FAQ

Construction commenced shortly after signing of the joint development agreement in 2007 by the then Redland Shire Council and the Queensland Government's Department of Education, Training and the Arts.

Construction was jointly funded by Redland City Council, which contributed $930,000 (excluding GST), and the Department of Education, Training and the Arts, which contributed $110,000 (excluding GST). The total cost of construction was $1,040,000.

Redland City Council ratepayers contributed $930,000 to construction of the Bay Islands Pool. $437,921 of that amount was raised in the 2004/2005 financial year through the ‘Special Charge – Russell Island Pool’.

In the 12 years the pool has been in operation, Council has spent a total $1,964,306 ($930,000 in capital costs, $1,326,764 in operation costs [including staff costs] and received $292,458 in revenue to offset some of the operational expense).

The pool was constructed on Council land.

The State of Queensland, represented by the Department of Education and Training.

The land was transferred to the State of Queensland on 30 March 2016, in line with the original joint development agreement.

Before construction commenced in 2007 it was agreed by Redland City Council and the Department of Education, Training and the Arts that the land would transfer to the State in 2016.

The pool is currently open 54.5 hours a week during the current school term (Term 4) and will increase to 60 hours a week during Term 1 2020. During the holiday periods the pool is open 77 hours a week.

During the current pool season (2019 / 2020 season - 21 September 2019 until 19 April 2020) the pool will be open 213 days.

Since opening in 2007/2008 the pool has made $292,458 in income, and cost $1,326,764 to operate, leaving an operational expense of $1,034,306.

In the 2019/2020 financial year the pool has an operational budget of $138,474. Entry fees contribute $24,500 in offset, leaving a $113,974 operation expense to run the pool.

Revenue:  -$24,500

Employee Costs (wages etc.):  $99,374

Goods and Services (pool chemicals etc.):  $39,100

As per the signed agreement between the State and Council, which expires on 19 April 2020, the State is subject to repair, maintain and upgrade the pool, the equipment and the licence area to a standard that the state considers reasonable or as required by law. The State is also liable to pay all outgoings in relation to the licence area.

In the past 10 years the following costs have been incurred by the State: Pool repaint $25,000, Pump replacement $15,000, Water leak repairs $15,000, Salt water chlorination installation $50,000 and general maintenance of facility $30,000.

The Macleay Island State School uses the pool on Tuesdays between the hours of 9.00am to 2.45pm. The Russell Island State School uses the pool on Thursdays between the hours of 8.00am to 2.30pm. Both schools use the pool for a 10 week period from the 8th October 2019 until the 5th December 2019.

Russell Island State School and Macleay Island State School will use the pool for 110.25 hours during the 2019/2020 season. 

There were 186 students at Russell Island State School and 150 students at Macleay Island State School in 2017. Giving a total student number of 336 students.

The total estimated population for Karragarra, Macleay, Lamb and Russell Islands is 5,052 people, all of whom have access to the pool.

A direct comparison between Esk (1,755 residents) and Russell Island (1,779 population) was conducted. Esk pool is open for 19 hours during a school term and the Bay Islands Pool is open for 54.5 hours during a school term.

Cleveland Aquatic Centre is managed by Belgravia Leisure under a lease arrangement with Council.

Options available for the management of a Community Use Public Pool include:

1. Lease:

A lease is given to an organisation, business or not for profit organisation to run the pool

(Note: As Council does not own the land it could not enter into this type of agreement; a leasing arrangement would need to be provided by the State).

2. Memorandum of Understanding Agreement:

An agreement between two parties for the management of the pool.

(Note: This is the current agreement between Council and the State).

3. Management Agreement with a 3rd Party Supplier

An agreement between the State and Council for which Council is able to go out to tender to find a suitable candidate to manage the pool on Council's behalf.

Research of existing Queensland pools has found only one remote (i.e. off the mainland) pool, which is located on Thursday Island in North Queensland’s Torres Shire Council. Thursday Island Pool is open 59.5 hours per week and costs $5.00 per adult to enter. Thursday Island has a population of 2,610 people.

Since Council took over the Russell Island Pool, the following statistics have been collected in regards to patrons attending the pool:

Financial Year	Patrons	Average Patrons Per Day
2013/2014	8056	62
2014/2015	7428	57
2015/2016	6268	48
2016/2017	6688	51
2017/2018	6382	49
2018/2019	7490	58
TOTAL	42,312	54

Since statistics have been recorded, the number of patrons attending the pool has dropped by 7.02 per cent. 

For the 2018/2019 season an average of 5.21 patrons per hour used the facility, with the month of November reaching an average of 7.90 patrons per hour.

The existing agreement between the State and Council expires on 19 April 2020. Council committed to engaging with the SMBI community about their needs in relation to the future use of the pool prior to entering into a new agreement. This feedback will be considered as part of the new agreement.

As the current agreement expires on 19 April 2020, any new agreement will need to take effect from 20 April 2020.

Residents lodged a petition in March 2005 stating that their preference was for the following:

1. That Council retain ownership of the land on behalf of the Russell Island Community.
2. The community aquatic centre be physically developed as currently planned. The Council retains responsibility and accountability for managing the community facility. That the Council be responsible for employing a leasing manager.
3. That the Russell and Macleay Island State schools have the use of the pool under the management of the Russell Island State School principal in conjunction with the contracted pool manager. This during school hours (8.00am to 3.00pm) in Term 1 and 4 only.
4. That there be sharing of resources where possible and agreed, e.g. facilities officer for the grounds, the DEA contribution to the running of the pool for the school as is appropriate policy.

In response to the petition raised in 2005:

1. Council was unable to meet this request due to it being contrary to the Joint Development Agreement signed by Council and the State prior to construction, and transferred the land to the State on t 30 March 2016 as per the Joint Development agreement signed in 2007.
2. Council retained the management of the facility as per residents’ request.
3. Both the Russell Island and Macleay Island schools have access to the pool during school hours as agreed and as per residents’ requests.
4. The State Government is responsible for the maintenance and replacement of all assets within the facility. Council retained responsibility for all operational expenses incurred in relation to the management of the pool as per residents’ requests.