Public Statement - Coolamon Swimming Pool
Update: Friday 27 February 2026
Coolamon Shire Council issues the following update regarding the contamination incident at the Coolamon Swimming Pool.
Independent water testing was carried out on Saturday 21 February 2026 and on Monday 23 February 2026, and Council received the results on the afternoon of Thursday 26 February 2026. The test results indicate that the water quality in the pools meet the required standards for swimming. While these results indicate compliance with current swimming guidelines, Council needs to ensure there would be no further risk of exposure particularly in relation to the amenities buildings.
Following a review of the findings and in consultation with the relevant authorities, Council has been directed that the most appropriate plan of action is to fully empty the pools to ensure safety of the facility moving forward. This work will be carried out by Council in conjunction with EPA.
As the pool season is nearing its conclusion, Council has consulted with the Pool Lessee regarding the operational impacts of this process. After careful consideration, the unfortunate decision has been made to close the Coolamon Swimming Pool for the remainder of the 2025/2026 season.
Council understands this outcome will be disappointing to regular pool users, families and visitors, and we apologise for this final outcome. However, the health and safety of the community remains Council’s highest priority. Council encourages residents to visit the Ganmain and Ardlethan Pool’s for the remainder of the season. Arrangements have been made with these pools to cover season ticket passes from Coolamon.
Council will make arrangements with the Pool Lessee to account for the early closure of the Coolamon Swimming Pool.
Council accepts full responsibility for the incident and acknowledges the impact this has had on the lessee, pool staff and the community. We take this matter seriously and sincerely regret the disruption caused. Council has reviewed and strengthened its internal procedures to ensure this remains an isolated incident and to minimise the risk of recurrence.
Council will continue to work closely with NSW Health, NSW Environment Protection Authority and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water as required.
Again, we thank the community for your patience and understanding throughout this matter and will provide further updates if required.
Update provided on 25 February 2026
On Friday 20 February 2026, Coolamon Shire Council become aware of a contamination incident affecting the Coolamon Memorial Swimming Pool and Coolamon Caravan Park.
Council staff identified that treated effluent water, which is ordinarily used for irrigating public parks, entered the potable water supply at both the pool and joint amenities. Investigations indicate this occurred from 20 January to 20 February 2026. As soon as this was identified, immediate action was taken to isolate the affected supply.
Council closed the Coolamon Swimming Pool on Friday 20 February 2026 and action has been taken to rectify the issue at the Coolamon Caravan Park and no ongoing risk has been identified at that facility.
Council has notified the NSW Health, NSW Environment Protection Authority and Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and are cooperating with these authorities.
At this stage, it is important to note that the contaminated water received further treatment before it entered the pool.
Independent water testing has been undertaken, and Council is currently waiting for these results to come through. Additional testing may be required. The pool will remain closed until Council and all authorities are satisfied.
Council conducts frequent water testing on its three public pools and is committed to providing safe spaces for our community and visitors.
Council’s recycled effluent system was upgraded in 2025 and the water is tested in accordance with EPA requirements.
While investigations are ongoing, the safety of pool users remains the highest priority and Council is working closely with relevant authorities to resolve the matter as quickly as possible. We understand that the community may have questions and we appreciate everyone’s patience while investigations and testing continues.
Council will continue to notify the community during this time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Council has prepared some questions below which may help.
Why is the pool currently closed?
The pool has been closed after being compromised by recycled water from our effluent reuse scheme. This water is the same water used to water our Parks and Gardens. Council has taken this step to ensure that health and safety of all pool users.
What is the estimated timeframe of the contamination?
20 January to 20 February 2026
What does this mean to me?
If you attended the pool recently or stayed at the Caravan Park and you are experiencing any health problems, please attend to your local doctor.
When will the pool open again?
Once testing is complete and Council and NSW Health, NSW EPA & NSW DCCEEW are satisfied.
How can we be sure this won’t happen again?
Council will be undertaking a thorough internal investigation to ensure that processes and procedures are put in place to ensure that this is an isolated incident.
How did this incident occur?
Council has recognised that a series of independent events occurred and one identified point of failure resulted in the contamination. This failure has been rectified.
Could this happen at another Council facility?
