When the news came through that Mittagong Pool would remain closed for the 2021/22 swim season, it was just more disappointment for the Southern Highlands Water Polo club.

Since 2014 the Pool has been closed five times for major repair work due to flood damage with total costs hovering around the $6.1 million mark.

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Speaking to the Southern Highland News, life member and former club president Miles Lochhead said another season away from Mittagong was a blow.

"The Mittagong Pool hasn't been available to us as a water polo club other than about three months in the past five years," he explained.

"We've had to use Bowral Pool and the Aquabliss Pool at Frensham to get by...we're very appreciative of the fact we can use that pool.

"We moved out of Bowral Pool as a club over 20 years ago because it's too narrow and shallow, not ideal for water polo.

"Mittagong is the best pool for water polo in the Highlands and it is a sad loss even for one more season because we've had to compromise for five years."

It's the latest in a long list of blows for the sport in the Highlands, with the clubhouse being lost in a vandal fire back in 2017.

The water polo season typically runs from October to March with the region home to two senior divisions and three junior age groups.

With the club recording 272 members last year, Lochhead said the need for adequate facilities to continue growing was of paramount importance.

"We're one of the largest regional water polo clubs in NSW," he said.

"There's a lot of demand and with one of the major Olympic pools out of action for most of the last five years it's been really challenging to get enough pool time at Aquabliss.

"If we want to grow and capitalise on the tremendous results at the Olympics it's going to be challenging without an appropriate facility."

What's being done?

Wingecarribee Shire Council tabled a report in July of this year recommending the closure of the pool over summer with a review of the Aquatic Strategy to be revealed in September.

Interim Administrator Viv May said council would be seeking a long-term solution to what has become an unsustainable situation.

"There's no point continually throwing money at the pool every time it floods without a long-term plan," he said.

"It's important that council provide the community with a facility that isn't continually interrupted or closed.

"Key to any consultation will be discussions with key user groups to ensure any disruptions are minimised and access to alternate pools is arranged.

"I've also suggested that before any concrete plans are made that a Shire-wide Aquatics Strategy and Community Precinct Masterplan for Mittagong be prepared and presented to residents for comment."

So, what does the future hold?

While wishing to continue working with council to fix the situation, the club has long advocated for a new pool to be built instead of simply hoping Mittagong is fixed.

Lochhead pointed to the growth in population and an ambition to be able to host state competitions as reasons for council to consider investing in a new facility.

"We've been advocating alongside local swimming clubs to have a full-blown Olympic-class facility so we can host regional water polo swimming events, and that has not been forthcoming," he said.

"What we've got at Mittagong is a compromise but it's certainly better than nothing.

"We hope that out of this comes some rationalisation of pool facilities in the Highlands and we get a facility that suits regional competition and international water polo.

"That's not unreasonable for a shire like ours, growing like it is, and the [increasing] interest we have in water polo and swimming."

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