PUBLIC swimming pools on the Mornington Peninsula will not be closing or changing opening times in line with cost-cutting measures adopted by some municipalities due to crippling energy prices.
Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Steve Holland said that although power prices were rising steeply “at this stage” the council was not planning any changes to the operation of aquatic and recreation centres.
Aquatic centres use up to 15 times more energy per floor area compared to an average commercial office building.
Some Victorian councils have reportedly reduced pool temperatures in a bid to cut costs, while others have cut operating hours.
Cr Holland said the council was investigating ways in which it could reduce grid demand and become more energy efficient, such as through electrification and by optimising renewable energy assets.
“Energy efficiency is a priority. When building the Yawa Aquatic Centre in Rosebud, we installed 916 solar panels on the roof,” he said.
“Since opening in 2021, Yawa’s 375kW solar system has offset approximately 812MWh of onsite energy demand, at an estimated value of $138,040. This has also prevented emissions estimated at 489t Co2 e from entering the atmosphere.”
In the UK and France hundreds of pools closed or reduced opening times over winter because they could not afford to heat the water.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 4 April 2023
