COMMUNITIES were one equipment failure away from having serious conversations on Loddon swimming pools, Cr Miki Wilson told Tuesday’s Loddon Shire meeting.
Cr Wilson said council faced significant risks in its aquatic strategy with the five swimming pools up to 70 years old.
“If one of these pools fails, there wll have to be serious conversations about the investment that would be made. The community needs to understand (the) risks,” she said.
Cr Wilson’s statement came as councillors received a report showing swmming pool attendances last season were up 18 per cent, most driven by funding of  $11,478 from Inglewood and District’s Community Bank of its initiative  for discounted entry and half-price season tickets at Inglewood, Mitamo and Wedderburn pools.
“Belgravia Leisure contributed $3806 to extend the initiative to the Pyramid Hill pool and council included the Boort pool through contract rise and fall adjustments,” wellbeing director Wendy Gladman told councillors .
“This partnership initiative was well received by the Loddon community and is considered the primary driver behind an 18 per cent increase in overall attendance, with total visits rising from 14,928 in 2023-2024 to 17,517 visits in 2024-2025,” Mrs Gladman said.
“Total pool expenditure across the five pools for the season was $833,116. Despite higher contract and maintenance costs, increased visitation kept the average cost per entry stable at $47.56, compared with $47.63 in 2023-2024.”
Mrs Gladman said early morning swimming sessions at Boort, Wedderburn and Inglewood continued to attract community support. 
Aqua aerobics classes were held at Boort, Wedderburn, Inglewood, and Pyramid Hill. Mitiamo hosted a program supported by the Healthy Loddon Campaspe initiative.
Cr David Weaver said council,m however, had worrying times ahead with maintenance costs.
But Cr Weaver said with number of waterways in the shire, pools offering learn-to-swim programs was “a wonderful thing” tfor water safety.