OUTDOOR POOL HOT AND COLD

WEATHER POLICY

POLICY NO: SDD25 - CL

OUTDOOR POOLS
HOT AND COLD WEATHER POLICY

Date Resolved By Council: 6 June 2010

Commencement Date: 6 June 2010

Review Date: March 2013

Revocation Date: June 2013

Responsible Directorate: Social Development

This policy has been authorised and is included on Council’s Website.

Peter Brown
Chief Executive Officer
 OUTDOOR POOL HOT AND COLD
WEATHER POLICY

1. PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to detail the circumstances when operating hours of outdoor
pools will vary as a result of hot or cold weather.

2 OBJECTIVE

The objectives of this policy are:

 To provide flexibility to respond, at short notice, to increases / decreases in
community demand, and safety issues, based on weather conditions; and
 To ensure that occupational health and safety and public safety and facility
preparation issues are considered in decision making for extension of operating
hours.

3. BACKGROUND

Council resolved to adopt a Hot and Cold Weather Policy in March 2006 with a review date of
October 2009. The original policy included a hot weather trigger point for extension of
evening hours but not to open earlier, and a cold weather trigger point to close early at 3pm.

Bather load data collection over the 2008/2009 summer season, and community feedback,
has prompted several changes including;
 Changing the normal mid-week closing time from 7pm to 6pm, except on hot days
 Changing the ‘hot weather’ trigger response to include early open, while retaining
late close;
 Introducing a trigger point for not opening pools on cold days, with the exception of
Brunswick Baths and Oak Park Aquatic Centre.
 Providing a mechanism for community groups to access pools during cold weather
conditions for bookings or regular programs.
 Changing the normal opening time for outdoor pools on school days to 3pm (with the
exception of Brunswick Baths and Oak Park Aquatic Centre).

3.1 Aquatic and Leisure Centre Hours of Operation

Moreland City Council owns six aquatic and leisure centres;

 Coburg Leisure Centre (CLC) – All year operation, no outdoor pools

 Brunswick City Baths (BCB) – All year operation including outdoor pool
 Fawkner Leisure Centre (FLC) – All year operation, seasonal outdoor pools
 Pascoe Vale Outdoor Pool (PVOP) – Seasonal outdoor pools
 Coburg Olympic Swimming Pool (COSP) – Seasonal outdoor pools
 Oak Park Aquatic Centre (OPAC) – Seasonal outdoor pools

Some of these centres are operated by contractors on Council’s behalf however all are
subject to the requirements of this policy.

3.2 Community Demand for Seasonal Outdoor Pools

Seasonal outdoor pools are primarily used by the community for recreational use associated
with warmer weather. This policy allows for extension and reduction of hours of operation in
response to weather conditions that increase or decrease community demand. This allows
for responsive and efficient operation.

3.5 Constraints
Council needs to balance extension of hours with requirements for preparation for the next
day of operation, staff availability and safety including adequate lighting. The pool plant has
limited capacity for re-establishing water quality, particularly at centres where it is aged.
 OUTDOOR POOL HOT AND COLD
WEATHER POLICY

Water clarity is more difficult to re-establish than water hygiene, however is important to
public perception of water quality and supervision of bathers. Therefore adequate water
turnover time is important to be able to maximise use of facilities the following day. Staff
availability is also a critical factor, with a range of occupational health and safety
considerations, including minimum overnight break requirements. Therefore, particularly in a
‘heat-wave’ situation, water turnover time and staff availability will be a consideration to
deciding the level of extension to hours.

4. DETAILS

4.1 Advertising Outdoor Pool Hot and Cold Weather Policy

Centre managers must ensure that this policy is advertised via:
 Signage that is easily visible from outside the facility (external walls or glass doors);
 signage on facility notice-boards;
 verbal reminders to patrons by receptionists and lifeguards;
 information on the Active Moreland website;
 membership sales information;
 multi-visit pass sales information;
 newsletters (if produced); and
 SMS messages (if this function is available)

Advertising will include redirection to indoor pools options when outdoor pools are closed due
to cold weather.

4.2 Monitoring Weather Forecasts

Centre managers or duty managers will monitor the Bureau of Meteorology weather forecast
several days in advance to assist with forward planning for hot and cold weather.

4.3 Hot Weather – Extension of Hours for Early Open and Late Close of Outdoor Pools
The planning trigger for considering extension of hours for the next day is when the Bureau of
Meteorology weather forecast at mid afternoon for the next day is for a 32 degrees Celsius
maximum or higher. This forecast will be monitored early each day to determine if there has
been significant change of forecast on the day.

The trigger for extension of evening hours on any day is when the temperature is 32 degrees
Celsius or higher at 4pm according to the latest Bureau of Meteorology weather observations
on that day, and there is reasonable patronage in the water (greater than 25 patrons one
hour prior to usual scheduled closing) and numbers in the water are maintained at 25 or
more. The rationale for specifiying patronage ‘in the water’ is to avoid extension of hours
simply because patrons want to remain in the grounds, without using the pools.

When extension of hours is not feasible due to staffing constraints and/or occupational health
and safety issues, including inadequate lighting, consultation must occur no later than 5pm
on the day extension of hours is being considered between the centre manager and Council’s
Aquatic Facilities Unit.

4.4 Hot Weather – Extension of Hours for Late Close of Outdoor Pools - Past 8.30pm
Centre managers may decide that outdoor pools remain open later than 8.30pm if there is
ongoing demand (25 or more patrons in the water), adequate lighting, staff available and
adequate time to prepare the centre for next day of operation with regard to;
 Water quality (both sterilisation and clarity)
 Cleaning
 Restocking
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WEATHER POLICY

4.5 Hot Weather – Option to Cancel Women’s Only and Men’s Only Bookings
In circumstances where there is high demand for use of facilities due to hot weather, centre
managers have the option to cancel women’s only and men’s only bookings in order to cater
for this broader community demand, including extending hours of operation.

