Council & Politics
24 September, 2025
St Arnaud schools to be hit with big pool bill
After decades of not paying to use the St Arnaud Outdoor Pool, schools will have to pay $130 for every hour they use the facilities “outside [the pool’s] usual operating hours”, according to an email obtained by the NCN Herald.
CONCERN, frustration and exasperation ... the schools of St Arnaud have banded together to protest having to pay a hefty fee to teach their students to swim.
Northern Grampians Shire Council told schools they will have to pay higher fees to use the local swimming pool from next year.
After decades of not paying to use the St Arnaud Outdoor Pool, schools will have to pay $130 for every hour they use the facilities “outside [the pool’s] usual operating hours”, according to an email obtained by the NCN Herald.
“We have recently conducted a review of the fees and charges across the St Arnaud Outdoor Pool and Stawell Sports and Aquatic Centre,” the email read.
“As you are aware, we currently only charge for programs (swimming lessions and water aerobics) at the St Arnaud Pool.”
“As of the January 1, 2026, we are implementing a charge for all booking outside the regular opening hours, this will be applied to schools, community groups and swim club.”
St Arnaud school councils hit back, writing a letter to Ripon MP Martha Haylett.
“An email from the Shire, which was sent on Wednesday August 27, was the first that any of our schools knew about any kind of change,” the letter said.
“The current arrangements, which is free pool access to all schools, has been in place in excess of a decade.”
If the schools were to use the pool the same amount of time they did in 2025, the new fees would mean the schools would have to fork out:
$6000 for St Arnaud Primary School (equating to approximately $60 a student)
$8300 for St Arnaud Secondary College ($65 a student).
$6000 for St Patrick’s Primary School ($60 ar student)
The school councils said these prices were not what the schools expected or “are able to absorb, especially this late in the year when budgeting for next year is well underway.”
The letter detailed of concerns with the fees.
“First and foremost - we need to provide every opportunity possible to teach our children the skill of swimming/water survival,” the letter said.
“The rates of drowning are in the news again as they are on the increase.
“To now have a Shire make it more difficult, or even impossible, to provide this essential [service] is unconscionable.
“We already have one of the two state secondary colleges in the shire not run a swimming program due to the costs... we do not want to see a serious reduction in both the primary school’s swimming programs.”
Northern Grampians Shire Councilmayor Karen Hyslop said council had “approached this decision carefully”.
“We understand that after many years of free access, the introduction of a fee represents a change that will take take some adjustment.
“This approach is in line with the arrangement Stawell schools have had with Stawell Sports and Aquatic Centre for many years, and it is consistent with how many other council-managed aquatic facilities operate.”
Cr Hyslop said the St Arnaud pool had operated without fees due to staffing limitations and Life Saving Victoria guidelines that previously made fee collection impractical.
The fees would cover the cost of two qualified lifeguards.
“With the pool’s upcoming redevelopment and improved operational capacity, the council is now able to implement a consistent fee structure across all aquatic facilities for schools, community groups or swim clubs that book outside operating hours,” she said.
“This change was approved during the 2025 Budget process and reflects a broader commitment to financial sustainability and equity. “
The $2.57 million St Arnaud Swimming Pool redevelopment to be finished next year will include refurbishment of the change rooms, fixing the pool shell, filtration systems and concourse.
Cr Hyslop said ensuring student safety was important to council. “Council is committed to supporting water safety education,” she said. “We recognise the vital role schools play in this and are open to feedback about ways to keep programs accessible.”
“We encourage schools to continue using the pool for their programs.”
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