Fix Our Pool

Principal Petitioner: Andrew Howes

Closing Date: 4.30pm, Tuesday 8 July 2025

At 10 signatures, this petition will be considered properly made.

Petition Request:

The Redland City Council 50 metre swimming pool located at Cleveland Aquatic Centre is no longer adequate enough for our rising swimmers to progress and develop in their chosen sport of swimming. Diving off the existing blocks is prohibited and this is simply not good enough if swimmers are to compete and excel at any competitive level of swimming. Please consider this serious enough to fix now.

Petition Response:

Thank you for your petition regarding the Cleveland Aquatic Centre. The petition was tabled by Councillor Mitchell at the General Meeting held on 16 July 2025. A motion to accept the petition was carried. The matter was defined as operational in nature and referred to officers to consider and respond.

Council appreciates your interest in the Cleveland Aquatic Centre and particularly the limited capability of the main 50 metre pool to support competitive swimmers on the Redlands Coast. Council acknowledges that, despite numerous improvements and refurbishments over time, the pool and aquatic centre is an ageing asset.

Council has undertaken recent condition assessments for the site, which recommend redevelopment of the site due to the infrastructure reaching end of life over the coming years. To best address the needs of the Redlands Coast and facilitate a future fit-for-purpose aquatic centre, Council will need to undertake the required strategic planning, master planning and design work over the coming years. Council is committed to retaining the Cleveland Aquatic Centre as the citywide aquatic centre for the Redlands Coast.

With respect to the diving blocks, Council is aware of the impact of the closure on both general public and club/competitive swimmers and is actively working towards resolving the issue. The matter, however, involves several complexities due to the construction of the swimming pool and recent changes and updates to guidelines for safe pool operations. Council, working with Belgravia Leisure who operates the aquatic centre, are currently in discussion with Life Saving Australia to review possible solutions for dive-block reinstatement. It is possible that further work may be required to be undertaken to ensure the dive blocks comply with relevant regulations and safety requirements. Compliance with Royal Life Saving Australia and Swimming Australia guidelines will also need to be attained.

Thank you for your patience, understanding and continued advocacy for Redlands Swimming Club and the Cleveland Aquatic Centre.