General News
10 December, 2025
Community meeting Thursday night to discuss future of aquatic centre
THE Moyne Shire community will come together for a community-led meeting to discuss the future of the Belfast Aquatics & Fitness Centre this Thursday, December 11.
The meeting will be held at St Pat’s Hall (9-11 William Street, Port Fairy) from 7pm.
Residents are calling for the opportunity to share their views, listen to one another, and engage in a respectful conversation about the long-term wellbeing of our community.
Everyone is welcome to attend.
A recent petition, already signed by thousands, has highlighted the strong community support for this facility and its importance to people across the shire.
The meeting will provide an update on the current situation, explore options for the future, and ensure community voices are clearly represented when feedback is taken to Moyne Shire Council next week.
Belfast Aquatics opened in 2007 and has been proudly managed and operated by the Belfast Aquatics Committee ever since.
The facility was a long-awaited dream for Port Fairy, made possible through years of community effort, generous contributions from tradespeople and suppliers, and thousands of volunteer hours.
Since its opening, the committee has dedicated itself to ensuring the centre remains a place for health, connection, and opportunity for generations of locals.
The pool was originally funded through nearly a decade of community effort, with locals rallying together to secure grants and run countless fundraising activities.
In 2007 local tradespeople built the facility, inspired and guided by the vision of builder Jim Chambers and businessman Michael Steel.
Volunteers have continued to dedicate their time and energy over the past 17 years, supporting fundraising initiatives and helping ensure the pool has remained open and accessible to the community.
The Belfast Pool Management Group was recognised as one of seven significant community action groups, and the community-built, community-managed indoor heated pool was highlighted as a leading example of active community participation in the submission that led to Port Fairy being named the ‘World’s Most Liveable Community’ for towns under 20,000 people in 2012.
The pool was closed on Friday, November 28 after structural and remedial issues were identified.
The facility now requires significant works to reopen.
Moyne Shire Council formally took ownership of the centre on December 1.
The community acknowledges the excellent work council has delivered recently at the Port Fairy East Beach precinct, including the new playground and skatepark, and is calling for the same level of commitment to be applied to the pool and gym.
The facility serves people of all ages, abilities, and stages of life.
The community has been clear: they want to see it reopened as soon as possible and want council to work collaboratively with them to shape the future of this important community asset.
“Our community relies on our pool and gym for their physical, mental, and emotional health,” Teresa O’Brien said.
“Each year the pool teaches hundreds of children how to swim and stay safe in the water. It’s time for us to come together and plan a way forward.”
