Western Australian aquatic centres attract more than 11 million visits in a year

Public swimming pools in Western Australia saw attendances exceed 11.1 million in 2015/16, their highest ever number of visits, according to the latest Western Australian Aquatics Industry Report.

The figure was attained through an additional 719,000 visits compared to the previous year - an ongoing trend across the past four years - and a cumulative increase of 13% since 2009/10.

The rate of patronage also increased from an average of four visits for every person in Western Australia in 2014/15 to 4.3 in the latest year, the first time the increase in patronage has exceeded the increase in Western Australia population since records began.

Regional areas continue to record higher patronage per head of the population than the Perth and Mandurah region (4.5 compared to 4.2 visits), with the Esperance and Goldfields region recording the highest rate at 5.9 visits per patron.

By contrast, patronage continued to be the lowest in the Kimberley region at four visits person.

The Report also shows that spending at pools maintained a steady trend upwards in 2015/16 with the total exceeding $80 million with expenditure per patron jumping from $6.70 per patron in 2014/15 to $7.30 in 2015/16, a 5% increase on the previous year and a 24% rise since 2009/10.

The sector employed more than 5,600 staff, comprising of pool operators, lifeguards, swimming instructors, aquatic support staff in part time, casual and voluntary positions.

Compiled by Royal Life Saving Society of Western Australia (RLSSWA) and the Leisure Institute of Western Australia (LIWA) Aquatics, the Report also noted that water consumption at public swimming pools continues to trend downwards.

Writing in the introduction to the Report, RLSSWA Chief Executive Peter Leaversuch also advised that “continued improvement in industry standards and compliance (and) industry first analysis of water safety program provision” were “highlights” of the year.

Click here to view the 2015/16 Western Australian Aquatics Industry Report

Image: HBF Arena, Joondalup

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