The City's Swim, Sport and Leisure swimming pools will re-open for public use from Friday 5 June.
In a win for aquatic users, the indoor pools – Leisurelink Aquatic & Recreation Centre, Bellarine Aquatic & Sports Centre, Waterworld Leisure Centre and Splashdown Leisure Centre– will operate to their regular hours.
Despite being out of its regular season, Kardinia Aquatic Centre's outdoor pool will also re-open to provide further opportunities for dedicated lap swimmers.
It will operate under restricted hours that will be reviewed after four weeks.
The facilities are allowed to operate with limited numbers, under the Victorian Government's gradual easing of coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions.
Up to three people will be allowed in each lane for lap swimming, walking and mild exercise.
Toilets will be open but showers, change rooms and other facilities in the centres will remain closed.
Swimmers will need to book in for a 45-minute session at their preferred centre in advance, with no walk-up entry allowed.
Bookings will be taken over the phone at each centre from Tuesday 2 June at 9am.
Facilities will operate on a temporary pay-as-you-go only system ($6 for adult, $5 for concession), with existing multi-visit swim cards and 2019-20 outdoor pool season passes also able to be used.
All suspended Swim, Sport & Leisure memberships, including Webstar's Swim School membership, will remain on hold and no membership debits will be taken.
Members will be provided advance notice of any resumption of debits.
The City has developed COVID-19 safe work plans to ensure the health and safety of patrons and employees.
The City is providing returning employees with specific training for their roles and the requirements of the COVID-19 directions, before the re-opening of the facilities.
Lifeguards, receptionists and shift supervisors are among the employees returning to their substantive roles, which have been impacted by the forced shutdown.
The City has used this period to bring forward planned improvement works that would have affected the availability of the pools.
This includes a full repaint of the Waterworld Leisure Centre pool and an upgrade of the Leisurelink Aquatic & Recreation Centre aquatics area concourse.
The City is preparing plans to be able to safely re-open other affected City facilities, in line with Victorian Government directions.
This includes the gyms in the Swim, Sport & Leisure centres, which are scheduled to conditionally re-open from 22 June.
