Griffith City Council stepped up to support the community during last week's extreme heatwave, ensuring residents and visitors had plenty of safe and welcoming places to cool off as temperatures soared above 42 degrees.
From 7–9 January, Council opened the doors of the Griffith Regional Aquatic Leisure Centre (GRALC) free of charge, giving the community access to the pool during three consecutive days of extreme heat. The response was overwhelming, with more than 2,800 people making the most of the free entry.
Alongside plenty of splashing and swimming, over the three days GRALC staff served nearly 160kg of hot chips, 340 slushies and countless chicken nuggets and potato cakes.
To provide even more options, Griffith City Library and the Griffith Regional Sports Centre extended their opening hours, offering air-conditioned spaces where people could escape the heat, relax and stay safe during the hottest parts of the day.
Mayor Doug Curran praised staff and facilities for working together to put the community first.
"Extreme heat can be particularly challenging for vulnerable members of our community, including older residents, young children and those without access to air-conditioning," Mayor Curran said.
"By opening our facilities and extending hours, Council made sure people had safe, comfortable places to go. It was great to see the community coming together and making use of these services during such tough conditions."
Council thanks all staff involved for their efforts and encourages residents to continue looking out for one another during periods of extreme weather.
