Australia's Public Pools are BABY BOOMERS!!!!

The Ticking Clock: Australia's Public Pool Crisis

Picture this: it's a scorching 39-degree summer day in Australia, and families across the country are flocking to their local public pools for relief. What many don't realize is that nearly half of these community lifelines are aging baby boomers themselves – built around the 1950s and now approaching their 70th birthday. This isn't just a nostalgic observation; it's a looming infrastructure crisis that could cost billions to address.

According to recent research discussed on the Talking Pools Podcast, Australia's 1,300 public pools are facing an unprecedented challenge. These aquatic facilities, many built as war memorials following the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, are reaching the end of their designed lifespan, with 500 requiring major repairs or complete replacement within the next decade.

The Numbers Don't Lie: A Massive Infrastructure Challenge

The scale of Australia's public pool usage is staggering. With approximately 330 million visits annually across the nation's public pools, these facilities serve far more than just recreational purposes. For a country with just 26-27 million residents, this translates to roughly 12 visits per person per year – though as the podcast hosts note, many Australians with backyard pools never use public facilities, meaning the actual usage among regular visitors is even higher.

According to Royal Life Saving Australia, more than 330 million visits are made to them each year. They serve as social hubs for the community, fitness centres. And after World War II were often called memorials of remembrance.

— Shane, Talking Pools Podcast

The financial reality is sobering. The podcast reveals that addressing the infrastructure needs of these aging pools will require approximately $8 billion in repairs and replacements. This massive investment comes at a time when local councils – particularly in rural and regional areas – are already stretched thin financially.

More Than Just Swimming: The Community Lifeline

Public pools in Australia serve a function that extends far beyond recreation. They're vital community hubs where different generations come together for health, fitness, and social connection. From water aerobics for seniors to learn-to-swim programs for children, these facilities are integral to community wellbeing.

They are a big part of socialising. They're a big part of keeping the local community healthy and fit and mobile. For our older generation, they go there and they do water aerobics. And for some of them, it's one of the few social things that they do each week.

— Shane, Talking Pools Podcast

In a country surrounded by water, learning to swim isn't just recreational – it's a survival skill. Public pools play a crucial role in ensuring Australia's children develop this essential ability, particularly in areas where access to safe natural swimming spots is limited.

The Rural Challenge: Where Resources Are Scarce

The challenge is particularly acute in rural and regional Australia, where smaller population bases mean fewer ratepayers to share the financial burden. Unlike metropolitan areas with access to major suppliers and commercial pool specialists, rural communities often lack the expertise and resources needed for major pool renovations.

The podcast hosts highlight this disparity, comparing a rural town of 8,000 residents with Perth's City of Canning, which has over 99,000 residents. The mathematical reality is stark – fewer people means less funding capacity, yet the community need remains just as strong.

You can't expect state or federal governments to support these local rural community pools because your town doesn't have enough voters to make the politicians say, oh, that's worth spending money in.

— Peter, Talking Pools Podcast

Innovation and Community Spirit: Creative Solutions

Despite the challenges, some communities are finding innovative ways to keep their pools operational. The podcast shares an inspiring example from Bendigo in central Victoria, where a public pool operates almost entirely on volunteer power, with only four paid employees managing the entire facility.

This community-driven approach includes volunteer-run canteens, ticket sales, maintenance, and lifeguarding. The facility generates revenue through creative fundraising activities, including sponsorship opportunities where businesses can purchase branded pavers, and unique events like movie nights.

Perhaps most controversially, they've introduced 'dog season' – opening the pools to dogs for the final weeks before draining, when the water is too cold for most human swimmers. This innovative approach is so popular that time slots book out completely, demonstrating the community's commitment to maximizing their facility's potential.

Industry Opportunities: A Silver Lining

While the aging pool infrastructure presents significant challenges, it also creates unprecedented opportunities for pool industry professionals. The podcast hosts emphasize that commercial pool work requires specialized expertise – understanding hydraulics, flow rates, and complex filtration systems that operate on a much larger scale than residential pools.

However, many of these aging pools don't meet current codes and standards, meaning renovations often require complete system overhauls rather than simple equipment replacements. This creates demand for professionals who understand how to modify existing infrastructure, potentially separating single large systems into multiple smaller filtration units for improved efficiency and reliability.

There's going to be a great demand for people with that skill. And I think this actually gives our industry a great window of opportunity to expand our knowledge and experience to be able to cater to that area.

— Shane, Talking Pools Podcast

Looking Forward: Preserving Community Assets

The conversation around Australia's aging public pools isn't just about infrastructure – it's about preserving vital community assets that have served generations. These facilities represent more than concrete and steel; they're repositories of community memories and essential services that many take for granted.

The solution likely requires a combination of government support, community fundraising, industry innovation, and creative thinking. Local business sponsorship, volunteer programs, and innovative revenue streams like the Bendigo example show that communities can take ownership of their aquatic future.

For pool industry professionals, this crisis presents an opportunity to expand their expertise into commercial applications while serving their communities. For local governments, it's a chance to think creatively about public-private partnerships and community-driven solutions.

As Australia faces this infrastructure challenge, the response will likely define the future of public aquatic facilities for the next generation. The question isn't just whether these pools will survive, but how they'll evolve to continue serving as the community lifelines they've been for nearly seven decades. With 330 million annual visits at stake, the time for action is now – before these baby boomer pools become casualties of their age.

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and New Year Catch-up
• 05:30 Australia's Aging Public Pool Infrastructure
• 12:15 The Scale of the Problem: 1,300 Pools, $8 Billion Challenge
• 18:40 Rural vs Urban Pool Challenges
• 25:20 Creative Community Solutions: The Bendigo Example
• 32:10 Industry Opportunities and Commercial Pool Expertise