Temporary closure of two outdoor swimming pools
Published on 15 April 2026
Gladstone Regional Council advises of the temporary closure of two of its outdoor swimming pools to enable necessary repair works.
Maintenance inspections have identified that independent repair works are required on both the 25m pool at Mount Larcom and the 50m pool at the Gladstone Aquatic Centre.
Mount Larcom Pool
Mount Larcom Pool was opened in 1971 and has been serving the community for 55 years. A regular maintenance program has been in place, and Council has invested in improving the pool’s useable life for several years.
Investigations have identified that the pool has a significant leak that is impacting on the surrounding environment. To avoid further impact, the pool has been drained and the facility has been temporarily closed.
Council is currently outworking a solution to this issue however the pool will unfortunately not reopen before the end of the swimming season on 30 April.
IMAGE: Mount Larcom Swimming Pool pictured in 2023.
Gladstone Aquatic Centre - 50m pool
Similar to the Mount Larcom pool, the Gladstone Aquatic Facility 50m pool was opened in October 1975 and is now celebrating its 51st year of service to the Gladstone Region community.
During project planning, ground-penetrating radar scans of the 50m pool floor were undertaken, identifying significant voids. It is expected that the voids are caused from significant water leaks and are compromising the pool structure, causing tiles to crack and substantial water leaks into the ground below.
A capital project was planned to completely retile the 50m pool and extend its life, however with the voids now identified, this project would not deliver the intended result.
Council is currently evaluating and considering repair options available to return this valuable asset to the community. These assessments, however, will take time.
Council will close the 50m pool from 30 April, aligning with the commencement of the winter swimming season.
IMAGE: The 25m heated pool at Gladstone Aquatic Centre will remain open.
The 25m indoor, heated pool (pictured above) will remain open for community use during this time.
The next steps for Council include options analysis and decision-making for the longevity of these community assets.
With the options being assessed, and the anticipated complexity of the repair works, it is too early to determine how long remediation works will take, or to know when the pools may reopen.
Council appreciates the community’s patience and understanding while these pool repair issues are addressed.
Council will provide another update in June 2026.