2025年11月26日
The Future of Pools Launches at NSW Parliament
A new blueprint for sustainable, community-led aquatic infrastructure
Last week at NSW Parliament, Royal Life Saving NSW, in partnership with Cox Architects and WaterCo, launched The Future of Pools — a forward-looking concept designed to reshape how aquatic facilities are planned, funded, designed and delivered in Australian communities.
The event brought together over 60 delegates from across the country, including Members of Parliament, Local Government executives, aquatic and design professionals, suppliers, engineers and infrastructure partners. The level of engagement in the room reflected a clear appetite for change, innovation and new thinking in the way we approach aquatic public infrastructure.
Public pools are among Australia’s most valuable community assets. They are places people learn to swim, where families gather, where health and fitness are sustained, and where children take their first breath and first kick in the water. Yet almost 40% of Australia’s 1,200 public pools will reach end-of-life by 2030. The cost to replace this infrastructure is estimated at around $8 billion. Without a shift in thinking, many communities risk losing access to safe, inclusive and climate-resilient places to swim.
The Future of Pools offers a new pathway. Instead of single large capital builds, the concept presents a modular, scalable and community-led approach to aquatic facility development. The model integrates public policy, design, cost modelling and consultation, placing community needs, long-term sustainability and affordability at the centre of planning decisions.
Michael Ilinsky CEO of Royal Life Saving NSW said:
“For years, the sector has spoken about the problem without a tangible pathway forward — this concept finally offers a practical, scalable solution. We have hosted workshops, engaged councils and industry partners, tested ideas and explored models, but until now much of that work has lacked a clear implementation framework. The Future of Pools is the shift from conversation to action — a blueprint the sector can build from, not just talk about.”
At the launch, speakers discussed the need to rethink how pools are delivered and how the sector can better align investment with real community demand. Several key ideas resonated strongly, including the need for flexibility, staged delivery, energy efficiency, universal access, and more resilient operational models.
As one speaker noted during the session:
"We are challenging conventional assumptions. We are questioning old models, old timelines and old cost structures. This is not merely a concept — it is a call to rethink how Australia builds aquatic facilities."
The Myrtha Pools Country Manager, who attended the launch, shared the following reflection:
"I would like to extend my warm congratulations on the outstanding event on Friday and to thank you sincerely for the opportunity to be part of it. The presentation was effective, clear, and incredibly well received. The level of interest and engagement in the room was remarkable."
With the launch now complete, the project team is making concept materials and reference documents available for councils, planners, architects, policymakers and sector partners who wish to explore the model further or begin future-focused planning discussions in their community.
Explore research, concept materials and resources here: Future of Pools
The Future of Pools is an invitation — to work collaboratively, to help solve the infrastructure challenge ahead, and to ensure every community continues to have access to safe places to swim.