Martin Carlson Foundation fights to save Korumburra pool

THE Korumburra based Martin Carlson Foundation (MCF) has expressed deep disappointment over the potential closure of the Korumburra Pool warning that losing this critical asset will harm youth employment and community health.

Rather than shutting down the facility MCF trustees are advocating for an improved management plan that includes optimised opening hours, increased community usage, stronger financial investment, and expanded activity programs tailored specifically for both younger and elderly residents.

The push to save the facility comes immediately after a major community investment by the organisation. On March 4 and 5, 2026, the foundation helped fund a brand-new initiative aimed at empowering South Gippsland youth while directly supporting regional aquatic infrastructure.

The course itself was a collaborative effort facilitated by the South Gippsland Bass Coast Trade Skills Alliance and the South Gippsland Bass Coast Local Learning and Employment Network (LLEN), with training delivered by Life Saving Victoria.

The Martin Carlson Foundation’s specific financial contribution was generous funding for bus transport to transfer the students to and from the venues at the Korumburra Scout Hall and the Korumburra Outdoor Pool.

A number of students from Foster Secondary College underwent rigorous training to achieve their full first aid certificates and professional lifeguard qualifications.

The intensive course required the students to complete six hours of compulsory online theory alongside practical, hands-on CPR training. They also gained specialised expertise in team-based emergency response, including the correct administration of oxygen and the operation of automated external defibrillators (AEDs).

The foundation highlighted several key long-term benefits of the training program including boosting local safety by immediately injecting up to fifteen qualified lifeguards into the local workforce.

The Martin Carlson Foundation has also argued that the pool lifeguard training provides young people with essential life skills, formal qualifications, and immediate avenues for volunteer work or paid employment.

“It allows local youth to secure jobs close to home, keeping valuable skill sets within the South Gippsland community and provides international recognition, enabling participants to travel and work in the aquatics industry overseas,” according to the foundation trustees.

Crucially, MCF trustees noted that the Korumburra outdoor pool is the only venue capable of hosting this vital training program. As the only 50-metre outdoor facility in the entire South Gippsland region, its closure would effectively eliminate the infrastructure required to run high-level lifeguard and water safety courses locally.

Over the past two and a half years, MCF has injected nearly $150,000 into the South Gippsland region. A major priority for the foundation was funding local school students to complete pool training.

MCF representatives highlighted that losing the facility would directly reduce opportunities for local youth at a critical time. The foundation warned that the pool’s closure would cause them to lose confidence in South Gippsland Shire Council, potentially forcing them to redirect future funding to organisations outside the region.

This warning comes despite positive community engagement from Mayor Nathan Hersey, who previously attended and promoted MCF’s youth initiatives and saw first-hand the success of the pool lifeguard course in Korumburra.

According to the Korumburra Community Development Association (KCDA) local pools are essential infrastructure that boost mental health, encourage physical activity, and provide a safe, affordable gathering space for youth.

South Gippsland Shire has been urged to implement better investment, optimised opening hours, increased community usage, and targeted activity programs designed for both younger and elderly residents.