Council Aquatics Plan

W i n g e c a r r i b e e  A q u a t i c s  P l a n

(Scroll down for Aquatic Plan development history below)

Update - 23 March 2026:

The Report: Multipurpose Indoor Sporting Facility – Site Selection was discussed at the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 18 March 2026.

 

The Draft Minutes of that Meeting have been published here:

 

https://www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/files/assets/public/v/2/council/meeting-minutes/2026/18-march-2026/draft-minutes-ordinary-meeting-of-council-18-march-2026.pdf 

 

We have linked the final approved Minutes and  Recommendations regarding Item 8.1.2 here.

 

From an Aquatics perspective, not much has changed since the Update of 23 May 2025 detailed below, however, Recommendations 2; 4 and 7 approved by Council on 18 March provide scope as below: 

 

Recommendation 2:

Include provision for a multipurpose indoor sports centre at Mittagong in the updated Developer Contributions Plan.

Outcome: Will assist in funding Sporting Facility Infrastructure at the Mittagong Sports Precinct.

Recommendation 4:

Request the General Manager to prepare a master plan for the broader Mittagong precinct, incorporating the Mittagong rewilding concept and the future multipurpose indoor sports centre, to support integrated long-term planning for the site.

Outcome: Will ensure that  planning for future infrastructure options at the Mittagong Precinct are integrated and inclusive due to masterplanning guidelines and proposed community consultation.

Recommendation 7:

Request the General Manager to facilitate structured, in-person stakeholder consultation sessions with community sporting groups from across the Shire to inform and support the development of the Mittagong precinct master plan, with outcomes from this engagement to be reported back to Council

Outcome: As per outcome from Recommendation 4, Will ensure that  planning for future infrastructure options at the Mittagong Precinct are integrated and inclusive due to masterplanning guidelines and proposed community consultation.

It is our view that Recommendation 1 "... Endorse the Mittagong site at 1A Old Hume Highway Mittagong, being the area encompassing Mittagong Oval, PCYC and Highlands Golf Club, as the preferred site for a future multipurpose indoor sports centre..." may change once council considers the outcome of "...structured, in-person stakeholder consultation..." as contained in Recommendation 7 above.

We look forward to the proposed community engagement which in our view has not been undertaken appropriately for these sporting infratructure projects that are perhaps the most significant in the history of the Shire.

 

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Update - 18 March 2026:

A Report: Multipurpose Indoor Sporting Facility – Site Selection is scheduled for consideration at the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 18 March 2026.

This Report follows on from Exhibition and consideration by Council of an Aquatics Plan and an Indoor Facilites Plan as per updates below.

• Following are the proposed Recommendations for Item 8.1.2 (pp12-13)

  THAT Council:

  1. Endorse the Mittagong site at 1A Old Hume Highway Mittagong, being the area encompassing Mittagong Oval, PCYC and Highlands Golf Club, as the preferred site for a future multipurpose indoor sports centre, noting that the independent assessment found this location offers the broadest benefit to the wider Wingecarribee community and the greatest opportunity for a financially viable facility.

  2. Include provision for a multipurpose indoor sports centre at Mittagong in the updated Developer Contribution Plans.

  3. Note that the Moss Vale option, including the land transfer and operating arrangements proposed by the Moss Vale and District Basketball Association Inc., would require Council to purchase privately owned land using Council’s General Fund, as developer contributions cannot be applied to the acquisition of that land, and that the independent assessment found the site presented additional challenges in achieving a financially sustainable and operationally viable facility when considered against the broader site selection criteria.

  4. Request the General Manager to prepare a master plan for the broader Mittagong precinct, incorporating the Mittagong rewilding concept and the future multipurpose indoor sports centre, to support integrated long-term planning for the site.

  5. Request the General Manager to continue discussions with relevant sporting stakeholders in the Moss Vale precinct, including the Highlands District Cricket Association, with a view to supporting coordinated long-term planning, tenure and use outcomes for Lackey Park and its surrounding recreation assets.

