Federation Council reduces age limit for childrens’ unsupervised access to Corowa Aquatic Centre

Federation Council has agreed to allow children aged 12 years and above to make use of the Corowa Aquatic Centre unsupervised.

Agreed at its monthly meeting on 23rd December last year, Councillors voted to reduced the age of unsupervised admission from the previous 16-years-of-age policy to 12-years.

As reported by the Corowa Free Press, all councillors agreed with the age reduction but two councillors, Aaron Nicholls and Sally Hughes, voted against the change because of legal risk concerns and sought further investigation.

While appreciating the concerns about risk management, Federation Council Deputy Mayor, Shaun Whitechurch commented “at the end of the day we really need to reduce the age requirement because children aged 16-years are going to the river without parent or guardian supervision … we’re pushing them out from the pool centre.”

Deputy Mayor Whitechurch said councillors have been asked by members of the public to make a change and some unkind messages have appeared via other media.

An example of Wodonga WAVES Aquatic Centre reportedly having a 10-years-old admission without supervision policy was cited during the debate.

In order to gauge proof of age, Federation Council Director Development and Environmental Services, Susan Appleyard said staff would seek a phone number or some other form of contact for a parent or guardian, explaining “there will be a stricter policy on removing those acting inappropriately.”

Summing up the move, Mayor Pat Bourke sensed that all Councillors were in favour of the age reduction and added "it’s up to our staff to follow up any misbehaviour. They will always be in charge once they (the 12-years-old plus children) walk through the doors.”

Royal Life Saving Society - Australia's Keep Watch at Public Pools public education guidance says children aged 11 to 14 years should be supervised by a parent or carer who should "maintain visual contact".

Royal Life Saving's operator-oriented Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations - Aquatic Supervision (GSPO) section has some guidance in relation to children over the age of 10.

While children under the age of five must remain within arms reach of a parent or guardian and children under the age of 10 must remain constantly supervised by a parent or guardian, GSPO

SV14.3 advises:

• For children ten (10) years and older parents must use their knowledge of the child's swimming ability to determine the level of accompaniment required

• If a staff member is concerned for the safety of an unsupervised child, they have the ability to remove the child from the water

• An unsupervised child of poor swimming ability regardless of age should be removed from the water by a staff member

There are also requirements on staff to remove children of any age who are non-swimmers or weak swimmers from the water and/or to ensure adequate supervision.

Located at the Ball Park Precinct, Corowa’s $10.3 million Aquatic Centre was officially opened in April last year.

Federation Council is located in the Riverina region of NSW.

Images: Corowa Aquatic Centre. Credit: Federation Council.