Latrobe beats the heat at its Outdoor Pools Hundreds flocked to Council’s three outdoor pools on Thursday as the mercury climbed. By Latrobe City Council - 12th January 2001 - Back to News Hundreds of families and children from across the Latrobe Valley flocked to Council’s three outdoor pools on Thursday as the mercury climbed once again to thirty-eight degrees.
Latrobe City Mayor, Councillor Tony Hanning, said with projected temperatures of thirty-six and forty degrees for the coming weekend, record attendances could be expected.
At 2.30pm, Moe Pool Supervisor, Leanne Bowman, said that already more than six-hundred people had sought refuge from the heat and had passed through the turnstiles.
“A lot more people have been attracted to the Moe Pool a lot earlier this year, with significant attendances even before Christmas,” Ms Bowman said.
The diving boards are certainly one of our main attractions, but visitors love the shade areas and comment that they’re really wonderful. The Winter maintenance on the grassed areas and the new trees are making Moe Pool a really attractive venue; and the new beach volleyball court is sure to be a winner,” Ms Bowman added.
At the Yallourn North Pool, the smallest of Council’s three outdoor pools, approximately one-hundred and fifty people were enjoying the cooler conditions in the water at 3.30pm.
Yallourn North Pool Supervisor, Marg Center, said a record crowd for the pool would be about two-hundred and fifty people, but with many families presently away on holiday, it would be the hot weather a little later on in the season when records were likely to be broken.
“One hundred and fifty is a good number though. Apart from the locals, lots of families travel from Glengarry and Toongabbie and even from Moe and Traralgon, because they love the family atmosphere our pool provides,” Ms Center said.
We have our twenty-five metre pool, our learn-to-swim pool and a toddlers pool, so families are well catered for. People also love the natural shade on the rise which borders three sides of the recreation area. Visitors can always find shade under a tree no matter what time of day it is,” Ms Center added.
Pool Lifeguard, Phillip Van Gaalen-Prentice, said he’d noticed many families came to Yallourn North to avoid potential crowds.
“With younger children it’s very easy for parents to keep an eye on them here as there are less people.” he explained.
“Generally the kids here are really well behaved and there are seldom any problems. Occasionally I have to give a couple of kids five-minutes time-out for running around the pool edge, but usually they’re so glad to get back in the pool, even after a short break, that their behaviour doesn’t become an issue again,” he added.
By 4.30pm more than six-hundred and sixty had flocked to the Traralgon Outdoor Pool, but Pool Supervisor, Peter Barrett said that number would probably reach eight-hundred by the end of the day.
“It’s not the record for this season, that was set on the Thursday before Christmas, but it’s a considerable crowd,” Mr Barrett said.
“The waterslide is one of our big attractions and since we reduced the cost of rides, there’s been a huge demand. I know people like the large garden area at Traralgon, and the shade areas are very popular.
“We’ve encouraged families to use the Traralgon Outdoor Pool, and have attracted them for instance, by not charging for under-fives in the toddlers pool, and that’s an incentive to make use of our facility,” Mr Barrett explained.
“There are also bombing and diving competitions held on hot days where we reward winners with free passes to the water-slide, which ensures keen competition. Further down the track as soon as school goes back, we plan to introduce water aerobics for the mums,” he added.
By 5pm, the promised cool change had not yet eventuated, and the decision was made to extend the opening time at all three pools to 7.30pm. “Our hours are very much determined by the weather, and on a hot day like this the demand will be there right up until closing time,” Mr Barrett said.
Councillor Hanning said Council had once again made a decision to open the three outdoor pools free of charge on Australia Day.
“This is an opportunity to everyone in Latrobe to enjoy three of the community’s best facilities absolutely free. Perhaps Australia Day is the perfect time for this to happen, as it is traditionally a time when many of us take time out to relax and reflect on the freedom and opportunities we are able to enjoy as Australians,” Cr Hanning said.
