locals would continue to support their pools through the transition.
Council and Belgravia Leisure are now working together to prepare for the 2025/26 swimming season.
