Hume residents say they’re waiting years for spots in learn to swim classes to open up at the municipality’s limited swimming pools.
Data revealed at a council meeting on Monday, April 11 left some councillors surprised by the backlog of children aged between zero and 18 awaiting lessons.
Sunbury resident Mel O’Neill asked how many places are available per centre and how many children are currently on a waiting list for swimming lessons.
Almost 8000 children are on a waiting list at Splash Aqua Park and Leisure Centre in Craigieburn and just over 1000 at Broadmeadows Aquatic and Leisure Centre, council revealed.
Dozens of other mothers in the municipality say they’ve given up and moved on to other aquatic centres to access lessons.
Hume resident, Kaitlyn Schiavello is one.
“I enquired when my son was two months old, and was told the waitlist would be about six months long. He is now four-years-old! I’m glad I went elsewhere and didn’t wait,” she said.
Councillor Joseph Haweil said he knew of the backlog in enrolments but was flawed by the numbers.
“I was aware that there is a waitlist for our aquatic and leisure centres but I certainly didn’t know the numbers were this significant, particularly there in the northern growth corridor…that’s of great concern to me,” Cr Haweil said.
Hume council corporate services director Daryl Whitfort said there were a number of factors that contributed to the figures.
“The programs within each council facility vary with pool space availability and swim teacher availability – which is experiencing an industry-wide shortage since the beginning of the pandemic,” Mr Whitfort said.
Councillor Trevor Dance urged councillors to see what can be done to reduce waitlist numbers.
“To see some children not getting swimming lessons is a real concern after the work that’s been going on in Australia for many many years to make sure our children can swim,” Cr Dance said.
Councillors offered a range of solutions to the issue including building smaller but more accessible pools, an outdoor pool and running more lessons and hiring more swimming instructors.
