Pools for Staff Housing in Regional WA: Why a Good Home Keeps Good People
Countrywide Pools recently made the trip from our base in Northam out to Leonora in the northern Goldfields to replace an old pool at a residential property that has been getting a proper overhaul over the last few years. The thinking behind the whole project was simple. Make the house somewhere a person would genuinely want to live, long term, in a remote town.
It is something we are seeing more of across regional WA. Businesses, organisations and property owners are starting to look at a pool for staff housing as a practical investment rather than an optional extra. When you are trying to attract good people to a town the best part of 800km from Perth, the house that comes with the job matters. A lot.
Below we walk through the Leonora job, a look back at our award-winning Meekatharra nurses' quarters project, why a pool can make a real difference to staff housing in regional and remote WA, and what to think about if you are planning a pool for a work property, rental or accommodation of your own.
Project Leonora: replacing an old, damaged pool with a new luxury pool
A pool isn't always just about adding value to a property. Sometimes it's about adding value to the people who live there, too!
This recent installation took us all the way out to Leonora, where we replaced an existing, old and damaged pool as part of a larger property improvement project for a Shire staff member.
The existing pool had done its time. Rather than keep patching something that was past its best, the decision was made to take it out and start fresh with a new fibreglass shell.
The new pool is a Cottesloe 8m x 4m. We also added spa jets into the pool shell, so whoever lives there gets a proper massage-style spot to sit in without needing a separate spa. After a long shift in 40 degree heat, that counts for something.
In regional and remote WA, attracting and retaining good staff can be a challenge, particularly when it comes to essential services. Having a comfortable, well-equipped home can make a real difference to someone's decision to move to a town and, more importantly, stay there.
Planning a remote install properly
Leonora is roughly 750km from our yard in Northam, so this was never going to be a job where you duck back for a forgotten fitting. Remote installs get planned around doing it once and doing it right: the shell transport, mobilising our excavator and gear, materials, accommodation for the crew and timing around the weather. It is the same approach we take on jobs out past Laverton, up in the Pilbara or down towards Esperance.
We’ve done this before: the award-winning Meekatharra nurses' quarters
Leonora is not the first time we have been asked to bring a pool back to life for people working in a remote town. Back in 2022 we took on the full renovation of the pool compound at the nurses' quarters in Meekatharra, an enclosed group of units built around a shared pool area.
The old pool had been sitting derelict and the whole area had been neglected for a long time. For the people living there, a space that should have been a relief from the Murchison heat had become something nobody used.
A full turn-key job, roughly 700km from home
We looked after the whole project from start to finish. That meant removing the old pool, equipment, paving and fencing, then installing a new fibreglass pool, new perimeter fencing and gates, an equipment shed, paving, upgraded electrical services and lighting. We also renovated the existing pergolas with slatted shade panels and prepared the site for new planting to a landscape plan.
A team of eight, made up of our crew and trusted subcontractors, travelled from Northam to Meekatharra for the job. Demolition was done and excavation for the new pool was underway on day one, and the team worked through eight days of extreme heat to get the compound fully renovated.
The Result
The once-neglected compound is now a bright, safe, low-maintenance space where residents can swim, exercise and cool off in some of the harshest heat WA has to offer. On the day we left, the residents and the people overseeing the project could not thank the team enough.
The project won Gold for Community Project at the 2022 SPASA WA Awards and was Highly Commended at the National SPASA Awards. More than the trophies though, it showed us how much a well looked-after pool area means to people living and working a long way from home. You can see more of our work in our project gallery.
Why staff housing matters so much in remote and regional WA
Anyone who has lived in a small country town knows the story. A key role opens up, sits vacant for months, finally gets filled, and then the person moves on after a year or two. Housing plays a big part in that.
In a lot of remote towns there is limited rental stock, and what is available can be pretty tired. For essential roles in health, education, policing and the trades, the house is often part of the package, and it gets weighed up alongside everything else. Distance from family. Schools. The heat. Being a long drive from the nearest big centre.
When someone is deciding whether to move their family to the Goldfields or the Pilbara, a comfortable, well set up home can be what tips the decision. And getting someone to come is only half of it. Getting them to stay is the other half. When a home actually feels like home, people settle in, join the footy club, get involved, and put down roots. Every time a key person leaves, the town loses that continuity and the employer is back to square one on recruitment.
What a pool actually adds to a work property
Getting through a regional WA summer: Summers in Leonora, Kalgoorlie, Newman and Karratha regularly push past 40 degrees. A pool turns those months from something you endure into something you can actually enjoy. That makes a big difference to how someone feels about living out there.
Somewhere to switch off: Plenty of essential roles involve long hours, on-call work and a fair bit of pressure. Having somewhere at home to cool off and properly decompress is good for wellbeing, and the added spa jets in this pool lean right into that. With Magnesium Pools now on the rise too - the health benefits can be ten-fold for an active worker.
