85% of Queensland aquatic facilities work with Keep Watch anti drowning program

A newly released survey covering service, sustainability and safety across Queensland’s public aquatic facilities has revealed that 85% work with the Keep Watch @ Public Pools anti-drowning initiative.

Undertaken by the Queensland branch of the Australian Leisure Facilities Association (ALFAQ), the State of the Industry Report is the first benchmarking study of Queensland’s public aquatic facilities.

The high level of adoption of the Royal Life Saving Society - Australia's Keep Watch @ Public Pools program is a surprise given the rising popularity over recent years of the Watch Around Water program (owned by LIWA Aquatics and administered by the Royal Life Saving Society - Western Australia) in other Australian states.

Both programs cover the supervision of young children at aquatic facilities.

Other significant findings in the Report were that 45% of facilities had gyms, 15% had solar power for electricity generation (not for pool heating), 70% had conducted an energy audit /energy balance and 60% filtered their water with sand filters using sand.

ALFAQ President Dan Kwaczynski said the 2017 State of the Industry Report provided a baseline for Queensland’s aquatic facilities to continually assess performance and identify areas for improvement.

In the Report’s introduction, Kwaczynski stated “this benchmarking study aims to assist Managers, Lessees and Government organisations understand where the industry stands on a raft of issues and perhaps more importantly where their own facilities sit relative to the rest of the industry.

“It’s on this basis, that ALFAQ hopes to inspire centres to make changes, to emulate others in the industry and to understand how they can improve.

“All of this, with the simple goal of making our facilities best of breed so we can all enjoy them for many years into the future.”

Production of the Report was backed by sponsors Australian Innovative Systems, Focus Products Pty Ltd and Planet Ark Power.

Click here to read the ALFAQ State of the Industry Report.

31st July 2017 - ALFA QUEENSLAND LAUNCHES INAUGURAL INDUSTRY AWARDS 

9th June 2017 - AQUAFUTURES TO DELIVER A NEW AQUATIC INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

7th December 2016 - KEEP WATCH PROGRAM MARKS 20 YEARS AND AN 85% REDUCTION IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA’S TODDLER DROWNING RATE

1st September 2016 - DAN KWACZYNSKI TAKES ON ALFA QUEENSLAND PRESIDENCY 

30th July 2013 - AIMS TO LINK WATCH AROUND WATER PROGRAM WITH OTHER ANTI-DROWNING INITIATIVES

8th January 2013 - AQUATIC FACILITIES BENEFIT FROM NINE SEASONS OF WATCH AROUND WATER

31st May 2011 - RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS INADEQUATE SUPERVISION IN AUSTRALIAN CHILD DROWNINGS