Heathcote Swimming Pool

The pool was closed for these reasons:

• On January 11, 2025, a pool patron reported feeling what they thought was an electric shock when they touched a metal fixture whilst in the pool. Staff closed the facility for public safety reasons. An electrician attended the site to investigate the issue. The electrician was not able to identify any electrical faults. The facility reopened the following day
• On February 12, 2025, several pool patrons reported feeling electric shocks, this time in both the main and toddler pools. Staff closed the facility for public safety reasons. An electrician attended the site again to investigate the issue but was still not able to identify any electrical faults
• The facility has not reopened since the electric shock reports of February 12, 2025. This is because the source of the electric shocks has not been identified and therefore public safety cannot yet be assured
• The pool was scheduled to close for the 2024/25 season on March 16, 2025, so it closed approximately one month earlier than scheduled
• The community was notified of the closures through:
  Signage at the facility
  City of Greater Bendigo notifications to media outlets
  Posts on City and Belgravia Leisure social media sites
  Emails/calls to schools with bookings
  Emails/calls to parents or carers with swim school bookings

In addition to electricians attending the site to look for electrical faults, the City has:

• Had an electrical engineer specialising in aquatic facilities attend the site. They were also not able to identify any electrical faults
• Worked with Coliban Water and Powercor to eliminate their nearby infrastructure as a possible electrical fault source
• Had an electrician attend and test the nearby pavilion, sports ground and electric vehicle chargers to eliminate them as a possible electrical fault source
• Upgraded the facility’s existing earth stake
• Installed a new earth stake specifically linked to the pools
• Installed an extra safety switch (residual current device) in the pool plant area

Other works at the facility during the 2024/25 season have included:

• A new pool circulation pump
• A new chemical storage shed

An electrical data logger has been installed at the facility. This will help to understand electrical activity occurring at the site and target further investigations and works, if needed. The pool plant is continuing to be operated during this time to simulate normal facility operations.

Belgravia Leisure is contracted by the City to operate the pool. Under the contract the pool is scheduled to re-open on 15 November 2025 for the 2025/26 season.

There are no plans to permanently close Heathcote Pool. This is reflected in the Community Aquatic Facilities Strategy adopted by Council in 2023.

For more information, visit:

Community Aquatic Facilities Strategy page

Schools that had bookings were offered to be transported to another facility at no additional cost.

Belgravia Leisure reimbursed all pre-paid swimming lessons affected by the unexpected pool closure.

This is possible. Any refunds will be pro-rata given the pool was open for some of the 2024/25 season.

To request a refund, email:

[email protected]

The City and Belgravia Leisure have previously tried to form a Heathcote Pool Community Reference Group without success. Only one resident attended the last meeting despite the opportunity being heavily promoted.

The City and Belgravia Leisure will coordinate and advertise a Heathcote Pool community forum prior to the 2025/26 season. If you would like to pre-register for the forum, please email:

[email protected]

An electrical data logger has been installed at the facility. This will help to understand electrical activity occurring at the site and target further investigations and works, if needed. The pool plant continuing to be operated to simulate normal facility operations until shutdown of plant on April 17 2025. Data logging is now continuing of the pool water and pool infrastructure. 

Up to May 9 2025 no electrical anomalies were identified with the data provided to the aquatic’s specialist electrical engineer for analysis and advice on the next steps in the process.

• 25m pool
• Toddlers’ pool
• Shade
• Kiosk

• Swimming lessons
• Aqua classes

VICSWIM operates at Heathcote Swimming Pool during January.

Parking is available on the street or in Barrack Reserve.