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

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING                                                            6 OCTOBER 2026


These trends highlight the importance of providing facilities that support participation across all ages,
abilities and activity levels.

While the NAC continues to perform strongly and remains a highly valued community asset, parts of
the facility are now over 25 years old and require renewal to meet contemporary expectations and
service standards.

The facility is a highly valued community hub that attracts strong usage, yet parts of the centre were
built in an era before universal design or modern expectations around privacy, accessibility, shade
and amenity. As a result, the community is looking for improvements such as more shade, inclusive
amenities, increased gym and program space, better storage, and safer circulation through busy
areas, with a better functioning entry, on-site bike storage and a safer carpark.

There is a clear aquatics network structure in the Shire, and the NAC is the premier regional facility,
while school-based pools provide important local access to supplement and support hinterland
communities, as do the growing number of household pools. With limited population growth forecast
across the Shire, the most efficient and sustainable approach is to renew and enhance existing
aquatic facilities rather than develop new ones. Future investment should focus on ensuring these
facilities continue to meet the needs of a diverse and changing community

Community Priorities

Community feedback across all engagement has been clear and consistent, with people wanting the
facility to address the areas for improvement and remain fit for purpose with modern and accessible
functionality.

Council has a key leadership role in the provision of aquatic services. Council’s Corporate Plan calls
for healthy, active lifestyles, future-ready assets and climate-resilient infrastructure. The Strategic
Plan and Upgrade Plan turn those commitments into action through a staged, well-sequenced
approach that supports continued day-to-day facility operations, integrates universal design and
sustainability, and positioning the organisation to pursue external funding in the years ahead to
achieve significant legacy outcomes.

The Strategic Plan sets the vision and priorities for the whole network, while the Upgrade Plan and
PIP set out the practical steps and timing at the NAC, ensuring every visit becomes easier, safer and
more welcoming for the people who rely on these facilities the most.

Key Findings

1) Network role and access

   •   The NAC remains the Shire’s primary regional aquatic facility with Department of Education
       (DoE) pools at Tewantin, Cooroy and Pomona providing local supplementary access (outside
       school hours). Almost all residents in the Shire live within a 15-minute drive of a public or
       publicly accessible pool.

   •   Current assets pre-date universal design standards and renewal is required to meet
       accessibility, safety and contemporary amenity expectations.