Family appeal: If the person moving has a partner and kids, the pool is often what sells the move to the rest of the family. Kids outside instead of on screens, mates over after school, weekend barbecues. It gives the whole family something to look forward to about the new place.
Presentation and property value: A modern pool that suits the house and outdoor area adds real appeal to a property. On the flip side, a tired old pool that looks like hard work can count against it. Replacing an ageing pool with a low-maintenance fibreglass one can turn a negative into a genuine selling point, whether you are trying to fill a role, lease a house or eventually sell.
Why fibreglass suits staff housing and rental properties
We are fibreglass specialists, so we are a bit biased, but there are good practical reasons it works so well for work properties and rentals.
• Low maintenance. The smooth gelcoat surface is less friendly to algae and generally needs fewer chemicals than concrete. No acid washing or resurfacing down the track. That matters when the people living there change, or the owner is not on site.
• Faster on site. The shell is built in a factory, so the time we spend on site is shorter than a concrete build. Less disruption if the house is occupied, and easier to line up with a new staff member's start date.
• Plenty of choice. There is a shape and size to suit most properties. Have a look through our range of fibreglass pools for ideas.
Planning a pool for a business, organisation or investment property
Whether it is staff accommodation, a station homestead, a rental or a house that comes with the job, a few things are worth thinking through early.
Think about who will live there: A single professional, a couple or a family of five will all use a pool differently. Size, depth, steps and seating areas should suit the most likely occupants, not just the current one.
Keep maintenance simple: Good equipment pays for itself on a work property. A salt chlorinator, a decent filter and a robotic cleaner keep things easy for whoever is living there. We also take the time at handover to walk occupants through the basics so the pool stays in good shape.
Safety and compliance: Pool barriers in WA need to meet the Australian Standard, and local governments inspect them at least every four years. On a rental or staff property, compliance generally sits with the owner, so it is worth getting fencing and gates right from day one.
Budget realistically for remote sites: A pool in a remote town is not priced like a pool on a flat sandy block in the metro area. Transport, excavation, rock, access and travel all need to be allowed for properly. We quote with realistic allowances upfront so there are fewer surprises later. You can see how our installation process works before you get in touch.
Why regional businesses and families work with Countrywide Pools
We are a Northam-based family business and regional WA is our playground. We install pools from Exmouth to Esperance on farms, acreage, town blocks, stations and work properties, and we understand the realities of rural projects because we work on them every day.
Our in-house team runs our own fleet, including 10T and 5T excavators, rock breaking attachments, a bobcat and the trucks to get it all out to site. That means we can take on remote jobs like Leonora and Meekatharra properly, without leaning on a pile of extra allowances once the job is underway. We have picked up more than 60 state and national awards in the last three years, including Gold for Community Project for the Meekatharra nurses' quarters, and the feedback we hear most is that the distance was never felt. Read more about our team.
We are just as happy working with businesses and organisations as we are with families. If you are looking after staff housing, a rental portfolio or a property in a remote town, we would love to help you work out what will suit it best.
Frequently asked questions
Does a pool add value to a rental or staff property?
A well designed, low-maintenance pool can add real appeal to a rental or staff property, especially in hot regional areas where it makes summer far more liveable. It also helps attract and keep good tenants and staff. An old, tired pool can have the opposite effect, which is why replacing one is often worth it.
Can you replace an old pool with a fibreglass pool?
Yes. We remove the existing pool, rework the excavation to suit the new shell and install a brand new fibreglass pool. It is a common way to modernise an older property and cut down on ongoing maintenance.
How long does it take to replace a pool in a remote town?
The on-site part of a fibreglass install is quick compared to concrete, but the full timeline depends on removing the old pool, approvals, transport distance and site conditions. We give you a realistic timeline for your specific site when we quote.
Do you install pools in remote WA towns?
Yes. We install across regional WA from Exmouth to Esperance, including the Goldfields, Wheatbelt and Pilbara. Our fleet and in-house crew are set up specifically for remote installs.
Have you done pool projects for staff accommodation before?
Yes. Our renovation of the pool compound at the Meekatharra nurses' quarters won Gold for Community Project at the 2022 SPASA WA Awards and was Highly Commended nationally. More recently we replaced a pool at a residential property in Leonora as part of a wider upgrade.
Can businesses and organisations engage Countrywide Pools?
Absolutely. We work with families, farming businesses, station owners, investors and organisations looking after staff housing. The process is the same, with one point of contact from quote to handover.
Who is responsible for pool fencing at a rental property in WA?
Generally the property owner is responsible for making sure the pool barrier is compliant, and local governments inspect pool barriers at least every four years. Your local shire can confirm the specific requirements for your property.
Thinking about a pool for a regional WA property?
Countrywide Pools installs fibreglass pools for families, businesses and organisations right across regional WA. Tell us about your site and we will give you honest advice and a site-specific quote.
