Glenorchy City Council is committed to repairing, reopening, and securing the long-term future of the Glenorchy War Memorial Pool.
This page brings together the latest updates on both the short-term repair project and the long-term redevelopment planning.
Thank you for your interest in the Glenorchy War Memorial Pool.
Glenorchy City Council understands some people are upset that the pool has had to be closed. However, the 60 year old facility is currently not safe for use. Council is committed to working together with the community, and other levels of government, on a solution.
More information can be found below, including answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs), Council meeting reports on the pool, consultant reports, answers to questions raised by members of the public in Council meetings and media releases.
Short-Term Repair and Reopen
$5 million State Government funding confirmed
Glenorchy City Council has received $5 million in funding from the State Government, as a part of the State Budget.
Elector Poll
The Elector Poll has finished, with the results posted on the TEC website.
Scope of Works
Officers have prepared a scope of works for the repair and reopen of the Glenorchy War Memorial Pool.
Council has worked with aquatic engineers and specialist designers, creating a preliminary plan for repairing and upgrading the Glenorchy War Memorial Pool. This plan has been used to design the project and prepare the documents needed for the tendering process.
The final plan might change based on tender results and any unexpected issues, but the preliminary details are shared below for the community’s information.
- New chemical delivery bund
- Concrete repairs to grandstand, plant room, and new slab over plant room tunnel
- New pool expansion joints
- Repaint pool and skim coat repairs
- Upgrade of entry area and amenities building (changerooms and toilets)
- New pool heating system
- New switchboard
- Plant room repairs
- All ability accessible ramp entry into the main pool
- Pool drain repairs/upgrades
- Pavement repairs around pool surrounds
- Removal of slide and rehabilitate area (risk/safety issues)
Design
Project team and specialist architects and aquatic engineers have prepared the designs, timings and costings of pool works.
Contractors
Work to repair and reopen the Glenorchy War Memorial will start soon following the signing of a contract with Hutchinson Builders to undertake the work in June 2025. These works are expected to be completed in mid-2026.
Project Management
Outlined order of works for the pool reopening is as follows.
Stage 1:
- Site establishment
- Demolition works
- 50 metre pool inground services
Stage 2:
- Pool plant room repairs
- Pool infrastructure repairs
- 50 metre pool ramp reconstruction
- 50 metre pool repair works
- Changeroom refurbishment works
- Concourse works – including the external pavement around the pool
- Grandstand improvements
- 50 metre pool tiling/sealing
Stage 3:
- Finishing works
- Servicing commissioning
- Cleaning
- Approvals and occupancy
- Handover to Glenorchy City Council
Long Term Redevelopment of the Glenorchy War Memorial Pool
The MI Global Insights Report is released
This report clearly shows that community want a pool to stay on that site. MI Global Partners are now doing a detailed assessment of the three shortlisted options, listed inside the report.
The detailed assessment includes functional briefs and concept development; capital and whole of life costs; detailed demand; and financial and economic modelling for each option.
Options Assessment
MI Global presented the three short-listed options to key stakeholder groups during June and July 2024.
Stakeholder groups included Elected Members, pool advocates, pool neighbours, schools and the previous pool operators.
An Options Assessment Report is with Council for review and consideration.
This report is available to the public here and as part of the 26 August Council Meeting papers.
Selection of Preferred Option
Council chose the preferred option to proceed with at the Council Meeting on 26 August 2024.
The preferred option was an outdoor and indoor aquatic facility with an outdoor 50m pool, indoor 25m lap pool, indoor 20m warm water learn to swim/program pool, wellness hall (including spa, sauna, and steam facility), leisure/toddler pool, café and a gym.
Design and Options Assessment
MI Global have now presented the full concept designs, cost planning and modelling for the preferred option for the pool.
This was presented to Council on 21 October, 2024 and is now available to the public.
Business Case and Funding
Council has now received the business case for the redevelopment of the pool and has begun to lobby both the State and Federal Governments to fund the long-term future of the pool.
Community support for funding
We encourage you to help us lobby State and Federal politicians and candidates in the upcoming Federal election by contacting them.
