It is the intent of this document to enable advocacy and considered decision making around infrastructure development as well as the introduction of initiatives and programs that target the safety and wellbeing of the public accessing the facilities.
Since 1950, the state increased the number of pools particularly in regional areas. These facilities are now ageing and have either closed or are in serious need of redevelopment. Failure to maintain these facilities has the potential of introducing a new demographic that will not be water wise. Being safe in and around water is a critical life skill that ideally is learnt at an early age. ‘Learn to Swim’ campaigns and ‘Watch Around Water’ are programs that instil the need to be safety conscious. Added to this is the more recent migration of people from countries where that were land locked or due to cultural reasons, water activity was not a priority. This group, usually referred to as Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD), are now some of the most at risk around water.
The report also highlighted another growing demand that has widespread benefits to the health and wellbeing of the community i.e. while surveys have looked at those who use water for education, recreation, fitness and sport, there is now a need to cater for users undergoing rehabilitation for illness and injury. Finally, the distribution of pools across the metropolitan and regional areas that had been identified in the past may not have considered the housing explosion that has occurred in the past 10 years. Inner city and suburban redevelopment, and an expansion of housing development into regional/outer metropolitan areas have resulted in an expectation from residents that modern aquatic facilities will be part of the local infrastructure.