Council only has the one treated effluent reuse system, which is in Coolamon. Redgrave Park is the only point of possible contact where the potable water supply and the irrigation water can occur. There are a series of safety checks that prevent cross-contamination occurring.
Does this affect both the baby pool and large pool?
Yes. The baby pool is treated and dosed continuously, and water turnover is every half an hour. Public Health recommends for the baby size pool is to be treated and water turnover to be every 2 hours.
Similarly the large pool is continuously dosed and water turnover is every 3.5 hours, the Public Health recommendations are every 4 hours.
I am a season ticket holder.
Council has arranged with the other pool lessees for your season ticket to be recognised at the Ganmain & Ardlethan Pools.
What about the Pool Lessee?
Council and the Pool Lessee are in regular contact and are awaiting the testing results.
Why did we find out on 25 February 2026 and not the day it closed?
Council’s first priority was the safety of the pool users which resulted in the immediate closure of the Coolamon Swimming Pool and both the amenities building at the pool and Caravan Park. Following this Council had to undertake urgent action to isolate the affected supply, carry out independent water testing, internal investigations and reporting obligations to NSW Health and NSW EPA. This occurred on a Friday evening which also presented limitations over the weekend. Information has been provided to the community once meetings and confirmation with all authorities has been carried out.
How often is testing carried out?
Regular pool water testing is carried out daily by the Pool Lessee to ensure water quality is consistently maintained.
Coolamon Shire Council undertakes required testing quarterly in accordance with EPA licensing requirements at the treated recycling system.
What do the pool test results indicate?
The tests undertaken indicate that the pools were operating within swimming guidelines.
Council acknowledges that we have no data for the amenities buildings and we have no ability to retrospectively obtain this data. These areas have been flushed and tests indicate that these sites are within normal drinking guidelines and requirements.
The water supply to the kiosk, water bubbler and disabled toilet on the western side of the pool is separately supplied by Goldenfields potable water supply and was never affected. There was no impact to the quality of water to these facilities. The food service and perpetration areas were not affected by this incident.
I believe that I, or a member of my family, may be unwell as a result of the incident.
If you believe that you or your child are unwell as a result of the incident, please attend to your local doctor.
If you to feel you need to progress your matter with Council, you will need to provide relevant medical records to support this.
Council’s process is to refer all such claims to its insurer for assessment and investigation. Each matter will be reviewed and managed on a case-by-case basis.
How can I have confidence in Council that it won’t happen again
Immediate action was undertaken to ensure that what occurred was rectified and that this was an isolated incident. Site meetings have been carried out with relevant Government authorities, and Council have implemented internal procedures to remove the risk of reoccurrence.
When will it be safe again?
The pools will be fully emptied to ensure safety of the facility moving forward. As the pool season is nearing its conclusion and after careful consideration, the unfortunate decision has been made to close the Coolamon Swimming Pool for the remainder of the 2025/2026 season. The pool will reopen in November 2026 for the 2026/2027 season.
Coolamon Caravan Park Information
I stayed at the Caravan Park during this time
The Caravan Park was affected by the contamination incident. The incident affected the amenities block only. Individual sites, the camp kitchen, cabins, laundry and resident building were not affected. These areas are supplied by a separate water meter from the Goldenfields potable water.
What does the amenities block include?
The amenities block includes the showers, toilets and sink/hand basins. Water supply from these outlets was compromised during the timeframe. No external taps in the caravan park were exposed to this risk.
Did the water get tested at the Caravan Park amenities block?
Council acknowledges that we have no data for the amenities building and we have no ability to retrospectively obtain this data. These areas have been flushed and tests carried out after the incident indicate that these sites are within normal drinking guidelines and requirements.
Did the Caravan Park close during this timeframe?
The caravan park remained open during this incident and the amenities block was closed on Friday 20 February 2026 only for a short time while the area was flushed, cleaned and testing carried out. After this was complete there was no further risk.
What do you mean by treated effluent watering scheme?
Prior to watering parks, gardens and ovals the water is filtered, dosed with chorine and then pumped onto our community green spaces. This scheme is licenced under our EPA requirements and tested in accordance with those requirements. Council’s recycled effluent system was replaced with a brand-new system commissioned in September 2025.
If you would like to talk to someone about the incident or require more information, please phone Coolamon Shire Council on 6930 1800.