Practice Note No. 15 - Water Safety - Division of Local Government ...
Practice Note No. 15 - Water Safety - Division of Local Government ...
Practice Note No. 15 - Water Safety - Division of Local Government ...
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1. INTRODUCTIONThis <strong>Practice</strong> <strong><strong>No</strong>te</strong> replaces <strong>Practice</strong> <strong><strong>No</strong>te</strong> <strong>No</strong>.10 – Swimming Pools on Public Land <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Safety</strong> (<strong>No</strong>vember1994) - and <strong>Practice</strong> <strong><strong>No</strong>te</strong> <strong>No</strong>.11 – Beach <strong>Safety</strong> (March 1995). While primarily concerned with swimmingpools on public land and beaches, the <strong>Practice</strong> <strong><strong>No</strong>te</strong> is also relevant for other waterways under councilcontrol that are used by the public, such as estuaries and lakes.Public swimming pools and beaches are amongst the most popular places <strong>of</strong> public recreation in NSW.Many local residents and tourists enjoy the sun, sand, surf and relaxed lifestyle typical <strong>of</strong> beaches in thisState. Public swimming pools provide an important venue for many forms <strong>of</strong> water sports, fitness and otherrecreational activities, and are enjoyed by significant numbers within the community throughout the yearand particularly in summer.While provision <strong>of</strong> beaches and public swimming pools is a worthwhile and popular undertaking, councilshave a responsibility to ensure that adequate safeguards are in place to minimise the risk <strong>of</strong> injury and deaththat can be associated with the water. <strong>Local</strong> councils should already be familiar with this activity as onedeserving considerable attention from a risk management perspective.The <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Government</strong> Act 1993 does not currently prescribe any minimum requirements for water safety.However, in recognition <strong>of</strong> the priority placed by the NSW <strong>Government</strong> on ensuring that beaches, publicswimming pools and other waterways are safe for all users, the Department <strong>of</strong> <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Government</strong> hasprepared this <strong>Practice</strong> <strong><strong>No</strong>te</strong> to assist councils to carry out their water safety functions.With regard to swimming pools on public land, this <strong>Practice</strong> <strong><strong>No</strong>te</strong> is equally relevant to pools which thecouncil manages from its own resources; and to those which are managed by another person or body undera lease, licence or other arrangement involving the land and/or the facility.With regard to beaches, this <strong>Practice</strong> <strong><strong>No</strong>te</strong> is equally relevant to beaches where the life saving function iscarried out by council employed lifeguards, or by contracted lifeguards, or by a volunteer surf life savingclub, or by a combination <strong>of</strong> these.The <strong>Practice</strong> <strong><strong>No</strong>te</strong> has been prepared in consultation with organisations involved in water safety. Theseorganisations are listed in Section 11 Further Resources. Councils are encouraged to contact theseorganisations for further assistance.<strong>Practice</strong> <strong><strong>No</strong>te</strong> <strong>15</strong>: <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Safety</strong>1