Community puts forward suggestions for Bushy Park Pool site

The Derwent Valley Council met twice with the Upper Derwent Valley community in 2026 to discuss the future of the Bushy Park Pool and War Memorial site.
At both meetings, residents raised concerns and views on the pool, community health and wellbeing, youth engagement and safety, green space, the war memorial, and infrastructure needs such as footpaths and speed limits.
The DVC is running a survey on their website asking for submissions and potential ideas for the site moving forward.
Council has made it clear that the Bushy Park pool cannot reopen and also acknowledges that past commitments to reopen it should not have been made and apologises for the impact this has had on the community.
Factors that restrict the reopening of the pool include regulatory and planning constraints, no viable business case for reopening, loss of vehicle access caused by the Styx River bridge works, and the pool being well beyond its operational life.
An independent facilitator prepared a report on the second community meeting, held on July 22. The report does not make recommendations but records the questions raised during the meeting and the workshop outcomes to inform Council of possible ideas moving forward.
Following the opening session, participants discussed themes drawn from the Upper Derwent Valley Precinct Plan, supplemented by ideas raised at the first meeting on June 1 and in prior community feedback.
Community Health and Wellbeing Proposals focussed on transforming the pool site into a flexible, welcoming space that could serve community members and visitors across all seasons.
Ideas included:  public toilets, a dog-on-lead area, green open space with 24/7 public access, free BBQ facilities, and picnic areas. Nature-based shelter suitable for all seasons, including shade structures, trees and fire pits. Safe, accessible river access, a tree- and bush-covered park environment, bike stands and active transport infrastructure—facilities designed to serve both residents and visitors year-round.
Discussion and proposals were also tabled regarding the needs of the community's youth and the safety risks created by the pool’s closure.
Ideas included - Playground equipment including climbing structures, swings and a spider’s web, bike and scooter track, half basketball and half netball court, skate park or pump track potentially using the existing pool structure, water play area also potentially incorporating the pool structure, fire pit in the style of Mt Field National Park,24/7 lighting, free Wi-Fi hotspot, public toilets, improved access to the Bushy Park Showgrounds and Glenora District School, business case for a pool based on employment and skill development opportunities for local youth, free access to the New Norfolk pool as an interim measure.
Important discussions also prioritised the War Memorial, its history, and its Veterans. Participants were clear that the war memorial must be preserved and made accessible, and properly maintained, regardless of what else happens at the site.
Ideas included - Lighting for the memorial, 24/7 public access, pedestrian access to the memorial, built-in provision for flowers and acts of remembrance, reactivation of access to the buildings on the site, relocation of the memorial to the hall car park land or to the cemetery, use of the pool structure as part of an expanded war memorial, site interpretation and storytelling to preserve and communicate the history of the site, the hall repurposed as a memorial space.
The Derwent Valley Council has published a survey to help identify community priorities for the Bushy Park Memorial Swimming Pool, which is open for submissions until Monday, September 7. Responses to the survey, along with ideas raised at the two community meetings and any written submissions, will help Council develop a list of priorities to guide its future strategic direction for the site and for the communities of Bushy Park and Glenora.
Council has stated that the pool and war memorial site is an important place and wants to work with the community to decide what comes next for the area and for residents of Bushy Park and Glenora.
To access the survey and full details of the report, visit the Derwent Valley Council website. For more information, contact the council directly at dvcouncil@dvc.tas.gov.au, phone 03 6261 8500, or visit 1 Circle Street, New Norfolk.