New rules for City pool

IF it ever gets warm enough to make going to a local pool this summer worth it, there are now new rules covering children ten years old and under at City of Ballarat facilities.

The changes mainly relate to identification of kids, with those under five having to wear a pink wristband, while those five to 10 years old will be required to keep yellow wristband on.

Supervision rules are still much the same, with under fives joined in the pool by someone over 16 and within arms reach all the time.

Over fives need to be “actively supervised” with “clear, constant and direct access” to the child.

Centre manager at the municipally run Ballarat Aquatic and Lifestyle Centre, Gerald Dixon, said the rule changes were about safety.

“Our lifeguards are responsible for supervising up to 100 swimmers at any one time,” he said.

“If a child gets hurt, a parent or guardian within close proximity can act on the incident immediately, preventing further complications.

“We are asking for the cooperation of parents and guardians in keeping their children safe in and around the water by following this policy at all times.”

The changes came into effect from the first weekend of December and along with the aquatic centre, cover City of Ballarat owned or run facilities at Eureka, Black Hill, Brown Hill, and Buninyong.

Deputy mayor Cr Amy Johnson backed the changes.

“We all know how much children love the water, there’s nothing better than visiting the pool on a hot summer’s day,” she said.

“But we must always keep in mind how quickly things can go wrong.

“That’s why it is so important, for the safety of our kids, that they’re carefully supervised by a parent or guardian while in the water and that we all commit to following these new rules.”