By Jamie Salter
The Friends of the Pakenham Outdoor Pool group has launched a campaign to put the Pakenham Outdoor Swimming Pool back on the Cardinia Shire Council’s agenda.
A new Facebook page – Save the Pakenham Outdoor Swimming Pool – has been established as part of the campaign.
The push comes after a long yet successful fight to reopen the local outdoor swimming pool back in 2007, after it was suddenly closed in 2001.
Executive Cheryl Billings Smith said she was concerned the pool was being neglected.
“Council hasn’t put any adequate resources in place for the pool and their responses to the needs of the pool are really poor,” Ms Billings Smith said.
“Last summer, it was open in such an ad hoc manner that people didn’t know what was going on.”
The pool was built in 1958 following the Melbourne Olympics.
Ms Billings Smith said the pool was in need of upgrades, including shaded areas and improved change room facilities.
“When you look at other 50-metre pools that have been restored, we could do similarly,” she said.
“As our community gets bigger and bigger, having the pool open more often would be fantastic.
“It’s a place where families can gather and they can have a picnic on the grass – it’s a very social, community facility.”
In October 2021, local artists were invited to submit their ideas for a new mural at the pool, with a budget of up to $20,000 allocated to the project.
A Cardinia Shire Council spokesperson said the initiative was currently being finalised by council following delays.
“To ensure better longevity of the eventual artwork, the fence required some upgrade work which has now been completed,” they said.
“Twenty artists expressed interest in taking part in the project.
“As the fence improvements have now occurred, council will get back to the artists who expressed interest in the project to further progress the application process.”
Council determines the opening hours of the pool.
The pool opens when the temperature reaches 26 degrees Celsius in November, December, February and March and in January, the pool opens for a guaranteed three hours every day, regardless of the weather.
The pool operating hours are weekdays (school days) from 3pm to 7pm, weekends and public holidays from 1pm to 7pm and during the school holiday period from 11am to 7pm.
