Winchelsea community members are preparing to make a splash in their $8.9 million new pool.
A formal opening ceremony for the pool will be on Thursday 27 February and Surf Coast Shire Council is working hard to open gates to the community several days earlier, pending progress of final commissioning processes.
Council will confirm the open-to-the-community date via surfcoast.vic.gov.au/WinchelseaPool and social and other media during the next fortnight.
Admission will be free from the day gates open until close of a free gala family fun day on Sunday 2 March.
The redeveloped Barwon Terrace site features new 25m and leisure pools with heated water, pavilion, a splash park, shelters, landscaping, barbecue, water fountain and plant room.
Mayor Mike Bodsworth encouraged community members to enjoy making a splash and taking a first look at the new facilities.
"Council is proud to be delivering this wonderful, state-of-the-art community asset which has been fully funded through Council's asset renewal program," Cr Bodsworth said.
"We look forward to having people from Winchelsea community coming together to celebrate during the free opening days and at the free family day, and seeing the pool deliver health and wellbeing benefits and fun times for people of all ages and abilities for decades to come.
"The previous pool opened to the public in February 1963 and served the community for 60 years. Now we look forward to a new era, with the new facilities being loved and valued just as much."
The free family fun day will run from 10am to 5pm on 2 March, featuring entertainment, sausage sizzle, fun activities, giveaways and games.
The new pool season will run until 30 March, with gates open 3pm to 7pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 5pm on weekends.
The former pool was decommissioned in March 2023 having reached the end of its serviceable life.
Input from almost 300 people helped shape designs for the new pool, including addition of the splash park.
