NOOSA AQUATICS CENTRE UPGRADE PLAN AND NOOSA AQUATICS FACILITIES STRATEGIC PLAN · Report

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING                                                            6 OCTOBER 2026


   E. Authorise the Chief Executive Officer to pursue external funding opportunities, partnerships
      and grant programs to support implementation of priority actions identified within the Strategic
      Plan and PIP; and
   F. Authorise the Chief Executive Officer to make minor changes or administrative amendments
      prior to publishing the final document.


REPORT
Background

Across Noosa, aquatic facilities play an important role in supporting community health, wellbeing,
recreation and social connection. They provide accessible spaces for residents of all ages and
abilities to participate in physical activity and community life. This work has been undertaken to
ensure the Noosa Aquatic Centre (NAC) and the broader aquatic network remain safe, inclusive,
sustainable and fit for purpose into the future.

Strategic Context

The Noosa Council Corporate Plan (2023-2028) and the Sport and Active Recreation Plan (2018)
identify healthy active lifestyles, climate-ready assets, financial sustainability and service excellence
as key priorities, with the NAC Upgrade listed as a strategic key action under the Liveability theme.
This Strategic Plan and Facility Upgrade Plan directly support these objectives by providing a clear
pathway for modernising the aquatic network and ensuring the NAC remains a compliant, fit-for-
purpose, accessible and financially sustainable regional facility.

While the existing aquatic facility network continues to meet the needs of the Noosa community, it is
timely for Council to plan for the future renewal and enhancement of these assets in response to
ageing infrastructure, evolving accessibility standards and changing community expectations. The
Strategic Plan and Upgrade Plan provide a framework to ensure facilities remain fit for purpose and
continue to meet community needs over the long term

The completed Needs Assessment and Demand Analysis, forms the primary evidence base for the
development of the Strategic Plan and Upgrade Plan. Through detailed facility analysis,
demographic assessment, stakeholder engagement, benchmarking and service demand
forecasting, the assessment established a clear understanding of current and future aquatic
provision requirements across the Shire. The assessment findings have been used to identify
network priorities, guide future investment planning and support the development of a staged and
sustainable approach to aquatic facility renewal, accessibility improvements and service delivery
over the next 20 years.

Community and Demographic Profiling

Noosa's population is changing, with ongoing growth in older age cohorts contributing to increased
demand for facilities that are accessible, safe and easy to navigate. At the same time, community
expectations continue to evolve, with growing demand for facilities that can accommodate a broad
range of activities, including learn-to-swim programs, rehabilitation and recovery, aquatic exercise,
squad training and high-performance swimming.