Practice Note No. 15 - Water Safety - Division of Local Government ...

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1. INTRODUCTIONThis Practice Note replaces Practice Note No.10 – Swimming Pools on Public Land Water Safety (November1994) - and Practice Note No.11 – Beach Safety (March 1995). While primarily concerned with swimmingpools on public land and beaches, the Practice Note 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 of public recreation in NSW.Many local residents and tourists enjoy the sun, sand, surf and relaxed lifestyle typical of beaches in thisState. Public swimming pools provide an important venue for many forms of water sports, fitness and otherrecreational activities, and are enjoyed by significant numbers within the community throughout the yearand particularly in summer.While provision of 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 of injury and deaththat can be associated with the water. Local councils should already be familiar with this activity as onedeserving considerable attention from a risk management perspective.The Local Government Act 1993 does not currently prescribe any minimum requirements for water safety.However, in recognition of the priority placed by the NSW Government on ensuring that beaches, publicswimming pools and other waterways are safe for all users, the Department of Local Government hasprepared this Practice Note to assist councils to carry out their water safety functions.With regard to swimming pools on public land, this Practice Note 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 Practice Note 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 of these.The Practice Note 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.Practice Note 15: Water Safety1
2. WHAT IS THE LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY BASIS OF COUNCILS’ WATERSAFETY FUNCTION?Under the Local Government Act 1993 local councils have the power to:Øprovide facilities appropriate to the current and future needs of the local community and the widerpublic (section 24)Ømanage public land (Part 2, Chapter 6). Public land is defined as land vested in or under the control ofthe council (with certain exclusions)Ø control various activities (Part 2, Chapter 16)The Practice Note has been prepared in the context of the NSW Government’s NSW Coastal Policy (1997)and the Sydney Regional Coastal Management Strategy (1998).The NSW Coastal Policy aims to guide management, planning and conservation of the NSW coastal zone.It recognises the important role local councils play in this area. One of the Policy goals which is especiallyrelevant to water safety is to provide for appropriate public access and use. This includes the followingobjectives:To increase public access to foreshores when feasible and environmentally sustainable options areavailable.To ensure risks to human safety from the use of coastal resources is minimised.Practice Note 15: Water SafetyThe Sydney Regional Coastal Management Strategy supplements the NSW Coastal Policy by aiming toguide coastal planning, management and conservation activities in the coastal zone between Pittwater andSutherland local government areas. One of the Strategy’s guiding principles which is particularly relevantto water safety is:Controlled public access to the coast, including beach, foreshore and marine areas, should be maintainedfor recreation, tourism and other public activities. The extent, location and type of access may need tobe controlled to mitigate adverse effects of this access, to resolve incompatible uses, to conserve andmaintain ecological integrity, or in the interest of public safety.This Practice Note should also be read in conjunction with the following Department of Local Governmentguidelines:Ø Competitive Tendering Guidelines, January 19972
Page 1: PRACTICE NOTE NO.15December 1998Wat
Page 6 and 7: Ø Pricing and Costing for Council
Page 8 and 9: 4. A RISK MANAGEMENT APPROACH TO WA
Page 10 and 11: 5.1 Public swimming poolsA number o
Page 12 and 13: 5.2 BeachesIn determining the appro
Page 14 and 15: Øa first aid kit and a first aid r
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Page 18 and 19: National Heart Foundation (NSW)Leve
Page 20 and 21: APPENDIX 1REGULATORY ACTIVITIESPowe
Page 22 and 23: APPENDIX 2CHANGE ROOM OPTIONSSwimmi
Page 24: Øpool staff to be available to acc

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