Dear friends of the OLC and Olympic Village,
The Olympic Village Action Network has been a little quieter recently as many of us have been juggling conflicting commitments, but please know that the Olympic Leisure Centre and the future of the Olympic Village have remained very much on our minds.
Over recent months we have continued attending and speaking at key Council meetings to remind decision-makers that our community matters, that Heidelberg West matters, and that equity must remain central to any future planning and redevelopment.
While the closure of the Olympic Leisure Centre swimming pool in October 2025 was devastating for many in our community, we also believe this moment presents an opportunity to think collectively about the future.
Thank you also for supporting the Olympic Village Twilight Market in December last year, it was truly wonderful to come together and celebrate our local community, what a talented bunch!
What would you like to see in the Olympic Village?
We would love to hear your ideas about what our community could benefit from if we were to apply for a Bendigo Bank community grant.
What would make a meaningful difference locally?
We are also keen to hear people’s thoughts about the longer-term future of the Olympic Leisure Centre site. While the pool has closed, there are opportunities for our community to advocate for new facilities as the ageing site comes up for redevelopment - whether that is a new pool, arts and cultural spaces, youth facilities, gardens, community programs, or something entirely different.
Strong communities shape strong outcomes, and community ideas and participation will be important in whatever comes next.
Monash University Research Study: Have Your Say
We are also sharing an important follow-up research survey being conducted independently by Monash University researcher Dr Liz Taylor regarding the closure of the Olympic Leisure Centre pool.
If you completed the first survey before the pool closed, it would be especially valuable to complete the second survey now, as this follow-up is a key part of the research. However, anyone who used the pool is welcome to participate.
This research is significant because it gives further recognition to what residents and advocates have been saying for more than a year: that the Olympic Leisure Centre pool was far more than just a recreational facility.
The study examines the impacts of the closure on:
community connection and belonging
health and wellbeing
access and equity
transport and affordability barriers
and the broader role of public spaces as “social infrastructure”
Importantly, the research is independent of Council processes and may help build a stronger understanding of how closures like this affect communities such as Heidelberg West.
The survey takes approximately 10 minutes and is anonymous.
The Olympic Leisure Centre is currently closed for renovations. It is disappointing that our new library didn’t open in March as Council repeatedly assured.
Thank you to everyone who has continued to advocate, participate, speak up and support one another. Community voices matter, and we hope to continue working together toward a stronger and more equitable future for the Olympic Village.
In solidarity,
Alex, Secretary
Olympic Village Action Network
[email protected]
https://ovan.org.au
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands upon which the Olympic Village is situated, the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Kulin nations, and pay our respects to elders past, present, and emerging. Sovereignty over these lands was never ceded; always was, and always will be, Aboriginal country. We aim to work in collaboration with our First Nations partners to create a better future for our community.