Development of Aquatic Facilities Strategy

Help shape the future of aquatic facilities in our region

We’re planning for the future, to make sure our aquatic centres in the Coffs Harbour local government area continue to meet the needs of our growing and changing community.

The City of Coffs Harbour is creating a 15-year Aquatic Facilities Strategy to help guide how we manage, deliver and invest in our public pools, programs and services into the future.

Why we’re planning for the future

The City owns four public pools and manages three of them. But like many councils, we’re facing a few challenges:

• Pools are ageing and becoming harder to maintain
• Operating costs and compliance requirements are increasing
• Community needs and expectations are changing

To respond to these challenges, we’re developing a comprehensive Aquatic Facilities Strategy to help us understand what’s needed in the short, medium and long term.

This Strategy will guide future decisions about facilities, services and programs — and help us make sure they continue to meet the needs of our growing and diverse community.

What will the Strategy do?

The Strategy will:

• Support water safety, swimming development, health and wellbeing
• Help us plan upgrades, new programs and inclusive design features
• Understand what’s working well and where there are gaps
• Strengthen the City’s role as a hub for regional sport and aquatic tourism
• Explore how we can better manage and share aquatic facilities
• Align with other key strategies including the Community Strategic Plan
• Provide clear guidance for future investment and infrastructure planning

We've partnered with Otium Planning Group, experts in aquatic and leisure planning, to help develop the Strategy.

What’s happening next?

We’re currently in the early research and planning stage. This includes:

• Reviewing the condition and performance of existing pools
• Looking at data, trends, and what’s happening in other regions
• Listening to the community to understand current use, barriers to use and future needs
• Conducting randomly selected in-person surveys at local pools and community spaces to hear from pool users and those who don’t use pools directly.

How you can get involved

Once a Draft Aquatic Facilities Strategy is ready (expected in late October 2025), we’ll be asking for broader community feedback. Follow this page to stay tuned and learn how you can share your thoughts.

Why your voice matters

Your input will help us understand how people are using pools, what programs or improvements you’d like to see, and what’s most important to the community.

Your feedback will help the City plan responsibly and fairly for the future - making the most of every investment and ensuring our aquatic facilities continue to benefit everyone.