Media Response - Water Safety Public Pools

Published on 02 January 2023

Query from Herald Sun

We're doing a wrap on water safety at public pools, as part of a broader piece after the spate of drownings in Victorian waterways this summer.

Any reports of rescues? How many and where?

While we have recorded no major incidents involving visitors to our centres this season, we continue to look for opportunities to promote water safety messages within our community and at our sites by ensuring swimmers are actively monitored and assessed correctly.

Extra announcements to remind parents to watch their children? (Believe this is happening at some pools already)

Council has a Watch Around Water program that operates across all three of our aquatic centres (Monash Aquatic and Recreation Centre; Oakleigh Recreation Centre and Clayton Aquatic Centre) to educate on adequate supervision and to encourage parent/guardians to take on this responsibility when visiting one of our facilities. These guidelines spell out how children are to be supervised and are supported by hourly announcements to remind parents to watch children both in and around water.

Any extra measures as many children have missed out on lessons because of lockdown restrictions?

Reinforcing the Watch around Water program with children and adults and working closely with the CALD community. We also hold community talks at kindergarten to share water safety messages, and to teach safe behaviour in and around water through theme-based storytelling and activities.

What's the feedback like from lifeguards re patron behaviour, especially on busy days?

Behaviour is generally good from patrons who understand it’s a shared space.

Issued: 3 January 2023

To: Herald Sun

Quoting: Mayor Tina Samardzija