A petition calling for the 50-metre pool at Deception Bay Aquatic Centre to be heated and opened year-round has not succeeded, with the City of Moreton Bay citing low patronage as the reason heating the outdoor pool is not financially viable.
The petition, organised by local swimmer Emanuela Bassi, gathered 53 signatures from residents calling for the facility at 153 Maine Terrace to remain open through winter, currently May to August. The response, delivered following a general meeting earlier this month, was clear: the numbers do not stack up.
“The very low patronage of Deception Bay’s 50m pool means it is currently not sustainable to install heaters and subsidise the cost of energy, water, staff, and maintenance at this venue,” a City of Moreton Bay spokesperson said.
A Facility with Everything But a Heater
While the Deception Bay Aquatic Centre already hosts a heated indoor programme pool for therapy and rehabilitation, it’s the outdoor 50m pool that lap swimmers rely on that remains cold and closed throughout the winter.
For Bassi, who swims at the centre four or five times a week, that distinction matters enormously. She drives further to access a heated 50m pool each winter and says she is not alone in that inconvenience.
“I had a chat last year with some people coming to swim and all of them would have stayed in Deception Bay in winter if the pool was heated,” she said. “It’s a beautiful facility. It’s big, has a 50m pool, everything is there. If they organised winter classes, like in Redcliffe and Burpengary, people would come in winter.”
Bassi ran the petition as a trial run rather than an organised campaign, and believes a stronger effort could attract more support.
“I did this as a trial, not knowing if anyone else felt the same way. I think I could have raised more signatures if I was there.”
Where to Swim This Winter
For Deception Bay, Murrumba Downs, Dayboro and Woodford residents whose local pools will close in May, the City of Moreton Bay has pointed to three nearby heated alternatives: Redcliffe War Memorial Pool, which features a 50m indoor heated pool; Burpengary Regional Aquatic and Leisure Centre; and North Lakes Aquatic Centre, which offers both indoor and outdoor heated pools alongside aqua aerobics, squad training and learn-to-swim programmes.
Deception Bay Aquatic Centre is at 153 Maine Terrace, Deception Bay. For seasonal opening hours and programme information, visit deceptionbaypool.com.au or call the centre directly at 07 3204 7845.
Published 29-April-2026
