Park won’t be making a splash for a while

BELLLARINE Aquatic and Sports Centre’s popular splash park has been closed indefinitely, leaving school holiday swimmers disappointed.

A broken pipe underneath the pool concourse is the latest issue to plague the Ocean Grove pool, which removed a popular children’s slide last month amid injury fears.

The splash park and toddler pool were also closed for maintenance last month.

City of Greater Geelong community life director Robyn Stevens said the splash park had “been temporarily closed for maintenance” but could not confirm when it would open.

“We have engaged contractors to determine the location of the broken pipe under the pool concourse and the nature of repairs required,” she said.

“We are working with the contractor to minimise any disruptions to members and visitors to the centre.

“Most of the work will be completed outside of operational hours.”

In a Facebook post, Bellarine Aquatic and Sports Centre said the slide was removed due to “safety concerns”.

“Our number one priority is our patrons’ safety, therefore we were in a position to remove the yellow slide,” it said.

Parents took to social media to express their disappointment about the latest splash park closure, with some citing a string of maintenance issues.

Ramona Browne slammed the closure as “very disappointing, unprofessional and beyond a joke”.

“It took weeks of non-action before the closed pool was being attended to and up and running with little change but the removal of the yellow slide and a bathroom sink that was out of action for weeks,” she said.

But some parents supported the council’s decision, with one posting “it is in everyone’s best interest to make it safe”.

Ms Stevens said membership fees had not been refunded.