Mid-Murray Council seeks community input to help determine future plans for Cambrai Swimming Pool

February 27, 2024

Karen Sweaney

Aquatics / Consultants /

South Australia’s Mid-Murray Council is asking the community to complete a survey to help Council’s future plans for the Cambrai Swimming Pool.

Cambrai is located in the Mid-Murray Council on the Eastern side of the Mount Lofty Ranges. As of the 2016 Census it had a population of 289 people and is located around 100km from Adelaide or 1.5 hours drive and 35km from Mannum around a 30 minute drive.

The Cambrai Pool is located adjacent the Cambrai School and Council Offices in the centre of town. The pool is sited on Council land and is managed by the Mid-Murray Council. The features of the site are the 25metre pool, small wading pool, grassed and sheltered areas.

The pool is now circa sixty years old and has served the Cambrai and surrounding community well. Various improvements have been made to the site over this period however the pool and some of the supporting amenities have reached the end of their useful life.

Among the question posed to the community in the Council's survey are the following

Why is Cambrai Pool special to you?
On average, how often per year do you currently attend Cambrai pool?
If you have purchased a pool pass, do you utilize both Mannum & Cambrai pool or one pool only?
If the Cambrai pool was not available to you personally, to what extent would it negatively affect you?
If the Cambrai pool was not available to your children, to what extent would it negatively affect you?
What is the most important benefit you receive from visiting Cambrai pool?
To what extent does the Cambrai pool benefit your general wellbeing?
How much do you rely on attending the Cambrai Pool as your main way to cool down on a hot day?
If the Cambrai pool was no longer available, to what extent do you think this will affect the Cambrai & surrounding community?

In September 2018, Tredwell Management completed the Cambrai Swimming Pool Feasibility and Futures Report.

Tredwell Management’s report noted that “due to the local climate, demographics, isolation and long physical proximity to natural water bodies (i.e. Murray River), as well as the economic climate, there is a community need for a swimming pool and considerable value in maintaining access to the Cambrai swimming pool, due to the geographic dispersion and the size of settlement.

“The Cambrai Pool is needed to be able to provide water safety, fitness activities, health prevention, rehabilitation activities, and recreation and sport in the region. The benefits of swimming pools should be viewed in terms of participation opportunities that enhance health and wellbeing, and provide social and recreation activities.

“The pool provides valuable opportunities for local people to gain summer employment, for skill acquisition, for small businesses to grow and potentially to recruit volunteer support for pool related services.

"The availability of accredited swimming pool expertise and small businesses that deliver pool related services, can add value to the pools and contribute to employment opportunities. These also enable Council to contract services out – especially aqua fit and Learn to Swim activities- and still gain highly valuable participation benefits for residents without ongoing costs.”

Access the full report by Tredwell Management

Access the Cambrai Swimming Pool survey