Outback pools to open unsupervised after struggling to find lifeguards

Councils across regional and rural Australia are finding it difficult to attract lifeguards to supervise community pools.

While it has forced the closure of some pools, one council in Far West NSW is trialling unsupervised pool access this summer.

The decision has some residents concerned over the potential safety risks.

For many regional and rural residents, the local pool is an oasis used to escape the country heat.

But several regional councils across New South Wales and South Australia are finding it difficult to attract enough lifeguards to supervise their pools.

The lack of staff, and financial cost, is forcing some councils to limit pool hours or shut them completely.

In a bid to keep its facilities open, the remote Central Darling Shire Council is trialling unsupervised pool access, but locals are concerned the safety risks outweigh the benefits.

In Far West NSW, where summer temperatures often climb into the 40s, the council will let people swim at its pools in Menindee and Wilcannia, despite having no lifeguard present.

It is something it has already tested at its pools in Ivanhoe and White Cliffs for several years.

Council general manager John Sevil said it had been unable to recruit lifeguards ahead of the season's start in November.

"To be a registered lifeguard, you need to be over 16 years of age, and if you look at the population of Wilcannia and Menindee, there aren't that many that are over 16 [who] want to take on the role," Mr Sevil said.

"We find this solution, by offering a managed, unsupervised facility, meets the needs of the community."

There are some safeguards. Before receiving a pool access card, people will need to undergo a safety induction and sign a waiver that confirms they understand the risks.

CCTV will be active at the pools, with council staff monitoring, and all children must be accompanied by an adult.

But it is not enough to allay the fears of Wilcannia resident and Barkindji man Ownen Whyman, who is worried about the safety risks of unsupervised pool access.

"If there's no lifeguard, no-one there that knows CPR, what chance has a child got, or an adult, if they do drown in the swimming pool?

"Putting it on the parents' back to go and supervise their kids, that's not a problem, but when it comes to a child drowning or having a serious injury, they are not qualified to address these issues."

Mr Sevil said council had asked members of the community to be trained in CPR, at their expense, but did not receive any interest.

The Central Darling Shire is not the first council to trial unsupervised pool access, with other regional councils like Cabonne Shire and Mid Coast implementing similar models.

In the Murray Mallee region of South Australia, Karoonda has been facing similar issues which could continue to restrict hours or close the pool indefinitely.

Mayor of the District Council of Karoonda East Murray Caroline Phillips said it was a nationwide problem for small communities like hers.

Karoonda decided to limit pool hours last year after struggling to fill its paid lifeguard position.

"We're continuing to be challenged by low numbers of applicants, which is causing us a bit of concern at the moment."

Ms Phillips said the council had reached out to surrounding communities and bigger regional centres but still found there was a lack of availability, even for people to travel to undertake lifeguard duties.

She said she was open to "innovative approaches" to solve the issue, but the SA local government operating guidelines are limiting.

Royal Life Saving NSW general manager for drowning prevention and education Craig Roberts said regional and rural pools were facing particular pressure around not just staff shortages, but also financial stability and aging infrastructure.

"This has been a growing issue [for] a number of facilities trying to face a difficult decision; do they close … or do they make changes and adjustments to their operating model," he said.

Mr Roberts said ultimately pools were still safer than other bodies of water people might choose to swim in.

He said Australia had a low drowning rate for public pools, with less than five drownings a year, and most related to health incidents.

"We are seeing increased numbers in our rivers and our coastal areas and our open waterways where drownings are at an all-time high."