News

What you shared with us about aquatics in Bayside

10 December 2025

Thank you to everyone who participated in our first phase of community engagement to help Council plan for the future of aquatics in Bayside.

Between 21 October and 25 November, we asked the community to provide feedback about Bayside’s public pool facilities, locations, programs, services, and investment in facilities, in conjunction with the Recreation Strategy project. This information has helped to inform a new draft Aquatics Strategy, which Council will consider at its December 2025 meeting.

Feedback was gathered through multiple channels, including 348 online survey responses, 319 social map submissions, and input from over 650 participants at 6 engagement events. We’ve also meet with nearby councils, Brighton Baths and Sandringham Family Leisure Centre (SFLC) centre management, as well as advisory groups.

While we’re still analysing the more than 1,000 contributions received, preliminary results highlight strong community support for ongoing Council investment in aquatic infrastructure.

Preliminary findings from Stage 1 engagement:

  • 82% of respondents believe it is very important that Council owns and invests in aquatic facilities
  • 82% of respondents also support major investment in new or upgraded facilities
  • Health and fitness (67%), recreational swimming (56%), and swimming lessons (23%) were the top 3 reasons why people use Bayside’s existing aquatics facilities at Sandringham Family Leisure Centre and Middle Brighton Baths
  • The majority of respondents (59%) experience challenges and/or barriers when accessing Bayside’s aquatics and leisure facilities
  • Cost (65%), facility presentation (55%), and rage of programs (39%) were the top 3 most important elements for using aquatic and leisure facilities
  • Participants emphasised the need for family-friendly amenities, warm-water programs, improved accessibility, sustainable design and adequate parking.
  • Locations of interest include 21 ‘Swimming pool/ leisure centre’ pins dropped on the social map, including 9 around the Dendy Park/ Brighton Golf Course area (Brighton East), 6 at the existing Sandringham Family Leisure Centre (Cheltenham), 2 at Tjilatjirrin Reserve (Sandringham), 1 at the former netball centre site on Thomas Street (Hampton), and 1 at Wilson Reserve (Brighton).

This feedback has informed the draft Aquatic Strategy’s proposed key directions:

  • A short-term focus on optimising Middle Brighton Baths and Sandringham Family Leisure Centre’s (SFLC) accessibility, inclusion, transport and asset need to extend the useful life and safe activation of the facilities for the community.
  • A reimagined management model to enhance the user experience and preservation of both existing aquatic assets.
  • A medium-term focus on planning for the future needs of the existing facilities including the redevelopment of the SFLC, revitalisation of Middle Brighton Baths and new facility provision for the community.
  • A new district level aquatic facility development in Bayside that is a stand-alone facility meeting the defined community and service needs of the local and regional catchment area for future generations. The new development will be wellness focused on design and facility components and include a range of complimentary core services for the community.
  • The long-term focus on revitalisation of the Middle Brighton Baths facility, bringing the iconic site back to its core origins of a health and wellness focused facility by adding a modernised component to the existing heritage facility, whilst continuing to embrace its unique destination an event and catering facility through a Masterplan process.
  • Redevelopment of the SFLC to become a regional dry multi-purpose hub for Bayside, that includes unique partner opportunities with neighbouring Councils and state sporting bodies.

A detailed community and stakeholder engagement report is being prepared and will be published in early 2026, when we open community consultation on the draft Strategy.

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Next steps

Council is considering the draft Aquatics Strategy at its 16 December 2025 meeting.

Stage 2 community consultation on the draft is anticipated in early 2026, before the final Strategy is presented to Council for adoption in mid-2026.

Council meeting 6.30pm, Tuesday 16 December 2025

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