Today I have written to Council seeking urgent clarity on the ongoing issues at the Northern Aquatic and Recreation Centre. A few locals have reached out to me to help provide some support on the issue.

Families in Norlane, Corio and Lara deserve reliable access to the facilities they pay for, especially during summer. With repeated closures to the children's areas, reduced staffing, and limited accessibility for people with disabilities, many residents feel the north is not receiving its fair share compared with other parts of Geelong.

It's sad to see our world class facility in this position.

01 / What residents are reportingThe pattern.

Figure 01 · The issues raised

Four recurring problems.

Children's areas closed

Core facilities such as children's water play areas regularly closed due to limited staff — while temperatures rise and demand increases.

Understaffing over 12 months

A sustained inability to fill roles, alongside closures in steam rooms and pool decks.

Members redirected

Members told to swim in sections unsuitable for younger or less confident swimmers.

Accessibility affected

Reduced access for families, people with disabilities, and lifelong locals who have been proud supporters of aquatic services in our region.

02 / The four questions I askedSpecific, answerable.

Figure 02 · My requests to Council

Four things I have asked Council to confirm.

01The operational plan for summerWhat plan ensures the Centre remains fully open, including consistent lifeguard staffing so children's play areas and leisure facilities stay accessible during peak family hours.
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02Equity measures when sections closeReduced membership fees, complimentary swim access, or prioritised accessibility supports for families, swimmers with additional needs, and members affected by unavailable facilities.
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03Better communicationHow members will be informed before arriving at the Centre — preventing wasted trips and safeguarding trust in the service.
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04Accountability on staffingWhat measures ensure staff resourcing remains local and is not diverted disproportionately to other venues.
The Northern Aquatic and Recreation Centre was intended to be a transformational investment for our region. Instead, it is becoming symbolic of longstanding inequities that community members are no longer willing to accept quietly.— from the letter

03 / The letterPublished in full.

I'm publishing what I sent, because I think advocacy should be visible rather than described. If I tell you I've written to Council, you're entitled to read it.

Page one of the letter to Council regarding Northern Aquatic and Recreation Centre operations
Letter to Council — page one.
Page two of the letter to Council, listing four requests and signed by David Greenwood OAM
Letter to Council — page two, with the four requests.

04 / Why this matters beyond one poolThe fair-share argument.

This comes from a place of genuine concern for the wellbeing of our community. The north contributes significantly to the City's budget and our families should benefit equally from the services we are promised.

And that's the part that connects this to everything else I write about. A facility that exists but doesn't reliably operate is a particular kind of failure — the capital was spent, the ribbon was cut, and then the ongoing operating cost that makes it actually work wasn't sustained. It's precisely the trap I've written about in relation to council budgets: building things is politically rewarding, running them is not.

Residents in the north have seen enough of that pattern to be sceptical, and they're right to be.

If you or your family have been impacted, please continue to share your experiences so we can advocate together for better outcomes. Dates, times and what specifically was closed are the most useful details — a pattern documented across many members is far harder to set aside than individual complaints. Email david@centrestage.org.au with "Norlane ARC" in the subject.

I will keep everyone updated once I receive a response.
Facility
Northern Aquatic & Recreation Centre, Norlane
Raised
Closures, staffing, accessibility
Letter
Published in full below
A note on this articleThe letter reproduced here was sent by the author in his capacity as a local business owner, centre user and original member of the Community Liaison Reference Group. It reflects concerns raised with him by residents. Council had not responded at the time of publication; any response received will be published. This article states the author’s concerns and does not assert findings about the conduct of any individual staff member.