The draft strategy was on public exhibition for community feedback from 12 December 2025 to 3 March 2026, where we received 132 submissions.

The feedback received from the community was considered and some changes were made to the draft strategy.

The plan was adopted by the elected Council at the 29 March 2026 Ordinary Council meeting.

Most submissions were about community members specific local pools. A short summary of the feedback about each pool is listed below. Council’s response to individual submissions can be viewed in the change register in the documents section.

• Wingham pool had strong support to replace the as soon as possible.
• Tea Gardens pool had a strong desire to extend the operating season and to install pool water heating as soon as possible.
• Gloucester pool had a desire to align the outdoor pools operating season to align with school holidays.
• Great Lakes Aquatic Centre received strong support to develop a masterplan for the site and include a 50meter pool as soon as possible.
• Pacific Palms requested a new aquatic facility to built in Pacific Palms.
• Black Head and Forster ocean pools received positive submissions about the facilities. Black Head pool received submissions asking for shade to be installed.
• Additional water play facilities at various locations was another request that came through submissions.

• Wingham pool replacement has been changed from a medium-term action to a short-term action.
• Tea Gardens pool water heating investigation has changed from a medium-term action to a short-term action.
• Gloucester pool had no change to the strategy as the complex has a heated indoor pool open year-round and attendance numbers for the shoulder periods of the existing season do not currently support the additional operating expenses for extending the swim season.
• Great Lakes Aquatic Strategy masterplan has been changed from a long-term action to a medium-term action.
• Pacific Palms request for a new aquatic facility has not been included in the strategy because of the significant cost to build a new pool (approximately $25 million for a standalone 50-meter pool and associated infrastructure) and ongoing operating and maintenance costs. Pacific Palms also falls within the catchment for the Great Lakes Aquatic Centre which is a district level facility to serve communities beyond Forster.
• Black Head ocean pool shade will be investigated as an operational matter and is supported by staff. Opportunities will be sought to fund the additional shade separate to the strategy.
• Additional Water Play has not been included in the strategy due to the construction costs ($1,5000,000) and operational costs ($150,000). However, where existing aquatic facilities are upgraded, opportunities to incorporate water play elements will be considered which were existing actions in the strategy for Gloucester, Forster, Taree, Tea Gardens and Wingham pools.