Since the latest wave of COVID-19 swept the state, the Horsham Aquatic Centre has only had to make one closure - of the outdoor pool for one hour.

Other than that, the pool has been able to continue largely normal operations, according to operations coordinator Rachael Krahe.

"We've managed to keep it open the best we can here," Ms Krahe said.

"We haven't had to close completely, but the outdoor pool has had to close for an hour on one day."

READ MORE:

However, Ms Krahe noted that the pool has had staffing concerns, but was proud of the way the staff have handled them.

"We have had to juggle a few shifts around with staff having to go ahead and get tested, but it's been manageable," she said.

Of Horsham Aquatic Centre's 54 staff members, 22 are lifeguards - with half of those being permanent employees and the rest being part-time students.

Amid the COVID-19, ensuring enough staff members are on the ground is only one part of the puzzle, as Ms Krahe said visitation levels have fluctuated.

"They've patches here and there where it's busy," she said.

"There are also patches where It's been quieter than it is for a normal summer.

"There'll be periods of the day where it's crazy busy and you wouldn't think anything's happened and then periods where it's really quiet.

"That's not normal for summer."

MORE NEWS:

While Horsham Aquatic Centre has managed to weather COVID-19 concerns thus far, the outlook across the industry is a different matter with the industry seemingly treading water.

A Royal Life Saving Society analysis, released on January 15, has estimated that as many as 30 per cent of swim teachers, lifeguards and aquatic industry staff have had to isolate at some point since the beginning of December.

The RLSS cited staff shortages, levels of 'pandemic fatigue' and the challenges of managing both infection and isolation associated with high levels of COVID-19 transmission as being behind the struggles.

The pools in Hindmarsh Shire, like Horsham Aquatic Centre, are managed by YMCA Victoria.

YMCA Victoria area manager Jason Sheard said the impacts of COVID-19 are more far-reaching than just staff members isolating.

"The impact that COVID has had on, especially the kind of leisure industry over the last two years, is that so many of the staff that we would normally have coming through haven't been able to do any courses," Mr Sheard said.

"The main differentiation as opposed to something like retail is just that for lifeguards, they need to do their initial training and at the end of every year, they need to redo their lifeguard certificates, first-aid certificate, etcetera.

"There's just been so few courses around to the COVID-19, especially when you're somewhere a little more regional.

"Horsham is probably where, most of them went to do it or potentially Hamilton, but there are less courses in those places, which makes it harder to get into."

The result was a workforce that was spread thin.

"Even losing a small percentage through having to isolate if they're a close contact or a positive case, stretches already stretched resources even further," Mr Sheard said.

The four public pools in Hindmarsh Shire - Nhill, Dimboola, Jeparit and Rainbow - have been closed for two days each on a schedule that is available on the Hindmarsh Outdoor Pools Facebook page.

OTHER NEWS:

Mr Sheard said the closures were about managing concerns before they eventuated.

"We're trying to be as proactive as possible and alleviate that and get more staff on board," he said.

Horsham and Hindmarsh were also being proactive in ensuring they had enough lifeguards on staff to cover any absences.

"The positive thing for Hindmarsh and for Horsham as well as that, is that we were able to organise our own lifeguard course last weekend at the Horsham Aquatic Centre," Mr Sheard said.

"It meant that between us, we were able to get about 16 local people through the course as lifeguards."

The situation has not been so positive elsewhere in the state.

In Ballarat, a decision was made to close three outdoor pools so staff could be redirected to work at two busier pools.

Australian Community Media reported that in Victoria's southwest pool operators were struggling to keep pools open.

YMCA Victoria senior coordinator of operations Kate Ludeman told ACM it was a "nightmare" juggling staff to keep some pools open.

"On Sunday I was driving home and I got three phone calls on that trip to say 'sorry I'm a positive or a close contact'," Ms Ludeman said.

"It's a nightmare. I never thought in my whole life that a pool would shut because we don't have staff."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: