Draft Aquatic Facilities Strategy

Help shape the future of our pools and aquatic facilities

The City of Coffs Harbour has prepared a draft Aquatic Facilities Strategy – which can be viewed here – to guide how we manage, deliver and invest in our public pools, programs and services over the next 15 years.

Now we want to hear from the community, to ensure the strategy is on the right track. Feedback can be shared by making a submission below.
We are also contacting key stakeholders directly to receive their feedback on the draft plan, including user groups of our pools and industry bodies.

View the draft Strategy and summary of proposed directions.
We invite the community to view the draft Strategy and make a submission. Consultation closes Sunday 25 January 2026.

Why we’re planning for the future

Aquatic facilities play a big role in our community — from learning to swim and supporting water safety, to health and wellbeing, sport, and social connection. But like many councils, we’re facing challenges with ageing facilities, rising maintenance costs, population growth and changing community needs.

This strategy sets out a clear plan for the short, medium and long term to deliver modern, accessible and inclusive facilities that meet the needs of a growing and diverse community.

The strategy outlines proposed upgrades and redevelopment pathways for our facilities, as well as a coordinated approach to programming, accessibility and management across the four City-owned pools. It also emphasises the importance of inclusive design, sustainable operations, and the possible integration of complementary services like a gym or sauna.

What the strategy will do

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

• Manage and provide access to aquatic facilities more effectively.
• Plan facility upgrades, new programs and inclusive design features.
• Guide future investment and infrastructure planning.
• Support water safety, swimming development, health and wellbeing.
• Strengthen the City’s role as a hub for regional sport and aquatic tourism.

Key proposed directions include:

• Developing Coffs Harbour War Memorial Pool as a larger, regional-level aquatic centre, potentially via redevelopment or relocation, offering a broader range of aquatic, fitness and wellness activities – expanding opportunities to host swimming events from the North Coast Region and beyond.
• Redeveloping Woolgoolga Pool as a district-level facility - exploring opportunities for combined community facilities, to better serve the northern catchment.
• Retaining and enhancing Orara Valley Community Pool with enhanced accessibility and heating upgrades, as a local-level facility for the Orara community.
• Maintaining Sawtell Pool as a local-level facility in the short term, transforming it into a destination water-play facility with interactive water features in the future – as a response to the significant population catchment overlap with the Coffs Harbour facility. The proposed redevelopment will only commence once the regional-level aquatic centre in Coffs Harbour is established.
• A strengthened internal management model that includes improved programs, expanded learn-to-swim access, and enhanced service standards.

There are no immediate upgrades or closures planned. Once the draft strategy is adopted, the execution would be staged over several years, as funding allows.

Why we need your feedback

Your voice is vital in shaping the future of aquatic facilities in our region. We want to know:

• Does the draft strategy reflect community priorities?
• What’s most important to you and your family?
• Are there any gaps or opportunities we’ve missed?

Your feedback will help us refine the strategy before it is finalised and adopted by Council.

How you can Have Your Say

You are invited to review the draft Aquatic Facilities Strategy, summary of proposed directions, and FAQs.

These are a few easy ways you can share your thoughts:

🖥️ Filling out the online submission form – a quick and easy way to share your view
📧 Emailing us at: coffs.council@chcc.nsw.gov.au
📬 Posting your feedback to: Locked Bag 155, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450

📅 Consultation is open until Sunday 25 January 2026, to give the community more time to share their thoughts.

Input from Councillors

During the consultation period, Council has asked City staff to provide a workshop for Councillors to consider the investment and funding options for all pools with consideration given to increasing investment at Sawtell Pool.

Council has also resolved to collectively still consider the concept of a 50-metre pool in the West Woolgoolga area and in turn consider converting the current Woolgoolga Pool site into park and recreational facilities and thus expanding the Woolgoolga Beach foreshore area for recreational purposes.

Input from Councillors will be considered along with public feedback when the strategy is finalised for consideration by Council.

What happens next

Your feedback will help refine the strategy and will be considered by Council when the final version of the strategy is presented to it for adoption.

How was this strategy developed

From July to November, the City engaged external consultants, Otium, to assess the condition and performance of its pools, analyse data and future growth trends, and gather community input through intercept surveys and stakeholder workshops. This work informed the development of the draft strategy.