  6. Update the Shire Priorities document to include delivery of a future multipurpose indoor sports centre at Mittagong as a strategic project for State and Federal funding advocacy.

   * SHWP will be making a presentation  in relation to this Report at the monthly Community Forum from 2.30pm 18 March at the Council Chambers.  We will be repeating our request for a full site Masterplan for the Mittagong Sports Precinct which we suggest should involve consideration of a Regional Aquatic Centre - a copy of the Presentation is uploaded here.

Update - 30 January 2026:

• The SHWP Submission to Council's 'Plan of Management for Sportsground, Park and General Community Use' is available here - stay tuned for details of when this Plan will be put to Council.

Update - 25 January 2026:

• Plan of Management for Sportsground, Park and General Community Use

• Council's Draft Plan of Management for Community Land and Crown Reserves - Sportsground, Park and General Community Use is currently on public exhibition.  This Plan has implications for future of Aquatic Facilites in the Shire and is relevant to deliberations in that regard detailed below.

• **Aquatic Facility users are encouraged to engage with the Exhibition process and make a Submission.**

• Submissions are due on 30 January and can be made through a Form provided at this link: 
  https://participatewingecarribee.wsc.nsw.gov.au/plan-management-sportsground-park-and-general-community-use
  
• SHWP has consistently advocated for greater community consultation, and has requested on a number of occasions that an appropriate way to cover this (especially in terms of Aquatics) would be to undertake a full Masterplanning process for the Mittagong Sports Precinct.
• Should you make a Submission, the above points are most relevant to resolving the crisis we are currently experiencing in local aquatic facilites.

Update - 10 December 2025:

• Council deliberated on the Multipurpose Indoor Facilities component of the Community and  Recreational Facilites Strategy (CRFS 2023) at the 19 November General Meeting.  SHWP presented at the Community Forum of that Meeting, the video of that presentation is avaialable here (SHWP starts around the 32 minute mark): YouTube video SHWP Presentation 19 November
• The Minutes of the Council Meeting reflect the discussion including a number of unsuccessful amendments and can be viewed here (pp 18-22):  Draft-minutes-ordinary-meeting-of-council-19-november-2025.pdf . A screenshot showing the original Recommendation can be found here: WSC Resolution 9.5, Draft Business Case for Multipurpose Indoor Sporting Facility - Post Exhibition Report . The following was added to the final adopted Recommendation which was carried unanimously:

  6. Meet with the State and Federal members of parliament to lobby in earnest for funding opportunities.

• SHWP and the local aquatic community look froward to the ensuing engagement!

Update - 19 November 2025:

• Council will deliberate on the Multipurpose Indoor Facilities component of the Community and  Recreational Facilites Strategy (CRFS 2023) today.  SHWP is speaking at the Community Forum of the Meeting, a transcript is avaialable here:
  WSC Indoor Facilities Plan Presentation 19 November 2025 SHWP

Update - 17 September 2025:

• A letter has been sent to the Council GM, Mayor and all Councillors in regard to the Mittagong Pool Rewilding Plan Community Drop-In Session scheduled for Saturday 20 September at the Highlands Golf CLub, from 10am
• A copy of the letter is uploaded here: Mittagong Sports Precinct Stakeholder WSC letter 2025-09-17
• Details of Mittagong Pool Rewilding Plan Community Drop-In Session are available on Council's 'Participate Wingecarribee' website: Mittagong Rewilding Plan - Morning Community Drop In Session
• Local residents are encouraged to attend the Info Session and contribute to planning for the whole Mittagong Pool/Oval Precinct - feedback link here

Update - 5 September 2025:

• Southern Highlands Water Polo and Mittagong Swimming Club met with Council's GM and Director Services and Project Delivery on 27 August
• In response to that meeting, SHWP has revised our background document summarising our position to date - link below:
• See Draft here - feedback welcome!: Draft SHWP Aquatics Commentary September 2025 
• Council is holding a Community Drop-In Session from 10am on Saturday 20 September at Highlands Golf Club
• Our Club, and supporters, will advocate in the lead up, and at the Info Session for a widening of a proposed Mittagong Pool Rewilding 'Masterplan' to incorporate the whole Mittagong Oval/Pool Sporting Precinct 

