MidCoast families will have more opportunities to swim during the April school holidays next year, with council extending the outdoor pool season until April 24.
MidCoast councillors have voted to trial the longer 2026-27 season following community feedback calling for pools to remain open later into autumn.
The change means all council outdoor pools will remain available throughout the April school holidays, providing families and other residents with an additional recreation option while warmer weather continues.
Outdoor pools previously closed in line with the end of daylight saving, which falls on April 3 in 2027.
The extension across the council’s outdoor pool network is expected to cost $57,203.
MidCoast Council Executive Manager Public Spaces Liam Bulley said the trial responded directly to feedback from pool users over the past two years.
“We’ve heard from our community that having access to outdoor pools during the April school holidays is important, particularly when the warmer weather can continue beyond the end of daylight saving,” Bulley said.
“This trial gives us an opportunity to respond to that feedback and see how the community uses our pools during an extended season.”
During the extended period, supervised pools at Taree, Gloucester and Tea Gardens will operate on reduced hours from 11am to 3pm.
Unsupervised pools at Nabiac, Krambach, Stroud and Bulahdelah will continue operating under their normal summer opening hours.
Bulley said visitation and costs would be monitored to determine whether extending the season provided enough benefit to continue in future years.
“We want to understand how many people take advantage of the longer season and balance that against the additional cost of keeping our pools open,” he said.
“The information we gather will help Council make an informed decision about whether an extended outdoor swimming season should continue in future years.”
The extended season will run until Saturday, April 24, 2027.
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