Since its opening in 1956, the Merredin District Olympic Swimming has served as a vital hub for health, recreation, and social cohesion. However, as the facility nears 70 years of service, it is approaching an ‘end of asset life’ stage, displaying severe structural deterioration, corrosion, and plant failure risks.

You may be wondering, what does ‘end of asset life’ mean for a pool?

In short, it means it has reached the end of its intended operational lifespan, where ongoing maintenance, water replenishment, and chemical costs naturally begin to cost more and outweigh the value.

That is why we emptied the pool earlier this year; to undertake core sampling and structural testing – to give us a clear picture of the bowl’s condition so we can plan accordingly for the future.

The report received confirmed that while the pool remains safe for use right now, it is showing its age and will be due for replacement over the next 5 to 10 years. Rather than temporary short-term patch jobs, Council’s preference is to investigate constructing a new facility that offers a far more cost-effective solution over the long term.

We are currently undertaking preliminary research and exploring potential site options to inform our next steps. Once completed, we will be seeking community feedback as we are committed to involving our community regarding the future of the pool. We expect consultation with key stakeholders and residents to commence in late 2026 / early 2027.

In the meantime, it is business as usual! We will continue to maintain and operate the pool to ensure a safe, enjoyable environment for this season, and coming seasons too.