Update - 25 July 2025:

• Southern Highlands Water Polo made another presentation to Council at the 21 June Community Forum - transcript attached below. [WSC Aquatic Plan Presentation 21 June 2025 SHWP MSC final]
• Council has formally responded to our Submission on the Aquatics Plan to which we provided a response. Both documents are upoaded below. [WSC response to submission Southern Highlands Water Polo June 2025]; [WSC Aquatics Plan Submission response SHWP MSC 2025-07-25] 
• We now await a formal response to our latest approaches.

Update - 23 May 2025:

• The Draft Minutes from Council Meeting of 21 May are now posted on council's website. These contain the adopted Recommendations which should result in some appropriate consultaion with stakeholders - very soon!
• WIN News Illawarra covered the lead up to Council's Aquatics Plan deliberation, their news story can be seen here:  WIN News story
• And thanks ABC Illawarra for following up on our Media Release from 22 May.  Amy Duggan asking some great questions on the Morning Show. Mittagong Pool discussed from the 23 minute mark in the clip below just before the 9am news. 
• We will now wait for a positive response from Council after our very productive meeting on 22nd May with Local Member for Wollondilly, Judy Hannan!
• Recording of ABC Illawarra Mornings with Amy Duggan, listen from 23 minute mark!

Update - 19 May 2025:

• This update is provided 7 months after our October Update which provided details of the SHWP Submission to the Aquatics Plan available here: SHWP Aquatics Plan Submission Final 29 September 2024
• Since the last Update, the Club has held its AGM with details of new office bearers here: SHWP Executive
• Over the 7 months, Council has assessed Submissions from the local community and made changes to the Plans based on Submission findings.
• Following further review of existing aquatics facilities across the Shire and consideration of the submissions received, the matter is now being considered at the 21 May 2025 Council Meeting.
• The meeting agenda is available on the Council website, as is details on the process for public participation in the meeting - https://www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/Council/Council-Meetings/Council-Meeting-Minutes-and-Agendas
• Representatives from SHWP and Mittagong Swimming Club will present at the Public Forum on Wednesday 21 May from 2.30pm

Thanks to all who made Submissions and have supported the Aquatic community throughout this process, we will keep you posted with developments.

​Yours in the Deep End,

Nicole McCarthy (President) – ‭0456 817 295‬

Update - 1 October 2024:

• We have uploaded a Final SHWP Submission for the proposed Regional Aquatic Centre which is available here: 

SHWP Aquatics Plan Submission Final 29 September 2024

Thanks to all who made Submissions, we will keep you posted with developments.

​Yours in the Deep End,

Craig Moore (President) – 0477 799 311

Update - 17 September 2024:

• Timely news item from ABC about Olympic Silver Medallist Zoe Arancini:
  https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-17/water-polo-stingers-paris-olympics-zoe-arancini/104358966
• A very useful video and Report from Royal Lifesaving Australia (2022).
• Congratulations to newly elected Councillors (no official reult as yet), we look forward to working positively with the new Council in progressing the Aquatics Plan!

Update - 29 August 2024:

• As below, SHWP has prepared a Support Document in the leadup to our Submission - a copy is available on the website News Page here: https://www.revolutionise.com.au/shwpolo/news/wingecarribee-aquatics-plan

Update - 9 August 2024:

* Council's Aquatics Plan, Business Case for a Regional Aquatic Facility and Business Case for a Multipurpose Indoor Sports Facility are now on public exhibition - access here:

https://participatewingecarribee.wsc.nsw.gov.au/aquatics-plan-regional-aquatics-centre-multipurpose-indoor-centre

• Our Club will be making a comprehensive Submission by the due date of 29 September 2024, we will soon provide some guidance to what we feel as a Club should be included in individual submissions - stay tuned to this page and social media for updates.
• Club officials have met with Federal MP for Whitlam, Stephen Jones, and NSW Independant Member for Wollondilly, Judy Hannan, who are both supportive of proposed Club aspirations for the final Aquatics Plan - more on this soon.