Tell the people asking for your vote that their priority project for the greater Hobart Region should be the redevelopment of the Glenorchy Pool.
You can send them this letter or write one of your own.
This letter is available below in word document formatting.
You can find a list of potential contacts to speak to about funding for the pool here.
Why was the pool closed?
The pool was closed after an independent condition assessment found several safety issues that posed unacceptable risks to the public and staff. Built in the 1960s, the facility is 60 years old — well beyond the typical 40–50 year operational lifespan for pools of its type. At this age, normal maintenance can no longer keep pace with deterioration.
The pool was also leaking approximately 35,000 litres of water per day into the surrounding environment — well above what could be attributed to evaporation or splashing. Council had no choice but to prioritise public safety and close the facility.
The full condition report by Lacus Consulting can be found here.
Preservation of the pool shell
Preservation of current pool shell (Monday 25 March 2024)
Council has had aquatic engineering specialist, Lacus, inspect the pool in recent weeks in preparation for the repair works to be undertaken with the recent $5M State election funding commitments.
As part of this inspection, Council sought advice on whether the pool shell needed to be filled with water to protect its structural integrity.
The advice received is that the risk associated with an empty shell is that ground water may build up underneath, which could subsequently push the floor of the pool shell up (without the weight of the pool water to hold it down) and cause cracking.
However, rather than refill the pool, the advice from Lacus is to install a series of Hydrostatic Relief Valves on the floor of the pool. These valves will open if there is an excessive build up of water pressure underneath the pool shell whilst it is empty, to mitigate any risk of cracking.
The technical specification for the installation of the relief valves is currently being prepared, and the installation works will be undertaken ASAP, using Council funds.
The relief valves will also provide ongoing benefits for the pool, given it needs to stay empty during the planned repair works, and will be emptied each year for maintenance.
Preservation of current pool shell (Monday 8 April 2024)
As an update to the above announcement of the Mayor on 25 March 2024, Council advises that these core holes were drilled on Monday 8 April 2024, in accordance with the engineer’s specification. Now that these holes are drilled the risk of water pressure building up underneath the pool is mitigated. They hydrostatic relief values will be installed into the core holes in the coming months as part of the pool renovation project, which will allow the pool to be refilled following the renovations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Updated September 2024
Glenorchy War Memorial Pool Engagement Insights Report
Glenorchy City Council has released the insights report compiled by the consultants investigating options for the Glenorchy War Memorial Pool.
After a number of community engagement opportunities by consultants MI Global Partners, the report found that the community is in favour of having a pool on the site in the longer term.
Glenorchy Mayor Bec Thomas said Council urged Glenorchy residents and ratepayers to read the report which was now on the council’s website.
“Council promised the community would be engaged as part of its decision-making regarding the future of the pool site, and this report compiled by MI Global Partners summarises that engagement and feedback from the community.
“MI Global Partners will now further assess the community’s preferred options which all include aquatic facilities. They will then seek further, community input for the pool site before presenting an options report to Council.
“We know people have strong views on the future of the pool site and I am pleased this process has allowed community to have their say.
“All up, almost 950 people completed a survey on their preference for the site, with targeted engagement also undertaken as part of the engagement process.”
The second phase will include interviews, workshops and project updates throughout mid-June-September. Details on these sessions will be released once the dates, times and venues have been finalised.
If you have any questions on the engagement, please contact MI Global via email at research@mi.com.au
Read the full engagement insights report below.
Correspondence
April 2024
A letter was sent to the Premier, the Minister for Sport and Recreation with a copy to all members of Clark regarding funding to repair and reopen the Glenorchy War Memorial Pool.
Where can people swim in the meantime?
The closest public swimming pools are the Hobart Aquatic Centre (indoor), Clarence Aquatic Centre (indoor), Huon Valley Pool (outdoor), and New Norfolk Pool (outdoor).
Key Documents and References
- Lacus Condition Report — available via the July 2023 Council meeting papers
- MI Global Insights Report
- Options Assessment Report (presented 26 August 2024)
- Preferred Option Concept Design and Business Case (presented 21 October 2024)
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