Southern Grampians Shire swimming pools to close on extreme fire days

The Southern Grampians Shire in western Victoria will close all but one of its outdoor pools on days of extreme fire danger.

As part of a recent change of policy, five out of six of the Council-run outdoor pools will be inaccessible on days with an extreme or Code Red fire danger rating.

Traditionally a place of refuge for people in rural areas on a scorching hot summer days, the new Council policy includes the Dunkeld, Penshurst, Glenthompson, Coleraine and Balmoral Swimming Pool.

The Hamilton Olympic Swimming Pool will be the Shire's only outdoor pool that will remain open on these days.

Southern Grampians Shire Infrastructure Director Kevin O'Brien says the decision has been made to support the Emergency Management Victoria message to leave early.

O’Brien told the ABC "we want to be consistent with advice from the CFA and Emergency Management Victoria regarding messaging around extreme fire days.

"The majority of the Shire is in a high risk bush fire area - on a days of extreme fire danger, it's considered that if a fire starts it will take hold quickly, be unpredictable, uncontrollable and fast-moving.

"Council's policy states that all non-essential services should be ceased on these potentially dangerous days."

Neighbourhood Safer Places, also known as Places of Last resort, have been identified in each of the townships where the pools are located.

The Glenthompson Neighbourhood Safer Place is located adjacent to the pool.

Sarah Laidlaw, a member of the management committee at the Balmoral Swimming Pool told the ABC of her concern that the Council had implemented the policy without notice last Friday, at the beginning of two very hot days.

Laidlaw told the ABC "we were only told an hour before (the pool was to open)... we were told of an outdated policy the day before.

"We think it's a ridiculous policy."

However, O'Brien concluded "the key thing for us is to promote the safety of the community, and that this may be unpopular in some cases in regional townships.”

Image of Hamilton Olympic Pool courtesy of Southern Grampians Shire Council.

15th December 2013 - BUSHFIRE INFORMATION KITS FOR TOURISM BUSINESSES