MidCoast Council’s unsupervised outdoor pools to open for swim season

MidCoast Council’s outdoor pools will be opening for the swim season on 5th October 2024 with Council advising there will be a number of changes to the way Nabiac, Krambach, Bulahdelah and Stroud operate this season.

These pools will reopen as unsupervised pools with entry fees for users. Access will be controlled through an electronic entry system.

Residents are encouraged to purchase their annual passes soon to make the most of the season.

The cost of a casual entry for an adult is $5 and a season pass is $50. Concession season passes are available for $40 (proof of concession is required). Entry for children under 16 is free with an accompanying adult. A swim pass will grant entry to all four pools.

Season swim passes can be purchased in person at any of MidCoast Council’s customer service points. Simply fill out a form, make your payment and you will be given your season pass on the spot.

MidCoast Council staff will also be heading out to each pool to sell season passes before the start of the swim season. Payment will be by card only. Cash payments can be made at Council customer service points.

Season and casual passes will also be available to purchase at select local businesses from the start of the swim season on 5th October. A list of businesses will be available on each pools page on Council’s website closer to the opening date.

Season passes are also available to purchase on Councils website. Applying online for a season pass will take up to two days to be processed. You can then collect your pass from a customer service point or have your pass mailed out to you. Casual swim passes will be available to purchase from Council’s website from the start of the swim season.

To purchase swim pass online

In 2019, advice from Statewide Mutual included supervision staffing of pools with following noted:

“Supervision Staffing and Resourcing Section 5.4 of the Practice Note 15 – Water Safety covers the ‘Number of trained water safety personnel’ that should be on hand. Councils must carefully determine their own level of staffing requirements for each facility. 

“RLSA Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations makes recommendations in relation to minimum supervision requirements. It suggests possible ratios for lifeguards to people in the water, taking into account such issues as line of sight, pool shapes and sizes and patronage numbers.

“It also recommends a risk assessment should be conducted before establishing appropriate lifeguard ratios. If councils opt to provide unsupervised or limited supervision at facilities, it must be vigilant to ensure implementation of a risk management approach and has considered all relevant factors. It should be noted it is not the preferred option of Statewide Mutual or the RLSSA for councils to provide unsupervised facilities.” 

Access the 2019 Statewide Mutual report