Albany needs a hydro-therapy pool

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?

16/05/2025

Thankyou to recently elected Scott Leary - Nationals for Albany who has taken up the baton to help open the Albany Hospital Hydro-therapy Pool
Thankyou to recently appointed Jacinta Herbert - Executive Director of WA Country Health Service – Great Southern who is going to ‘review and explore options’ to ensure the best possible decisions in regard to the pool. She has promised to answer a letter sent recently by the end of the month.
Stay Tuned... Veronica and Janet

12/05/2025

Here's some more background from a few years ago.

A therapeutic pool at Albany hospital sits empty despite arthritis sufferers appealing to health authorities for its reopening.

08/05/2025

Checkout todays Albany Advertiser pg 10
Thankyou to Melissa Sheil.
Interesting the WA Country Health said, “A decision regarding the future of the hydrotherapy pool site at the Albany health campus will be made by the W.A. Country Health Service at an appropriate time’
The ‘appropriate time’ was years ago, make the decision now!
Don’t forget to sign https://www.change.org/p/reopen-the-hydro-pool-at-albany-health-campus

07/05/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1ZEzDAhX8t/Checkout either Thursday or Fridays Albany Advertiser

A campaign to reopen the public hydrotherapy pool at Albany’s hospital has rapidly gathered steam as the community rallies behind the vulnerable patients who used it weekly