2019-03-12 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                   12 MARCH 2019


On 1 December 2019, the NAC commenced operations in line with the Royal Life Saving
Society’s ‘Keep Watch’ guidelines. Essentially these guidelines require parents of young children
to be more proactive in their supervision of their children while at the NAC. Children aged 5 and
under must now be accompanied in the water by a parent or carer and remain within arms’ reach
at all times. Children aged 6 -10 must be under constant, active supervision of parents or carers.

In addition to these requirements, the NAC has also boosted lifeguard supervision of the leisure
pool during peak times. The combined measures make the NAC a safer place for children and
reduce the likelihood of a serious immersion or drowning incident. The public has responded well
to the new requirements, with staff receiving several comments in support of the enhanced safety
measures. Only a relatively minor number of negative comments have been received.

5.    FUTURE DIRECTION

This is a time of consolidation for the NAC as it cements recent gains and continues to look for
ways to improve operations. The team remain committed to not only providing the community
with a facility to be proud of, but one that continues to adapt to meet the changing ways in which
our community recreates.

The centre has a number of major capital works projects planned for mid-2019. These works are
budgeted to cost $965k and will have a major impact on the centre’s operations, as the centre
will be closed to the public in order to allow for the works to be undertaken. The projects include:

Building
 Reroofing.
 Replacing the large deck.
 Installation of the 72kw solar PV.
 Replacement of the main switchboard.

50m pool
 Emptying and re-grouting.
 Replacing damaged coping tiles.
 Replacement of filter media.
 Replacement of wet decking

WH&S
 Replacing chlorine tank.

At this stage it is anticipated the centre will be closed for 6 – 8 weeks while the works are
completed from late June through to mid-August. While it is likely the 50m pool works will take
longer, the remainder of the facility will be able to resume normal operations once the roof and
deck works are complete.

While the disruptive nature of the works is acknowledged and management are disappointed to
have to close the facility, unfortunately there is no way around the closure. Fortunately this is the
first time in 20 years that the facility will be closed to the public for an extended period and it is
not expected to occur again for another several years.

Staff have been given advanced notice of the closure and once exact closure dates are known,
management will commence communications with key users and the broader public around what
it means for them.




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