East Gippsland Shire Council is seeking quotes for an independent safety audit of the Bairnsdale Outdoor Pool.
The pool, located in Turnbull Street, is an ageing facility that has been maintained season by season but is now considered to be at the end of its life. Recent inspections have identified a number of risks across the plant equipment, pool concourse, and buildings, with no short-term, low-cost solutions available to ensure the site can continue to operate safely.
At its meeting on 19 August, Council resolved to commission the independent audit to ensure a safe environment for staff and the community, including an immediate safety inspection and advice on addressing any hazards.
The independent site assessment will:
- Assess health and safety risks for staff, contractors and patrons.
- Review compliance with legislation and relevant standards.
- Inspect plant equipment and infrastructure, including the pool shell, concourse, drainage and buildings.
- Provide a dilapidation report and structural integrity assessment.
- Identify required remedial works, risk mitigation strategies and cost estimates.
Chief Executive Officer Fiona Weigall said Council has a responsibility to make sure the facility is safe for both the community and staff.
"Independent advice will give us a full picture of the risks and what it would take to remediate them. Safety must come first, and this audit will provide clear recommendations and costs so Council can make informed decisions about the future of the pool," Ms Weigall said.
"We are seeking qualified specialists in workplace health and safety, aquatic facility engineering, building inspection and electrical safety to tender for the independent safety audit."
Quotation documentation is available via Council's Tenderlink portal.
A final report of the audit will be provided to Council for consideration.
