BENDIGO swimming pools are in a state of turmoil during the peak summer season, with reports of one pool leaking up to 80,000 litres of water a day and others closed for repairs.
It was revealed yesterday that the Brennan Park Aquatic Centre in Flora Hill is using up to 80,000 litres of water each day to keep its pool topped up.
The news comes as the Bendigo Leisure Centre's 50-metre indoor pool in Eaglehawk closes its doors until March, at an estimated loss of $75,000 to the centre.
The Brennan Park facility has had leaks for the past two years, and temporary repairs have failed to stop thousands of litres of water running into the drainage system.
Some residents recently suggested the pool leaked about 10,000 litres a day, but The Advertiser understands that figure could be as much as 80,000 litres a day, or about one-twelfth of the main pool's capacity.
City of Greater Bendigo recreation and youth services manager Mark Hands confirmed that the council had known about the leaks for at least 18 months.
"Because of the drought conditions, a number of the pool shells are moving and their seals are breaking.
"We have undertaken a leak detection process, where we get divers to check the pool shell and highlight where the leaks are occurring."
He said that process was first undertaken about 18 months ago, and was performed again in recent weeks.
Temporary sealing works took place after the first investigation, Mr Hands said, with contractors likely to be at the pool again in coming weeks.
Mr Hands said the main pool was in line to receive permanent leak sealing, costing about $300,000, as part of the council's 2006-07 budget.
A Coliban Water spokesperson said the city had a general exemption for swimming pools because the service was deemed to be of community benefit. N
The spokesperson said in order to gain that exemption, the council had to ensure each of the city's pools were in good working order.
While the authority could not confirm how much water was being used, the spokesperson said Coliban Water would investigate the issue further and would most likely visit the pool this week.
Meanwhile, the head of Bendigo YMCA has defended the closure of the Eaglehawk pool, despite an estimated loss of $75,000.
The 50-metre heated indoor pool at the leisure centre closed last Thursday for $137,500 worth of refurbishments, including tiling of the pool.
Bendigo Regional YMCA chief executive officer Peter Krenz yesterday acknowledged the closure would cause disruption, but said the decision to close the pool in summer was taken so patrons could attend other outdoor pools.
"If we closed it in winter, there wouldn't be other options for people," he said.
Mr Krenz expected the closure would cost the centre about $75,000.City of Greater Bendigo community wellbeing director Barry Secombe said the works were necessary and negotiations would take place with the centre to assess the financial impact of the work in the hope of reaching an "amicable agreement" in terms of compensation.
It is not the only Bendigo pool to be closed during summer.
One of the four pools at the Bendigo East Solar Heated Pool complex was closed last Tuesday.
Last week The Advertiser reported children had emerged from the pool with bleeding hands and feet after swimming in the intermediate pool.
Committee of management president Rick Pell said since Tuesday the intermediate pool had been totally repaired and repainted.
He expected the pool to be reopened before the end of the week.
Mr Krenz said people who wanted to use the pool were being redirected to the Bendigo Aquatic Centre.
Centre manager Peter Duggan said the hot summer had been extremely good for the centre, and it had averaged between 500 and 900 people a day.