Maitland Council encourages water safety at Aquatic Centre

The Maitland City Council has been encouraging water safety throughout the summer with a range of initiatives.

Since opening at the end of September, the Maitland Aquatic Centre (Maitland Pool) has adopted the Keep Watch at Public Pools policy which has seen a wristband provided to children aged younger than six when they enter the facility, which must be worn at all times while at the pool.

The wristband identifies them as high risk and in need of direct parental supervision with parents and carers also responsible for ensuring the child has the wristband on at all times.

Speaking at the start of the season, Maitland City Council Recreation Planning Coordinator Kate Harris said there needed to be a focus on preparedness, proximity, attention and continuity for effective supervision to take place.

Harris told the Maitland Mercury “unfortunately, the majority of deaths and serious incidents involving young children almost always happen in those short time periods where supervision is absent so that’s why we are implementing these measures.”

Mindful of the high rate of drowning in NSW over the summer holiday period, two water safety demonstrations – to be run by accredited AustSwim instructors and featuring the latest information about safe swimming, resuscitation techniques and compliance issues – will be held at the Pool this month.

Commenting on the need for the programs, Council Community and Recreation Services Manager Lynn Morton explained “in addition to the many people who lost their lives in 2016, we’ve also had a staggering number of near drownings and drownings since Christmas.

“Being able to swim is a very important life skill and in conjunction with supervision, pool fencing, and resuscitation, saves lives.

“These demonstrations seek to ensure that all residents have the opportunity to access water safety programs which are aimed at reducing the risk of drowning through some simple water safety measures.”

The demonstrations will take place between 10am and 11am on Tuesday 24th and Saturday 28th January.

Over the summer, operations at the Maitland Aquatic Centre have not been affected by construction work on the facility’s new 25-metre indoor pool will continue, but is not set to interfere with use of the existing facility.

The $8.5 million project, which aims to provide the fast-growing Maitland community with a year-round aquatic facility, is expected to be completed and opened in time for winter 2017.

Last summer, more than 144,000 people visited the Maitland Aquatic Centre and the East Maitland Aquatic Centre.

Images: The Maitland Aquatic Centre (top) and an artist's impression of how the new indoor 25 metre facility will look when completed - new facility at rear (below).

2nd January 2017 - AUSTRALIA’S HOLIDAY DROWNING EPIDEMIC CENTRED ON NSW

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

17th August 2015 - SWIM AND SURVIVE PROGRAM TO AID THOSE THAT MISS OUT ON WATER SAFETY SKILLS 

6th April 2015 - $7 MILLION REDEVELOPMENT OF MAITLAND AQUATIC CENTRE MOVES FORWARD

4th November 2013 - PARENTS VALUE SWIMMING AND WATER SAFETY LESSONS ABOVE OTHER OUT-OF-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES 

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

6th June 2010 - LAST DAYS FOR MAITLAND AQUATIC PLAY AREA TENDER