# Walgett town loses pool ahead of hot summer

> Walgett faces scorching summer without pool after council rules it unsafe.
- Title: Walgett town loses pool ahead of hot summer · Abc | Shortify
- Summary: Walgett faces scorching summer without pool after council rules it unsafe. Walgett Memorial Pool closes this season due to safety concerns, leaving residents…
- Keywords: walgett, memorial pool, nsw, swimming pool, council, heat, summer, pool closure, regional communities, public pools, news, politics
- Source: Abc — https://abc.net.au/news/2026-10-04/outback-town-walgett-loses-swimming-pool-ahead-of-hot-summer/107211758
- Published: 2026-10-03T21:30:25+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: walgett, memorial pool, nsw, swimming pool, council, heat, summer, pool closure, regional communities, public pools, news, politics
## Walgett pool closes this season
Walgett Memorial Swimming Pool will remain closed this swimming season after council deemed it unsafe and beyond repair.
## Scorching summer looms
Walgett regularly has days hotter than 40 degrees celsius during summer, leaving residents without cooling options.
## Residents feel neglected
Parents like Katrina Marshall say rivers stink and kids cannot enjoy swimming, calling the summer 'very boring'.

> It's going to be a very boring summer.
## Pool's long decline
The Walgett Memorial Pool opened in the early 60s and was decommissioned in 2023 before reopening in late 2024.
## Council's safety decision
Walgett Shire Council Mayor Jasen Ramien said the pool reached a point where it was no longer safe to use.

> We didn't want to close it, but the reality was the pool had reached a point where it was no longer safe.
## No long-term fix
Council will fill artesian baths with cold water but says this is an interim solution while they seek a full-sized pool.

> They do not replace the old 50 metre pool. They are an interim answer while we keep fighting for the full-sized swimming facility Walgett deserves.
## State funding request
Council requested up to $420,000 from state government for a free daily bus to Collarenebri Swimming Pool.
## National pool crisis
National Drowning Report 2026 found drowning rates double for disadvantaged areas and nearly triple for regional residents.
## State government response
NSW Minister for Sport Steven Kamper said government supports sports facilities through grants and partnerships with local government.

> The NSW Government supports sports facilities by providing grant funding and working in partnership with local government, State Sporting Organisations, clubs and associations.
## Pool replacement cost
Replacing 500 pools nationally would cost $8 billion, with many needing repairs within the next decade.

> In 2022, the State of Aquatic Facility Infrastructure in Australia report found 500 pools nationally would need replacing, or require significant repairs to the pool shell within the next 10 years, at a cost of $8 billion.
## Community impact
Public policy researcher Ian McShane warned losing pools could make people reluctant to move to areas without social infrastructure.

> Families would be reluctant to move to areas that don't have good social infrastructure.
## Key takeaway

Walgett Memorial Pool closes this season due to safety concerns, leaving residents without cooling options as summer approaches.