Albany needs a hydro-therapy pool

12/12/2025

Hi all,
Could you all complete this, as every little bit of information will help with future planning of a hydrotherapy pol at ALAC. Please write ‘done’ in the comments on this post.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BhY2u15ay/?mibextid=wwXIfr

What does a healthier, happier Albany look like to you?

The City of Albany is developing a Health and Wellbeing Plan and we want to hear from you.

While State Government agencies are primarily responsible for the health and well-being of community members, local governments can also improve health and well-being through the range of services they provide.

This is your opportunity to help us set priorities to improve health and well-being for everyone. Your feedback will help the City to identify and prioritise actions that have the greatest positive impact on our community.

Complete the short survey and go into the draw to win one of three $100 supermarket gift cards.

🔗 https://bit.ly/48DCyRt

06/12/2025

Hi all,

We’ve contacted the Western Australia Country Health Service (WACHS) and received an update. They confirmed that the feasibility study for the Hydrotherapy pool space has been completed, and the report with recommendations is currently under review.

It’s not the update we were hoping for, but it’s still movement. We were initially told we’d have an outcome not long after the feasibility study was submitted some months ago, but unfortunately we’re still waiting. That said, the delay may actually be a positive sign, if they weren’t interested, we likely would have received a quick “no.” The longer timeframe suggests they may still be working through funding or solution options. We know the statistics are firmly in our favour, they cant say that's not a fact.

With the holiday season approaching, nothing is likely to happen before or during January. Let’s hope the wait ends up being worth it.

All the best for the holiday season, and let’s hope we get a late Christmas present from WACHS!

Best wishes.
Veronica & Janet

23/11/2025

Yes, still waiting for the results of the WACHS Hydro-therapy Pool feasibility study and what WACHS will decide. Either way need to wait for a statement. If not positive, we wont stop pushing.

In the meantime, help by completing this so our ideas are reinforced to The City of Albany the need for such a pool at ALAC.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ExBXMaY5D/

Have you say on open consultations

👉 Community Development Strategy
The City of Albany is reviewing its Community Development Strategy, which helps guide activities and resources that support our community to thrive. We’re seeking your input to ensure it reflects local priorities.

👉 Health & Wellbeing Plan
Community feedback is invited to help shape the City’s new Health & Wellbeing Plan.

👉 Youth Friendly Albany Plan
The City is also reviewing the Youth Friendly Albany Plan, which outlines actions that support young people aged 10 - 25.

👉 Coming soon: Ellen Cove Swimming Enclosure Survey
A community survey on the future of the Ellen Cove Swimming Enclosure will open shortly.

Have your say: https://bit.ly/3LVfO7L

27/09/2025

Hi all,

Things are progressing with WA Country Health regarding the hospitals Hydro-therapy pool but we have to be a little more patient, hoping for a statement soon. Regardless we will still need a hydro-therapy pool at ALAC in year to come.
Jason Jordan Great Southern FM program 'Albany Talks' on Fridays from 12noon till 3pm is having prospective councillors come in over the next few Fridays. If you want to know if they would support ALAC having a Hydro Pool then ask him to ask them.
Please text - Studio SMS 0483 95 1009 or office@greatsouthernfm.com

30/07/2025

Good luck Denmark, Albany a city won’t be able to get a hydrotherapy pool for 8 - 10 years at ALAC. If your council can have this happen before the ALAC upgrade congratulations to Denmark and embarrassing to Albany council.
Albany Hospital closed their hydrotherapy years ago and after years of asking they’re finally looking into it and will let us know in Sept, there’s a pool there, they just have to repair and maintain it.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AxkVt4LyG/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The Shire of Denmark is reconsidering a long-standing community aspiration: the development of an indoor heated aquatic facility.

Council have agreed to consider updated financial modelling and building plans for a proposed aquatic facility featuring a 25-metre lap pool and a programmable hydrotherapy/baby learn-to-swim pool, at a Special Meeting of Council scheduled for 12 August 2025.

Following decades of community advocacy and numerous Council discussions dating back to the early 1990s, the Denmark Aquatic Centre Committee Inc. (DACCI), in collaboration with Shire officers, has recently completed updated concept plans and financial modelling, supported by funding from the Shire’s Aquatic Facility Development Reserve and DACCI contributions.

Shire President Kingsley Gibson said, with the finalisation of up-to-date financial modelling and considering the long-standing community aspiration for a pool, Council wanted to take this opportunity to share the information openly and transparently.

