Lifeguarding Services Australia to introduce SALTI floating fitness program in NSW Upper Hunter and Central West regions

Growing interest in Australian designed floating fitness platform SALTI will see Lifeguarding Services Australia introduce the new way of keeping active in the NSW Upper Hunter and Central West regions.

Lifeguarding Services Australia (LSA) will be introducing SALTI classes to the Molong, Forbes, Scone, Merriwa and Murrurundi public swimming pools, with each facility to offer group fitness classes in a pool environment.

This initiative will provide residents with a fun way to maintain their health and fitness, while boosting social engagement and wellbeing during difficult drought impacted times.

With each of the venues located in drought affected communities - with the regions impacted by extreme water restrictions - their local councils have committed to keeping these public swimming pools open during the drought so local communities still have access to facilities that are vital to residents social and wellness values.

Commenting on the introduction of SALTI classes, LSA Chief Executive, Stan Wall explains "Molong pool has been filled entirely with bore water due to the continuing drought and it's also being used to keep the local playing fields maintained, so local drinking water isn't impacted.

"The Upper Hunter Council is using semi-trailers to bring in water daily from Scone to keep the Murrurundi pool and town water running, costing $20,000 and then $4500 each month it is open."

The Upper Hunter Council has said that to clean and use the pool, 30,000 litres a day will be used for four weeks, and then between 10,000 and 30,000 litres a day depending on usage and evaporation levels.

With LSA having purchased 12 floats, which will be rotated between five venues, Wall advises that the program is already welcomed by locals and he expects the classes to be extremely popular.

Wall added "we are looking forward to our regional venues continuing to be a place where people come together, improving social outcomes for the community."

SALTI founder Jo Flynn is welcoming the acknowledgement that her program is getting for contributing to creating happy, healthy communities, particularly in regional centres.

She comments "this is great to see as statistics show that Australians living in remote areas are less likely to be active than those living in major cities. But it's the regional centres that are leading the way and embracing Salti programs in their communities.

"It's an activity that has huge appeal as classes are open to a wide range of demographics and cater for all abilities. Salti offers a unique program that utilises local resources and gets communities active and engaged."

The classes will be launched at Molong Pool, with the Floats being transported to the other pools throughout the summer.

Click here to contact Salti via their entry in the Australasian Leisure Management Supplier Directory.

Image shows Salti floats in use at the Gungahlin Leisure Centre in the ACT.