Draft Aquatic Facilities Strategy

🔒 Public Exhibition Closed

Community consultation on the draft Aquatic Facilities Strategy was open from 1 December 2025 to 25 January 2026. Thank you to everyone who took the time to provide feedback and help shape the future of aquatic facilities across the region.

The feedback received will help refine the strategy and will be considered by Council when the final strategy is presented for adoption.

During the consultation period, the City invited the community to review the draft strategy and provide feedback through the Have Your Say website, stakeholder engagement activities and direct consultation with key user groups. Consultation activities included:

• Public exhibition of the draft Aquatic Facilities Strategy
• Online submissions through Have Your Say
• Direct engagement with pool user groups and industry stakeholders
• Community intercept surveys
• Stakeholder workshops undertaken during the strategy development phase
• Input and feedback from Councillors

Feedback received throughout the consultation period covered a range of themes including accessibility, recreation opportunities, future investment priorities, water safety, regional sporting opportunities, community wellbeing and the long-term role of each aquatic facility across the region.

What happens next

All feedback received during the consultation period is currently being reviewed alongside technical investigations, operational planning and future funding considerations.

The draft Aquatic Facilities Strategy will now be refined and updated before being presented to Council for consideration and potential adoption.

If adopted, the strategy will provide a long-term roadmap for future aquatic facility planning, upgrades and investment across the City over the next 15 years. Any future upgrades or redevelopment projects would be delivered progressively over time and subject to future funding and Council approval.

About the draft Strategy

The City of Coffs Harbour has prepared a draft Aquatic Facilities Strategy to help guide how aquatic facilities, programs and services could be managed, delivered and invested in across the region over the next 15 years.

Aquatic facilities play an important role in the community — supporting water safety, learn-to-swim programs, health and wellbeing, sport, recreation and social connection. Like many councils, the City is also facing challenges associated with ageing infrastructure, rising maintenance costs, population growth and changing community needs.

The draft strategy has been developed to provide a coordinated long-term approach to aquatic facility planning and investment across the City’s four pools. It outlines proposed upgrades and redevelopment pathways, improved accessibility and programming opportunities, and more sustainable and inclusive facilities for the future. The strategy also explores opportunities for complementary services such as fitness and wellness spaces.

The draft strategy was placed on public exhibition to seek community and stakeholder feedback before being finalised. Feedback received during the consultation period is currently being reviewed and considered, and further changes may be made to the strategy before it is presented to Council for consideration and potential adoption.

What the draft Strategy will do

The draft strategy provides a roadmap for how the City can:

• Manage and provide access to aquatic facilities more effectively
• Plan future facility upgrades and inclusive design improvements
• Guide long-term infrastructure planning and investment
• Support water safety, swimming development, health and wellbeing
• Strengthen the City’s role as a regional destination for aquatic sport and recreation

Key proposed directions include:

• Developing Coffs Harbour War Memorial Pool as a larger regional-level aquatic centre, potentially through redevelopment or relocation
• Redeveloping Woolgoolga Pool as a district-level facility serving the northern catchment
• Retaining and enhancing Orara Valley Community Pool as a local-level facility with accessibility and heating improvements
• Maintaining Sawtell Pool in the short term, with future consideration as a destination water-play facility
• Strengthening internal management, programs and learn-to-swim opportunities across all facilities

There are currently no immediate upgrades or closures planned. Any future projects identified within the strategy would be delivered progressively over time and subject to future funding and Council approval.