At Maldon Swimming Pool, as the summer season wraps up, it is the newest upgrade drawing attention. A pool cover.
Maldon Swimming Pool is part of Mount Alexander Swimming Pools, a four-pool network owned by Mount Alexander Shire Council and managed by the Y. The cover has been added to help keep warmth in the water overnight, after the sun has done its work during the day. In a seasonal outdoor pool like Maldon, that can make a real difference across a summer season, helping the water feel more inviting the next morning while also supporting more efficient day-to-day operations.
Greg Croft, a first-year lifeguard at Maldon Pool, said the project was driven by locals from the start.
The Maldon residents raised the money and organised the whole thing
Greg said the cover is “solely for the purpose of keeping the pool warm overnight”, which is especially useful in Maldon, where even summer nights can cool off quickly.
That fundraising effort says plenty about the role the pool plays in the town. Greg described the Maldon community as “quite tight and interconnected”, with the pool used by “a wide range of people”. Young families come in after school and through January, while older locals are more likely to visit in the early afternoon, or for aqua aerobics and lap swimming.
The aqua aerobics program is a strong example. Greg said it is popular across all Mount Alexander Shire pools, with older participants enjoying “the movement without impact that the water provides”.
That lines up with the broader picture across the industry. Royal Life Saving Australia’s State of Australian Aquatic Facilities 2025 report found public pools generate $12.84 billion in annual social value, with each visit creating an estimated $30.50 in economic benefit. It also found many regional communities still face gaps in access to aquatic facilities. In Maldon, the response has been local people backing the pool they have and helping improve it.
Greg said this was his first season at Maldon and that he had been “welcomed very much”. He also pointed to Emily, this season’s team leader, who “has grown up through working at this pool”, starting as a lifeguard before moving into duty manager and team leader roles while studying paramedicine. Another example of how local pools can create employment pathways, build capability and stay closely connected to the communities around them.
Credit: Tarrangower Times