The Cowes outdoor pool will return to operation for the summer of 22-23.

After a two year break due to the Covid pandemic and challenges with staff resourcing, the pool is set to reopen on Thursday, December 22.

In a partnership with Bass Coast Y, Bass Coast Shire Council and Cowes Primary School, the pool operates from December 22 to January 25 (excl Christmas and New Year’s) on days the temperature is 24C or above.

The pool consists of a solar heated 25m pool and toddler pool. Change rooms, kiosk and plenty of shade are available … along with the bonus of no seaweed, sand or sharks. It is a great place to spend the afternoon with the family.

“We are so excited to be able to get this community project open again this year,” the Y manager says.

“We would love to see local families utilising the pool on a regular basis and this year, for the first time, we will be recording how many local people visit.

“This information will assist the council to determine future year’s operations. So putting it simply, we need your support!

“This year we have a great bunch of new staff and a few have returned from previous years.

“Thanks go to Chisholm for delivering a free Pool Lifeguard Course earlier this month which allowed us to recruit.

“Despite this, we do foresee that there may be some days we are unable to open due to staff availability so please be patient as we work through this.”

The first day of operations will kick off on Thursday, December 22 with free access to all participants. Operating hours are 1pm to 6pm.

The Y team operate the outdoor pool in line with the Lifesaving Victoria Watch around Water guidelines which require visitors to follow the supervision requirements: children under five must be in arms reach of parent or guardian; children under 10 must be actively supervised by parent or guardian.

The following supervision ratios apply: a maximum of two children under five years with one adult; a maximum of four children under 10 in total with one adult (of which only two can be under five).

Check out all the details on the Phillip Island YMCA website and join the Cowes Outdoor Pool facebook page for daily updates.

“We look forward to seeing you, family and friends,” says the Y.