Solar heating for new Hay Pool - Council considers options for renewable energy

By Tertia Butcher

Heating options for two of the replacement pools at the John Houston Memorial Swimming Pool are currently being investigated by the contractor, ELM Aquatics.

Works are due to commence late next month, with the pool closing on February 24, to be completed for re-opening late November 2025.

General Manager, David Webb said the replacement project includes three new pools, filtration equipment, solar heating, renewable energy supply, recreational facilities and landscaping.

Council resolved at its November meeting not to build the hydrotherapy pool due to insufficient funds, and plans to use the money raised by the community for a heated pool ($320,397) to heat two of the replacement pools.

“Council has been working with the Hay Hydrotherapy Pool Committee in developing the Hay Hydrotherapy Pool project,” Mr Webb said.

“Unfortunately, when Council went to market (tender) there was insufficient funding to allow the project to proceed in the short to medium term.

“At this point staff suggested that some of the grant monies raised for the hydrotherapy pool project could be used to heat the swimming pools to allow aqua gentle exercise and rehabilitation.”

This includes a heating system to heat the Learn To swim (LTS) pool to around 28 degrees and the 50m pool to 20 degrees to have the cold edge taken off, particularly at the start and end of the extended season.

This can be achieved by filling the plantroom roof with an evacuated tube heating system.

Mr Webb said this system uses copper tubes surrounded with glass to collect heat from the sun.

The hot water is run through a closed loop system, heating the water in the storage tanks.

“Then each body of water (pool) has its own looped system that runs through the storage tanks and transfers the heat into the pool water and runs back to the pool,” Mr Webb said.

“These have been installed on other town pools and work well with relatively low energy use.

“The proposal will need a combination of evacuated tubes and heat pumps with storage tanks to allow the two bodies of water to be heated at once to the desired temperatures.”

A cover is proposed for the LTS pool to keep the heat contained as much as possible.

“In addition, to keep operational costs down, the proposal also includes upgrading the proposed solar PV and battery system that will go on the roof of the new amenities building,” Mr Webb said in a report to Council.

“Until the detailed design is completed, the actual heating system budget will not be known and if new electrical supply needs to be included in the works to accommodate the full development.

“Since the November meeting, Council has met with the Hydrotherapy Committee on several occasions to investigate and discuss options to utilise the grant funding received ($692,524) to heat the new swimming pools in lieu of the hydrotherapy pool.

“Unfortunately, the committee has not supported this option and the grant funding will now have to be handed back and the money will be lost to the community.

“Council does, however, have quarantined money of $320,397 raised by the community over many years for the purpose of establishing a heated pool in Hay.

“Staff recommend that his money be used for heating the replacement project.”

Mayor Cr Carol Oataway said a meeting was convened with the Hydrotherapy Pool Committee on December 4 to discuss the way forward to achieve the best possible outcomes for the community when the tender came in $500,000 over budget.

“Several options were put to the committee, including the use of community funds and grant funding to install a larger heating system into the new pools.

“The committee was asked to a make a decision in the next few days so that Council can move ahead with its pool project planning.”

“The committee, however, resolved to hand the grant funding back rather than for Council to heat the replacement pool,” Mr Webb added.