WA Government Refuses to Fund Albany Hydrotherapy Pool Reopening

A feasibility study into recommissioning Albany's public hydrotherapy pool reported a 'justifiable case for investment' however the state government has said it will not fund the works.

There is currently no public hydrotherapy pool in the Western Australian town, 400 kilometres south of Perth, despite 100 people previously using the service.

The pool was closed during COVID in 2020, reopening for a brief period in early 2023, then closed again to due to infrastructure failure and compliance issues.

Local residents have been lobbying for the pool to be reopened and applied through Freedom of Information for the feasibility study commissioned by the WA Country Health Service (WACHS) to be released publicly.

However, the Premier Roger Cook this week released the report after being requested to do so by the ABC.

The study recommendations stated refurbishing and recommissioning the pool "may not be financially advantageous for WACHS given the historically low demand from acute patients, hydrotherapy’s limited priority within the current health model of care, and there is no regulatory obligation to operate the facility".

However, it said the investment was justifiable based on broader social and community benefits "supported by strong community advocacy, clear clinical demand, and the significant benefits hydrotherapy offers to people with disabilities, older adults, and other priority groups across the Great Southern Region".

The report stated the pool would immediately be at 73 per cent capacity should it reopen.

It said there was strong demand for such a facility and with Albany's aging population, that would continue to grow.

However, Health Minister Meredith Hammat said while such pools were available in regional areas, Albany was the only regional hospital that had one on site and it was not financially viable to reopen it.

The feasibility study projected $1.9 million to address issues with the pool and a further $290,000 each year to operate it.

Pain of closure

Glenys Nottle was a regular user of the pool before its closure and said her pain had increased since she was unable to visit,

"I'd like to see the pool back again.

"Not only does it do our bodies a favour by trying to relax our muscles, but it also is a chance for you to get out and have a talk to people that you know that are suffering from the same thing."

Ms Nottle said using a private pool at a local physiotherapy practice was not an option because it was too full.

Aging infrastructure

Ms Hammat said the Albany pool was built in 1981 and had significant infrastructure failure and compliance issues.

"Expert assessments have identified that the pool cannot be recommissioned without substantial capital investment, including replacement of essential components and remediation of fire safety, occupational health and safety, infection control and maintenance deficiencies," she said in a statement.

She said recommendations from the feasibility study had been investigated but even with capital funding to recommission the pool, there was no third party to operate it.

"Further scenario modelling demonstrated that recommissioning the pool is not financially viable under any third-party operating model, particularly where community-preferred access fees are applied," she said.

"I recognise this decision will understandably be disappointing to some members of the community.

"Careful consideration has been given to the feasibility study and the views put forward by all stakeholders."