New supervision requirements will kick in for children under 15 at the start of the summer season at the Gunnedah Memorial Pool Complex.
When the outdoor pool and splash pool open on Saturday, 4 October, additional conditions of entry will be in place as Council implements the Keep Watch at Public Pools initiative across the rest of the complex.
The industry-driven program is administered by Royal Life Saving Society of Australia (RLSSA and contributes significantly to reducing drowning risks at our public swimming complex.
Council's Director Infrastructure Services Jeremy Bartlett said supervision of young children at public pools had been a concern for the aquatics industry for many years and there was often a misconception by parents and carers that the responsibility for supervision of young children fell solely on lifeguards.
"Competent lifeguards responsibly carrying out their role are a significant safety feature, but they are not intended to, and cannot be expected to, replace the close supervision of parents, carers and teachers," he said.
Keep Watch at Public Pools provides consistent messaging to the public in line with best practice about effective supervision of young children at public pools, and demonstrates that the aquatics industry is organised and takes its responsibility for pool-user safety seriously.
"Drowning is a leading cause of preventable death in children under 5 years of age, and on average, over the last decade, a child under 5 years of age drowned every week in Australia, according to RLSSA," Mr Bartlett said.
The National Drowning Report 2025, published by the Royal Life Saving Australia in partnership with Surf Life Saving Australia, found there were 357 drowning deaths over the past 12 months, which was 27% higher than the 10-year average.
The report, released on 26 August at Parliament House, Canberra, showed drowning is a persistent and traumatic issue that affects thousands of families, first responders and communities every year.
Mr Bartlett said the key elements of the Keep Watch at Public Pools initiative - be prepared, be close, all of your attention, all of the time - were designed to combat the issue.
"It's vital when individuals are in, and around water, that they are watchful of their surroundings, especially when they have children with them," he said.
"Without adequate supervision, it doesn't take much for a fun day at the pool to turn into a potentially life-threatening situation."
Keep Watch at Public Pools promotes the following safe supervision policies, which are additional conditions of entry at the Gunnedah Memorial Pool Complex -
Children 5 years and under:
- Must be accompanied by a responsible person aged 17 years or older and supervised within arm's reach at all times.
- Children must also wear a wristband whilst in the complex. Armbands are a visual aid to assist staff in identifying who should be within arm's reach of an adult.
Children between 6-10 years and weak swimmers:
- Must be accompanied by a responsible person aged 17 years or older and be actively supervised at all times.
- Supervising persons must be close by providing constant visual contact, dressed and prepared to enter the water.
Children between 11-14 years:
- All children 14 and under must be accompanied by a responsible person 17 years or older who can provide and maintain visual contact.
"By upholding these age requirements, and remaining vigilant, we hope to have a safe summer season," Mr Bartlett said.
Keep Watch at Public Pools is part of Council's Aquatic Complex Management Plan, which can be viewed here: www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au/index.php/lifestyle/things-to-do/gunnedah-memorial-swimming-pool