Media Enquiries:
Cr. Tony Hanning, Mayor, Latrobe City
tel. 0417 373 577
Cr. Brendan Jenkins, Deputy Mayor, Latrobe City
tel. 0417 374 590
Ms. Penny Holloway, Chief Executive Officer,
tel. 5173 1401 or 0417 557 103
Jeremy Bein, Public Relations and Communications Officer,
tel. 5173 1468
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: latrobecity@gippslander.com
Related Articles- Latrobe Valley households to cut energy bills with efficient electric heat pump hot water system upgrades
Latrobe Valley households can cut energy bills by $330 annually with efficient heat pump hot water systems, thanks to the Allan Labor government's SEC one stop shop pilot expansion. - Latrobe City invites community feedback on draft Streetscape Strategy to enhance town centres until 20 October 2025
Latrobe City Council has released its draft Streetscape Strategy for public feedback, aiming to enhance town aesthetics, accessibility, and sustainability through improved design, maintenance, and consistent public amenities. - Latrobe City launches investment campaign showcasing strength, innovation, and opportunities across Gippsland
Latrobe City Council launched an investment campaign showcasing business strength, innovation, and opportunities positioning itself as Gippsland's hub for growth, transformation, and future industries. - Latrobe City Council endorses submissions on Hazelwood and Yallourn declared mine rehabilitation plans
Latrobe City Council has endorsed submissions on Hazelwood and Yallourn mine rehabilitation plans, promoting sustainable restoration, strong coordination, environmental accountability, community benefits, and long-term regional resilience. - Latrobe City Council endorsed applications for the 2026/2027 Black Spot Program, targeting high-risk crash sites across the shire
Latrobe City Council has applied for the 2026/2027 Black Spot Program, proposing safety upgrades at Traralgon, Morwell, and Newborough crash sites. Successful projects will involve community consultation during the design phase. - Latrobe City Children's Expo returns to Kernot Hall with family fun, interactive learning and the Monash Teddy Bear Hospital
Latrobe City Children's Expo returns to Kernot Hall on 23 October, featuring fun activities, entertainment, local services, and the Monash Teddy Bear Hospital promoting children's health, learning, and community connection. - Latrobe City invites community input to shape the 2026/27 budget and future priorities, submit feedback by 17 November 2025
Latrobe City Council is seeking community input to help shape the 2026/27 Budget. Share your priorities via council's Have Your Say platform by 5pm, Monday 17 November 2025. - Latrobe City Council seeks community feedback on the future of Moe Gardens Caravan Park as lease nears end
Latrobe City Council is inviting community feedback on the future of Moe Gardens Caravan Park, with the current operator's lease expiring in May 2026 under Crown Land Leasing Policy requirements for open and impartial processes. - Latrobe City Council launches 'Kindness is key' campaign to empower students and tackle bullying together
Latrobe City Council launched the Kindness is Key: Stop Bullying campaign, co-designed with students to promote kindness, upstander training, and community action against bullying across local schools. - Latrobe City events drive tourism, economic growth and community engagement across the region
Latrobe City hosted major sporting and cultural events in 2024 - 25, attracting over 27,000 attendees and generating $23.5 million in economic impact, reinforcing the region's growing reputation as an events hub. - Latrobe City allocates $7.3M surplus to key community infrastructure and improvement projects
Latrobe City Council's $7.3 million surplus will fund key community projects, infrastructure upgrades, and maintenance, with $3.4 million reserved to leverage future State and Federal funding partnerships. - Latrobe Valley's new 100MW big battery boosts energy reliability, cuts power bills, and supports Victoria's renewable transition
A 100MW Latrobe Valley big battery has officially opened, boosting energy reliability, cutting power bills, and supporting Victoria's renewable transition, helping achieve government storage targets while delivering affordable electricity. - Latrobe unites to tackle gambling harm during awareness week: 'Set Before You Bet' 2025
Latrobe City Council is urging residents to take part in Gambling Harm Awareness Week (27 Oct - 2 Nov) and "Set before you bet" by learning to recognise signs and reduce gambling harm. - Latrobe Health Assembly to continue, thanks to strong community support and new independent, community-owned future
Defunded in the 2025 State Budget, the Latrobe Health Assembly will continue as a leaner, community-owned organisation tackling local health and wellbeing challenges through collaboration and grassroots leadership. - Latrobe City Council endorses community engagement on draft financial, asset, and road management plans
Council endorsed community engagement on key draft plans, including the Financial, Asset, and Road Management Plans, ensuring alignment with the Community Vision, Council Plan, and long-term strategic planning framework. - Darren Chester welcomes $6.2M Traralgon Recreation Reserve redevelopment with upgraded facilities for Latrobe Valley sports clubs
Darren Chester welcomed the $6.2 million Traralgon Recreation Reserve redevelopment, providing modern changerooms and upgraded facilities through joint funding to support Latrobe Valley sports and long-term community participation. - David Littleproud says farmers won major victory after Labor abandoned its plan to tax unrealised gains on farms held in self-managed super funds
Nationals Leader David Littleproud says farmers have won a major victory after Labor abandoned its plan to tax unrealised gains on farms held in self-managed super funds. - South Gippsland Shire Council extends footpath trading permits amid system update and upcoming fee changes
South Gippsland Shire Council is updating its Footpath Trading Permit system. Current permits are automatically extended until December, with new fees applying next year. Businesses will receive updated information once finalised. - Martin Cameron slams Energy Minister D'Ambrosio's false claims on power prices and jobs in Latrobe Valley
Nationals MP Martin Cameron condemned Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio's claims of delivering for Latrobe Valley, citing soaring power prices, weak jobs growth, and neglect of residents during Victoria's energy transition. - South Gippsland Eat, Drink Play Festival celebrates local food, drinks, live music, kids' activities, and outdoor fun and other updates
Eat Drink Play Gippsland returns this spring at Leongatha Railway Precinct, showcasing regional food, drink, and live music. With daytime tastings, evening entertainment, and kids' activities, it's a family-friendly celebration of Gippsland.
|
