The Parkes Shire’s lifeguards are expecting this summer swimming season to be their busiest to date as they prepare to open the shire pools free to the public.
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Parkes Shire Council agreed to offer free entry into the Parkes, Peak Hill, Trundle and Tullamore pools this season during its August 21 meeting.
It’s one measure council has taken to help offer some respite for families from the stresses of the drought.
The Parkes Pool will open this Saturday, September 29, while the remaining township pools will open on Saturday, November 3.
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Ahead of the pool openings, parents and carers are being reminded to keep a close watch this summer and know the pool rules.
“We are expecting more people to be utilising the facilities this year, so there are a few things we want pool users to remember before making a splash this summer,” Parkes Shire Aquatic coordinator Nicole Thornhill said.
“To enable us to keep track of how many people are using the facility, we will be asking everyone to sign a register at the gate this year.
Nicole said they will be closely monitoring how many swimmers are in the water at the same time.
“If we reach the maximum number, we may ask swimmers to hop out of the water temporarily to ensure we maintain a safe supervision ratio,” she said.
For the first time, Parkes Aquatic Centre will be running free introductory water safety lessons and child capability assessments for children under the age of five, during Learn2Swim Week 2018.
The Learn2Swim Week lessons will run from Tuesday, October 2 until Friday, October 5, between 1pm and 3pm daily.
Lessons run for 30 minutes and are aimed at educating parents on the importance of teaching children under five years old to swim. It’s also about reminding everyone about the importance of water safety.
Worldwide, drowning is the number one cause of accidental death in children under five. In Australia, one person on average drowns every week.
Teaching a child to swim early is the best prevention.
To register your child for a free Learn2Swim lesson, contact Parkes Aquatic Centre on 6862 6206.
Council’s regular Learn to Swim program begins Monday, October 29.
To enrol your child in the Learn to Swim program, download and complete the enrolment form on Council’s website www.parkes.nsw.gov.au
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