THE Rosewood Aquatic Centre has long been more than just a swimming pool – it’s a vital community hub for health, rehabilitation, social connection, and affordable recreation.
Now, as frustration grows over its seasonal closure, State Member for Ipswich West Wendy Bourne has joined forces with local residents to demand urgent upgrades and year-round access to the aging facility.
Together, they’re calling on Ipswich City Council to act on its own reports and invest in the future of this much-loved public asset.
The centre, which first opened in 1966, closed on Friday, April 4 – just one day before the school holidays began.
The timing of the closure has sparked widespread community backlash, particularly from families and early-morning lap swimmers who rely on the pool for regular exercise and rehabilitation.
Among those voicing their frustration is local resident Martin Acutt, who said the pool had become a crucial social and health-focused gathering place for the community.
“It is a real sense of community there,” he said.
“There are a lot of older people who go in there, who have had knee operations, hip operations, to do their rehabilitation up and down the pool.”
Mr Acutt questioned the justification for the seasonal closure, pointing out that current autumn temperatures were far from extreme.
“It’s beautiful,” he said. “If the heaters aren’t big enough, why not just shut it through June and July, which can get too cold at once, and then open again in August?”
He also noted that popular weekend programs like aqua aerobics consistently filled the car park, and closing the Rosewood facility only pushed more people towards already overwhelmed centres like Leichhardt.
“Rosewood Pool gives older people somewhere to meet and socialise – one of the best things to prevent Alzheimer’s and dementia is to get out and socialise.”
Despite repeated promises and a 2022 Council announcement of $430,000 for planning and design work, residents say tangible progress has been lacking.
Ms Bourne criticised the inadequate heating system and noted that Rosewood was the only Council-run facility in Ipswich without year-round operations.
Council’s own Aquatic Facilities Action Plan (2022) describes the centre as having “reached the end of its useful life” and recommends a full rebuild. The same plan highlights a projected 377 per cent population increase in Rosewood by 2041, reinforcing the urgent need for modern, accessible facilities.
Ipswich City Council CEO Sonia Cooper responded to Ms Bourne’s concerns in a letter, acknowledging that while the 25m pool was technically heated, the system was too small to function effectively during winter without enclosing the facility.
But Ms Bourne and residents remain unconvinced.
“I googled historical temperatures, and the coldest April morning this year was 14.4°C. That’s not freezing,” she said.
“I’ve lived in Rosewood for 31 years – I’m not convinced our recent winters are as cold as suggested.”
She is now calling on the Council to follow through on its own recommendations.
