Dapto and Corrimal kids will get digital vouchers for 10 free pool visits this summer. Photo: Wollongong City Council.
Kids in Dapto and Corrimal can cool off for free this summer, thanks to the extension of a trial voucher system.
Last year Wollongong City Council rolled out the trial for kids who live in suburbs without access to a beach or free pool.
It only got off the ground in December 2024 however, and uptake of the program wasn’t great.
To give it a fair go, the free voucher system will run again in Dapto and Corrimal over the 2025-26 summer holidays, with more publicity in the lead-up to the promotion.
Councillor Linda Campbell, who has championed the initiative, said it was an opportunity to address issues caused by the last-minute rollout of the trial in 2024.
“This is about young people accessing cool water for respite during school holidays in arguably the suburb with least access to any of our beaches,” she said.
“The trial last year had some teething problems we have acknowledged, but I know people who accessed this last summer were very grateful.
“That 50 metres of chlorinated respite in the middle of the summer holidays makes a big difference.”
To access the trial a parent or guardian was required to collect a 10-visit pass, verify the child’s date of birth and present photo identification confirming residency within the Wollongong local government area.
During the trial, a total of 2305 10-visit vouchers were distributed at Corrimal Pool and 902 at Dapto Pool, representing an estimated subsidy value of about $125,000.
Council staff and contractors at the pools said they saw new faces who might not have previously gone to the pool, suggesting the voucher system had improved accessibility for some.
Councillor Jess Whittaker said she wanted to see the program expanded to include people of all ages from refugee backgrounds this time around.
“We know people from refugee communities are at a much higher risk of drowning,” she said.
“There seems to be an administrative obstacle getting in the way of giving them access to pools where there are lifeguards available.”
Cr Campbell, who was re-elected as deputy mayor at the same meeting, argued that the trial was about children from all backgrounds.
She said there was scope to expand the program in future, if the extended trial was successful.
“Any child regardless of background can use this program,” she said.
“It is not a targeted program and I think it’s important we continue with it.”
The motion to extend the trial of the free voucher program for kids at Dapto and Corrimal pools for 2025-26 was carried unanimously.