4.6 Cold Weather – Closure

The planning trigger for considering closing outdoor pools for the next day is when the
Bureau of Meteorology weather forecast at mid afternoon for the next day is for a 23 degrees
Celsius maximum or lower.

This forecast will be monitored early each day to determine if there has been significant
change of forecast on the day.

Cold weather closure does not apply to Brunswick Baths and Oak Park Aquatic Centre.

Outdoor pools will open for bookings and regular programs regardless of cold weather, in
consultation with these groups.

4.7 Extreme Weather Conditions - Closure

Outdoor pools may be closed at any time for safety reasons, including extreme weather
conditions such as thunderstorms and high winds, and sometimes with very short notice to
patrons.

4.8 Provision for Regular / Programmed Usage

Council will respond to community demand that can be established for programmed usage
that is not impacted, or less impacted, by weather conditions. For example, opening early on
Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings for a dedicated lap swimming squad who have
purchased season passes for use at this time, regardless of cold weather conditions when
the centre would otherwise be declared ‘closed’.

4.9 Reporting
Operators will be required to document in their monthly reports the days/times the pool hours
were extended or reduced, associated maximum temperatures / weather conditions and
attendance.
4.10 Outdoor Pool Hours of Operation

4.10.1 NORMAL HOURS

Outdoor Pool Brunswick Fawkner Coburg Olympic Pascoe Vale Oak Park

Season All year 1 December to 31 1 December to 31 1 December to 31 1 November to 31

March March March March

School Term – Weekdays 6 am – 9 pm 3 pm – 6 pm 3 pm – 6 pm 3 pm – 6 pm 6 am – 11 am

3 pm – 6 pm

School Holidays - Weekdays 6 am – 9 pm 11 am – 6 pm 11 am – 6 pm 11 am – 6 pm 6 am – 6 pm

Weekends and Public Holidays 8 am – 8 pm 11 am – 6 pm 11 am – 6 pm 11 am – 6 pm 8 am – 6 pm

Cool Season
(1 April to 30 November) 6 am - 8 pm NA NA NA NA

Monday to Thursday
Cool Season
(1 April to 30 November) 6 am – 7 pm NA NA NA NA

Friday
Cool Season
(1 April to 30 November)
8 am – 6 pm NA NA NA NA
Saturday and Sunday

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4.10.2 HOT WEATHER HOURS

Outdoor Pool Brunswick Fawkner Coburg Olympic Pascoe Vale Oak Park

EARLY OPEN NA 1 pm to 6 - pm 1 pm to 6 pm 1 pm to 6 pm Already open 6am

School Term – Weekdays

Already open 6am
Hot Weather
(if 32ºC predicted 4pm day prior)

EARLY OPEN NA 9 am – 6 pm 9 am – 6 pm 9 am – 6 pm Already open 6am

or 8am
School Holidays, Weekends and
Already open 6am
Public Holidays
or 8am
Hot Weather
(if 32ºC predicted 4pm day prior)

LATE CLOSE
All outdoor pools / all areas
Hot Weather
(>32ºC and > 25 people in water)
NA weekdays Late close (8.30pm) Late close (8.30pm) Late close (8.30pm) Late close (8.30pm)
Already 9 pm close if staff and sufficient if staff and sufficient if staff and sufficient if staff and sufficient
light available light available light available light available
Late close
(8.30pm)
weekends and
public holidays if
staff and sufficient
light available

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Outdoor Pool Brunswick Fawkner Coburg Olympic Pascoe Vale Oak Park

SPECIAL FACILITIES 1 November to 31 Season and hours Season and hours Season and hours Season as per 50m
March as per 50m outdoor as per 50m outdoor as per 50m outdoor outdoor pool
pool pool pool
Toddlers Pool 9 am – 6 pm 9 am – 6 pm

Open only if >25ºC predicted 4pm

day prior

Later close if > 32ºC and if

sufficient staff and light available

SPECIAL FACILITIES Does not have this Season and hours Season and hours Season and hours Season as per 50m
facility as per 50m outdoor as per 50m outdoor as per 50m outdoor outdoor pool
pool pool pool
Learners Pool 9 am – 6 pm

Open only if >25ºC predicted 4pm

day prior

Later close if > 32ºC and if

sufficient staff and light available

SPECIAL FACILITIES Does not have this Does not have this Does not have this Does not have this Season as per 50m
facility facility facility facility outdoor pool

Water Slide 9 am – 6 pm

Open only if >28ºC predicted 4pm

day prior

Later close if > 32ºC and if

sufficient staff and light available

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4.10.3 COLD WEATHER HOURS

Outdoor Pool Brunswick Fawkner Coburg Olympic Pascoe Vale Oak Park

CLOSURE Not Applicable Closed other than Closed other than Closed other than Not Applicable
bookings or regular bookings or regular bookings or regular
Open every day all programs programs programs Open every day
Cold Weather
year round (except during season (except
(<23 ºC predicted midday prior)
Christmas Day and Christmas Day and
adverse weather) adverse weather)

CLOSURE May close when May close when May close when May close when May close when
safety compromised safety compromised safety compromised safety compromised safety compromised
by strong adverse by strong adverse by strong adverse by strong adverse by strong adverse
Adverse Weather
weather conditions weather conditions weather conditions weather conditions weather conditions
such as storms or such as storms or such as storms or such as storms or such as storms or
high winds. high winds. high winds. high winds. high winds.