Update - 19 July 2024:

* The proposed Aquatics Plan and Business Cases for 1/ Regional Aquatics Facility and 2/ Multi-purpose Indoor Sporting Facility were presented to Council's Ordinary Meeting of 17 July - files uploaded below.

Summary:    

• There has been no comprehensive plan/strategy which includes all local sporting/recreational/community facilites in the Highlands until now
• The complex process of developing a Strategy was commenced after Council went into Administration
• Step 1 was development of the Community and Recreational Facilities Strategy starting in 2022, which was approved in October 2023
• Step 2 has been the development of a Draft Aquatics Plan and 2 Business Cases emanating from the Strategy Recommendations
• Step 3 is Exhibition of the above from 5 August until 29 September
• Step 4 will be progression to Concept Plans; Design and Costing of whatever the new Council approves in the Final Aquatics Plan
• Steps 3 & 4 will need to involve genuine community consultation with ALL stakeholders to ensure that a practical, fair and workable solution is devised
• Step 5 will be working out how to pay for this, sympathetic to many other community projects for the Highlands that need to be funded
• Note: From an Aquatic perspective in the North of the Shire, activity has been seriously compromised since flooding events at Mittagong Pool forced regular disruption (and now permanent closure) since 2016 - swimming (recreational and competitive) and water polo activites have suffered considerably for over 8 years now!
• The Plan suggests a timeline for delivery stretching out to 2030
• Now is your opportunity to contribute to Plan and Business Case finalisation through Submissions

FULL DETAILS BELOW

The Plan and Business Cases were approved for Exhibition on 17 July as per the following Council Minute:

HISTORY

The long awaited AQUATICS PLAN for Wingecarribee Shire was presented to Council on Wednesday 17 July for approval to go on Exhibition, links to the relevant Report and Plan documents are as below:

https://www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/files/assets/public/v/1/council/meeting-minutes/2024/17-july-2024/agenda-ordinary-meeting-of-council-17-july-2024.pdf - Item 9.1

https://www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/files/assets/public/v/1/council/meeting-minutes/2024/17-july-2024/attachments-under-separate-cover-ordinary-meeting-of-council-17-july-2024.pdf - Aquatics Plan starts at p 991

This is a lengthy process with a forecast delivery timeframe of up to 6 years - 2030!  The Plan has long term implications for water polo and aquatic sports so we need to get it right!

The water polo community is encouraged to read the Report and provide any comments to shwp@outlook.com

Our Club is recognised as a major stakeholder having participated in the development of the Wingecarribee Community Recreational Facilities Strategy approved by Council in October 2023, and will continue engagement as the Strategy is implemented.

We have the strong support of our local Member Judy Hannan and will be lobbying for financial assistance to develop facilites that are fit for purpose, when constructed, and well into the future.

We will update progress here as developments occur.

Update from Community and Recreational Facilites Strategy development in 2022-23

Southern Highlands Water Polo provided a comprehensive Submission in 2023 for the above Strategy which is available here:

SHWP CRF Strategy Submission

We also have had an opportunity for our voice to be heard as a Water Polo Community into the proposed Wingecarribee Community and Recreational Facilities Strategy (CRF) through completion of a Survey on the Draft Strategy. Visit Council's YourSay Page for updates.

Whats all this about?

Councils Draft CRF Study and Strategy was presented at the 21 June Ordinary Council Meeting 2023 and was open for public exhibition.

* SHWP made a formal Submission including responses to Survey Questions which is attached below.

* Please feel free to contact SHWP should you have any questions about the Strategy and SHWP involvment.

* Please send any correspondence to shwp@outlook.com

Thank you.

SHWP 

Mittagong Pool circa 1936

Full story here

Should you wish to dig deeper, scroll to bottom for a full list of relevant files that have led to the production of the Draft Aquatics Plan and business Cases on Exhibition from 5 August 2024