Denise Spencer Memorial Pool closure announced
With the highly anticipated upgrade of the Denise Spencer Memorial Swimming Pool set to proceed, Maranoa Regional Council has set the date the pool will close.
With the highly anticipated upgrade of the Denise Spencer Memorial Swimming Pool set to proceed, Maranoa Regional Council has decided the date the pool will close to enable the development to be undertaken.
At its first Ordinary Meeting of 2025, Council resolved that the pool will be temporarily closed from Friday, 4 April 2025, with the last day of operations aligning with the last day of the school term.
While Council is in the process of finalising all the project details, the closure date was decided at Council’s first meeting of the year given the recent announcement of the Federal Government’s $9.5 million contribution to ensure the community had ample notice prior to closure.
Portfolio Spokesperson for Major Projects and Facilities, Cr Cam O’Neil, highlighted the complexity of managing such a significant community project noting the importance of balancing the need to minimise disruption for users while providing sufficient notice of the temporary closure of this vital community facility.
"This redevelopment project is a significant undertaking, and we understand the challenges it may pose for our community,” he said.
"By providing ample notice, we aim to minimise the inconvenience while ensuring the best outcome for this much-loved facility."
Tender considerations are well advanced and Council expects to award the construction contract in the coming weeks.
While final construction timelines will be confirmed following the tender award, Council aims to limit the pool closure to one summer.
Once the successful tenderer has been awarded, Council will share further details about the construction process.
Cr O’Neil said the closure was a necessary step to ensure the safety, integrity and quality of the construction works.
“Community consultations showed strong support for rebuilding the aquatic centre at its current location, recognising the important place the facility holds in the community’s heart,” he said.
“Council investigated the option of keeping the existing pool open during the redevelopment however this would have significantly increased project costs, extending the timeline by up to 12 months.
“It would also have heightened the risk of unforeseen issues that could result in a sudden closure of the pool with little to no notice.
“We appreciate the community’s patience during this temporary closure and we’re confident that the end result—a modern, improved facility—will be well worth the short-term inconvenience."
The project is anticipated to be completed by late-2026 with the goal to have the facility opened for the 2026 Summer holidays.
Cr O’Neil acknowledged the community’s support for this much-needed upgrade and emphasised Council’s commitment to keeping residents informed throughout the redevelopment process.
“We are excited to see progress with this long-awaited project that will ensure the pool continues to serve as a vital recreational and sporting resource for our community,” he said.
Cr O’Neil said Council also extends a sincere thank you to the current pool contractor, Stacey Robertson, and her staff for their efforts in managing the facility and providing what is an extremely important service to our community.
Council will continue to provide further updates on the progress of the construction including temporary services for residents over the 2025/26 summer period in the coming months.
A dedicated webpage on the Maranoa Regional Council website will provide information on frequently asked questions and a detailed construction timeline.