Volunteers to keep Menindee Swimming Pool operational

The Central Darling Shire Council has come to an arrangement that will see volunteers help keep the Menindee Swimming Pool open during the coming summer.

Facing an operational loss of almost $250,000 for the operation of its four outdoor seasonal pools in its 2014/15 budget the Council began a review of its pool operations in June.

As a result, an arrangement with the Menindee Central School and the Menindee Enterprise Park will see volunteers undertake lifeguard work at the facility., saving the Council tens of thousands of dollars.

Council General Manager Michael Boyd says it's a win-win agreement, telling the ABC “the Council naturally will be fortunate that we will have a saving in our budget in regards to lifeguard services.

"But the main reason we've done this is that the school and Council have had a discussion."

Community members across the western NSW Shire had voiced concerns that potential reduced opening hours would see children swimming in rivers and dams to escape the summer heat, with resultant dangers.

However, Boyd advised that says the Menindee Swimming Pool 's opening hours will now be extended and new activities will be on offer.

Boyd added "there'll be learn to swim classes from bubs to adults, they'll be doing squad training, they'll be doing healthy lifestyle programs such as aqua-aerobics and they'll be doing other water-based activities for school students during school hours as well.

"The aim of the game is reducing expenditure, there's no doubt about that at all, but I think at the end of the day the critical thing is to increase services to the community and I think that's the biggest win for the Council overall."

Click here for information on the Menindee Swimming Pool on the Central Darling Shire Council website.

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