“Any possible decision to pursue a pool would be among the biggest the Denmark Shire has ever made, and we owe it to our residents and ratepayers to deal with this matter thoroughly and carefully, and to maximise transparency and accountability throughout,” Cr Gibson said.

Following the review of updated financial modelling and the proposed facility plans at the Special Meeting of Council in August, councillors will then decide whether to move forward on the project or not

Councillor Gibson stressed the decision to hold the special council meeting did not indicate that Council would proceed with a pool and that all options, including not seeking to progress a pool, were available.

“Whatever decisions Council might ultimately make about the pool, it is important that all community members have the ability to appreciate the factors being considered fully.”

“An aquatic facility centred in our community would undoubtedly benefit the health and wellbeing of many people in our Shire, but just like our library and recreation grounds, an aquatic centre requires ratepayer subsidies to fund the initial construction and ongoing operational costs,” Cr Gibson said.

“It’s crucial Council understands and accepts the costs and risks of such a project before making any decision to proceed further.”

29/07/2025

Gee, it’s happening everywhere. This government needs to realise that hydrotherapy pools keep people out of hospitals and in the long run saves money. https://www.facebook.com/share/14Lj1kKjzkT/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Have you been impacted by the closure of the hospital hydrotherapy pool? 🏊‍♀️👇 St John of God hospital in Bunbury has confirmed it will keep its hydrotherapy pool shut indefinitely.

The pool closed in April while repairs were looked at.

The private hospital has since told patrons the pool will not re-open because the work required will be 'complex' and 'costly.'

It is working with pool users on alternatives to hydrotherapy.

However the news has been disappointing for some of our listeners, including Veronica who told ABC South West she used the pool after three major operations in seven months last year.

"It's helped me immensely and with the closure I've just gone backwards so much," she says.

"I love the water so I'll find water anywhere but with this cold weather and doing rehab you really need the warmth and the depth."

How have you been impacted? 👇

25/07/2025

Hi all,

Thankyou to Scott Leary MLA - Member for Albany who has been in discussions with WA Country Health (WACHS) recently. A full report on what will be happening with the Albany Hospital Hydro-therapy Pool will be available late September. Things are moving, yes slowly but still moving.

Thankyou Scott

06/07/2025

Update:
Scott Leary MLA - Member for Albany for Albany recently attended a City of Albany 'Access and Inclusion Working Group' meeting to talk about a numbers of projects and in particular how he is trying to setup a meeting with WACHS to find out when the Albany Hospital Hydro-therapy pool re-open.
Unfortunately setting up a meeting has been unsuccessful so far. Trying to get an answer on what is happening to the pool since its closure a few years ago has been impossible for the Albany Arthritis Foundation to find out too. Fingers crossed that WACHS will speak to Scott in the next few weeks.

Thankyou Scott for your support.

Please sign, donate or share https://www.change.org/p/reopen-the-hydro-pool-at-albany-health-campus

24/06/2025

Thankyou Albany Advertiser for supporting us.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ADuPA7Ypw/

“The hydrotherapy pool at Albany Health Campus hasn’t worked for four years, when will it be fixed?”

23/06/2025

This should mean there's money to re-open the Hospitals Hydrotherapy Pool, shouldnt it?
Please comment regarding this on the facebook post.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ADR8oQtiz/

The State Government says it is committed to expanding Albany Health Campus, despite only $1 million set aside for the project in the 2025-26 budget.

In the leadup to the election, Labor promised $60M for the expansion which would include an additional 30 beds to become operational in 2027.

Minister for the Great Southern Reece Whitby says the initial spend will be on planning works.

“You need to do planning for these things, every commitment of our government at the last election is going to be delivered," he said.

Keep up-to-date with what's happening across the Great Southern: https://www.abc.net.au/greatsouthern

11/06/2025

News - the most positive communication since the Albany Hospital hydro-therapy pool was closed a few years ago!

A letter to the Albany Arthritis Foundation states that WA Country Health Service (WACHS) is conducting and independant review for the State Government for all possible options for a hydro-therapy pool at the Albany Health Campus (AHC).
WACHS have acknowledged that the ALAC hydro-therapy pool could be 10 years away and the limited availabilty of private hydro-therapy pools for the public in Albany..

Unfortunately there is no time-line, we acknowledge this is a movement forward considering there had been minimal replys to the requests in the past. Stay tuned, as we wait a polite amount of time for the next positive communication before we continue our campaign to re-open the AHC hydro-therapy pool.

06/06/2025

Hi all,
We were told there would be an update by now, but no! Lets hope they're finalising positive plans.
What do you think?