Lachlan Shire Council has expressed concern around the large increase in the number of inflatable swimming pools being erected throughout the local area.

As a high percentage of these pools can be seen and accessed from both public and private properties they pose significant risk to the community.

“Swimming pool safety is an issue that concerns the community, and council officers will be doing their utmost to ensure compliance with the Act and Regulations to help prevent a drowning tragedy occurring in the future,” Lachlan Shire Council Mayor John Medcalf said.

Primary concerns are around the ease of access to these swimming pools and more importantly, the non-compliance of child-resistant barriers surrounding these inflatable swimming pools.

The Swimming Pools Act 1992, states that a swimming pool which is capable of being filled to a depth of 300 millimetres more, must be surrounded by a child-resistant barrier.

“We can never be too careful when it comes to keeping our kids safe during summer, so if a child is in or around water, it is important that they be supervised at all times,” Mayor Medcalf said.

In the year between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2022, 339 people lost their lives to drowning and it is estimated that a further 686 people experienced a non-fatal drowning incident.

This is an increase of 15% compared to the previous year, and a 24% increase compared to the 10-year average.

According to the Royal Life Saving National Drowning Report 2022, 82% of drowning deaths were males.

There were 17 drowning deaths among children aged 0-4 years; this is a 29% decrease on last year and a 23% decrease on the 10-year average

Drowning in young people has increased with 15 drowning deaths occurring in children aged 5-14 years. This represents a 7% increase on last year and a 36% increase on the 10-year average, perhaps a reflection of children missing out on swimming lessons.

There were 94 drowning deaths in people aged over 65 years, a 34% increase on last year and a 57% increase from the 10-year average.

This figure equates to 28% of drownings occurring in people from that age bracket. 114 drowning deaths occurred in rivers and creeks; 39 were flood related (13%).