By Holly McGuinness
Ballooning swimming lesson wait times at Hume council-run swim centres has prompted a decision to install a platform floor in the Splash Aqua Park’s olympic-sized pool at a cost of half a million dollars.
Figures released by council reveal 9000 children in Hume are waiting to join learn to swim classes.
Installing a platform floor would accommodate an additional 1,300 swim lesson students.
A platform floor, anchor points, lane ropes and associated equipment required for the swim program is estimated to cost between $500,000 to $700,000.
Councillor Karen Sherry, who moved the motion for the upgrades, said “It will cost approximately half a million dollars to install but with the backlog of children who are requiring swimming tuition, I think it’s absolutely necessary.”
The procurement process will commence in October and the works are expected to be completed by July 2023, following a ten day pool closure for installation during the June/July school holidays.
Councillor Chris Hollow, who commended the platform floor proposal, said ballooning wait times were a result of Hume’s “exponential growth”.
“To be able to help another 1,300 kids in Hume learn to swim is a great achievement,” he said.
Public questions raised during a council meeting in April revealed the lengthy waiting periods families were wading through.
After hearing the waitlist figures, councillor Trevor Dance asked officers to report back about what could be done to fastrack a reduction in waitlist numbers for swimming lessons.
At the time Hume Mayor Carly Moore said that an additional 50 new swimming teachers were hired by council and a new trainee program had been launched to allow centres to take on an additional 600 students.
“We are also running off-site safety sessions in local schools to provide water safety and education for students currently on our waiting lists,” Ms Moore said.
