When will our pools and playgrounds open?

WHILE the City of Ballarat are aiming to progressively begin opening playgrounds from early next week, the reopening of outdoor public pools is still up for questioning.

Before play can recommence, playgrounds in and around the city will require compliance and safety checks in order to reopen and continue to operate under current restrictions as directed by the Victorian Government.

Cr Des Hudson said it’s great for our communities to see that our playgrounds are reopening.

“It’s certainly great to see them opening and providing an opportunity for kids to get out and run around and play,” he said.

“People will need to be mindful of maintaining social distancing but coming out of the harsher restrictions it will be great to see people out exercising, running around and enjoying the fresh air as we come into spring.”

All City-run pools will also undergo a series of checks and procedures before they are ready and equipped to open to the public.

Specifically, this includes checking the pool hygiene, water chemistry, the removal of debris and maintenance of pool equipment and planning steps to ensure social distancing requirements are met and staff COVID-19 workplace and hygiene information is disseminated.

Although the schedule of maintenance is set to begin next week in anticipation for the warmer weather, the scheduled date to reopen all Ballarat’s outdoor pools is currently November.

While kids are still at school and Ballarat residents are bracing for a few colder days in October, Cr Hudson said that the City doesn’t want to have pools open and no one attending.

“The work has already begun in bringing our outdoor pools up to the level of safety and compliance ready for when that swimming season starts,” he said.

“Hopefully in those neighbourhood pools, this provides an opportunity for them to get out and be active and enjoy using the council facilities safely and promote good, positive mental health.

“Coming into the spring and summer weather, we still need to remember that this is a different time than previous years and we still need to socially distance, can’t gather in large groups but to enjoy the facilities and do it safely.”