mmg.com.au

Campaspe Shire residents want their pools open for longer at a reduced cost.

The shire recently surveyed 10,000 residents about pools in the shire.

Campaspe Shire, which recently assumed control of Echuca War Memorial Aquatic Centre, operates eight public swimming pools in the district, at an annual cost of more than $1 million.

Cr Robert Danieli said council would look at the survey response to see what it could do to improve services.

Some of the key findings include:

■Adults with children are the main pool users (36 per cent), followed by single adults (29 per cent).

■The Echuca pool is the most used by Campaspe residents (51 per cent), while Rochester and Tongala pools showed lower relative usage compared to other Campaspe pools.

■The most desired improvement at the Echuca pool was reduced entry cost. At outdoor pools, the respondents sought longer opening hours and improved amenities, landscaping and pool surrounds.

Cr Danieli said Campaspe Shire’s acquisition of Echuca’s public pool would save ratepayers about $500,000 over the next three years.

He said the performance of council’s outdoor pools would continually be monitored and that potential changes were not short-term options.

‘‘Council will have to look at this survey’s results next year and then they will be able to look at any possible changes,’’ he said.

‘‘Sometimes decisions are not about making money. Pools throughout the shire serve an important purpose, whether it be for recreation or fitness.’’

An independent research company compiled the survey, which was sent to 10,000 randomly-selected households.

The survey aimed to give Campaspe residents the chance to have their say about the Echuca War Memorial Aquatic Centre and the seven outdoor pools at Colbinabbin, Kyabram, Lockington, Rochester, Rushworth, Stanhope and Tongala.