The plug has been pulled on HBF’s embattled 50m pool, with the State Government deciding it is cheaper to replace than fix it.
The decision means Joondalup residents will be without an indoor public pool for two years.
As previously reported by PerthNow, the Arena’s current 50m pool was closed on June 8 as a precautionary measure due to “higher than expected” dust levels from planned works in the nearby leisure pool.
Maintenance inspections revealed more issues needed to be fixed before the pool could be reopened, leaving local swimmers and swim clubs without a local lap pool.
They have now been left high and dry after a structural engineer said the pool had reached the end of its life and needed to be replaced.
Arena Swim Club president Bradley Ryan said at the time the closure had cut its membership by more than half, and it was at risk of no longer being able to operate.
He has since confirmed the competitive swim club had entered care and maintenance with the support of Swimming WA after being contacted by VenuesWest to confirm the pool’s expected re-opening date of December 2025.
“With the member numbers declining to the point where we were actually spending money and not recuperating enough to run a club, it was voted to put the club into care and maintenance, and Swimming WA is going to support in that regard,” he said.
“When the HBF Arena pool reopens in two years, then we can start again fresh.
“There will be no active members in the club for the period until the new pool is opened.”
Mr Ryan said members had come from as far north as Yanchep, and the two-year delay would leave a large patch of Perth’s northern suburbs without a public lane pool.
A new $65m aquatic centre has been confirmed in Alkimos, just 50m from the future Alkimos train and bus stations, but it will not be ready until 2026.
“It’s definitely a big strain on families,” Mr Ryan said.
“One mother I spoke to wakes her 15-year-old daughter up at 3.45am and they leave home at 4.30am to the pool at HBF Stadium in Mt Claremont.
“She trains there six days a week so that puts strain on the whole family and fatigue on the child who is only 15.”
Despite the two-year disruption to the swim club and local swimmers, Mr Ryan said the new pool was welcome news but would need a strict maintenance schedule to ensure it did not end up in the same position.
“I’m pretty ecstatic, to be honest, and VenuesWest have been very open and transparent with me; they reach out every week giving us updates and providing communication,” he said.
“I want to make sure we don’t get in this position again. VenuesWest has been supporting, but it’s more reactive now. We need to make sure that when the new pool’s in place, there’s a good maintenance regime so that we don’t fall back into the same position.
“Because the original maintenance has just been deteriorating over many years and it hasn’t been repaired, it’s definitely a better outcome than to just repairing it.
“It would have been good if we fixed the pool. Even if we had to shut down for a week or two a year ago to get the pool repaired, it would have been better than this current position.”
A new air treatment system will also be designed and installed for the pool, and the contract for the construction of the new pool will go to market in the new year.
Mr Ryan said he would like to see a pool with touchpads that accurately record swim times and could host official Australian meets, large events and national championships.
He said it would be lovely if the grandstands were upgraded but was told this would not be happening.
A State Government spokesperson said costs could not be given until the tender was awarded but said a new pool was better than repairing the current pool, which was built in 1999.
“Following a detailed assessment of the options available, a replacement of the pool was found to provide the best value for taxpayers and will deliver significantly improved facilities,” the spokesperson said.
“This is a major project that will take several years to complete.”
Sport and Recreation Minister David Templeman said swimming was an essential part of the WA lifestyle.
“That is why replacing this pool is of the utmost importance to provide swimming facilities for the area,” he said.
Joondalup MLA Emily Hamilton said the Government was committed to replacing the pool as quickly as possible, ensuring that northern suburbs residents had a choice of venues for swimming.
Demolition of the old pool is planned for later this year, and a purpose-built insulated wall will be installed to try to protect patrons and staff from dust and noise.
The leisure pool is also currently closed and scheduled to reopen in November.
A VenuesWest spokesperson said they have worked closely with the Education Department to relocate their October VacSwim swimming program to HBF Stadium but would return to HBF Arena for the January program at the leisure pool.
“All schools who had school carnival bookings at HBF Arena have been given the opportunity to reschedule to HBF Stadium, with many choosing to do so,” they said.
“Aquatic user groups and members have been offered pool lanes at HBF Stadium for their regular training programs. Some have moved their sessions to HBF Stadium, while others have secured pool space closer to Joondalup.”
People will be invited to have their say on the proposed design, which is expected to be released in the coming months after architect and design consultants are appointed.