Mildura Council’s eight public swimming pools have recently seen a change in management. Caitlyn Morgan sat down with Mildura leisure manager Caitlin Byrne to discuss the exciting improvements coming to facilities.
FOR many Sunraysia residents the local swimming pools hold many memorable and unforgettable moments in their lives.
It’s the place where they undertook swimming lessons, attended school swimming carnivals and has always been the best place to be when it’s above 35C.
The “community waterholes” recently swapped management with Mildura Council announcing in July the subsidiary of Richmond Football Club had won a tender to run the Mildura Waves Aquatic & Leisure Centre and outdoor pools at Irymple, Red Cliffs, Merbein, Ouyen, Underbool, Murrayville and Colignan.
The five-year contract started on November 1 and while it is currently business as usual at the Aligned Leisure pools, that will change in the coming months.
Mildura leisure manager Caitlin Byrne says the biggest change seen already is entry to the Underbool, Murrayville and Colignan pools now being free.
“They did have standard entry fees but we removed them to encourage people to come back to their local pool,” she says.
“These are really great little communities and overall the response has been really positive.
“There has been some challenges but we are working on a positive outcome.”
Caitlin says Mildura Waves Aquatic & Leisure Centre will be the initial focus of the upcoming changes.
“We have something new and exciting coming to the cafe and in February we plan to refurbish the gym and replace the equipment,” she says.
“There will be a big focus on upgrading the area and giving it a fresh new feel.”
While some of the changes will be cosmetic, the biggest change Aligned Leisure will introduce is staff members working with local community groups and schools to promote healthy eating, mental health and physical health.
“We would like to see a change in the way people thinking about their health and recreation,” Caitlin says.
“A lot of our focus is on positive influences in the school, setting up the next generation to understand eating healthy, mental health and physical activity.
“This community really aligns well with our values and there is an opportunity to come together with the community and work with local organisations on driving healthy outcomes.”
Most recently Aligned Leisure have hosted a water safety program at Underbool Primary School.
“The kids loved it. They all really embraced it,” Caitlin says.
“It was good to see the smiles on their faces. There was a lot of positive feedback.”
New initiatives are already under way with a month-long activity program across the eight pools during January.
This includes beach parties, an Australia Day celebration and family days.
