Shire executive manager of community services Rod Hilton said repairs currently being undertaken to fix a leak in the bottom of the pool should be completed by late August.

However he also said there was no guarantee the pool could be opened if the repairs were completed due to the ongoing gas crisis.

“We should have the repairs finished by late August, so we are aiming to reopen the pool around the first of September,” Mr Hilton said.

“The pool will be filled and balanced according to Health Department standards by that time, but really it will depends if we are able to heat the pool at that time.

“To be perfectly honest it probably won’t be worth opening the pool if we can’t heat.”

The Leisure Centre has also been forced to lay off 16 casual staff, with Mr Hilton confirming they were currently attempting to find work for permanent part-time staff.

“We are attempting to find them work in other areas,” Mr Hilton said.

“There is a lot of maintenance to be done on the pool and we are going to get staff to help with that, and possibly find them temporary work in other areas.

“The pool needs to be painted and there is maintenance to be done to the inside and outside of the pool, so this is an opportunity to catch up on that work.”

“The problem we have is that we need to retain staff with skills so that when the gas crisis is over, we can actually open the pool, but obviously that will be difficult to do if there is nothing for them to do at the leisure centre.”

Mr Hilton also said pool memberships would not be open to reimbursement, but rather they would be extended for the same amount of time the pool is unavailable for use.