❓ A parliamentary question regarding the Northam swimming pool opening times and the Minister's ability to intervene. The Minister clarifies the council's position and their lack of authority to intervene.
AnsweredQoN 931Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
NORTHAM SWIMMING POOL, OPENING TIMES
I refer to the opening times of the Northam swimming pool. Swimming teachers from the Department of Education and Training would like to enter the swimming pool at 9.00 am rather than 10.00 am on the days on which swimming lessons are held, as this would enable them to prepare appropriately for the arrival of students prior to lessons commencing. It would also mean that one extra lesson a day could be scheduled. (1) Will the minister determine on what grounds the Northam council refuses to change the opening time, noting section 14(4) of the Health (Swimming Pools) Regulations 1964? (2) Will the minister inform the Parliament of the additional costs, if any, that an earlier opening time would incur? (3) Is the minister able to intervene to ensure that a satisfactory arrangement can be reached; and, if not, why not? Hon JON FORD
I refer to the opening times of the Northam swimming pool. Swimming teachers from the Department of Education and Training would like to enter the swimming pool at 9.00 am rather than 10.00 am on the days on which swimming lessons are held, as this would enable them to prepare appropriately for the arrival of students prior to lessons commencing. It would also mean that one extra lesson a day could be scheduled. (1) Will the minister determine on what grounds the Northam council refuses to change the opening time, noting section 14(4) of the Health (Swimming Pools) Regulations 1964? (2) Will the minister inform the Parliament of the additional costs, if any, that an earlier opening time would incur? (3) Is the minister able to intervene to ensure that a satisfactory arrangement can be reached; and, if not, why not? Hon JON FORD
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Local Government and Regional Development has supplied the following answer - (1) The Town of Northam has advised that swimming teachers are provided with keys to access the town swimming pool before 10.00 am to set up for lessons, but that private laps and swimming in the pool is not permitted until the pool is open to the general public at 10.00 am. The refusal to allow private swimming before the public opening time was determined on the grounds of public liability and safety issues, and because of the community perception that an exclusive benefit would be provided. (2) The decision to not allow swimming prior to the 10.00 am public opening time relates not to cost but to liability, safety and community perception issues. (3) The Local Government Act 1995 does not provide for the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development to intervene in pool opening times. The pool is regulated under the provisions of the Health Act 1911.
(1) Will the minister determine on what grounds the Northam council refuses to change the opening time, noting section 14(4) of the Health (Swimming Pools) Regulations 1964? (2) Will the minister inform the Parliament of the additional costs, if any, that an earlier opening time would incur? (3) Is the minister able to intervene to ensure that a satisfactory arrangement can be reached; and, if not, why not? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Local Government and Regional Development has supplied the following answer - (1) The Town of Northam has advised that swimming teachers are provided with keys to access the town swimming pool before 10.00 am to set up for lessons, but that private laps and swimming in the pool is not permitted until the pool is open to the general public at 10.00 am. The refusal to allow private swimming before the public opening time was determined on the grounds of public liability and safety issues, and because of the community perception that an exclusive benefit would be provided. (2) The decision to not allow swimming prior to the 10.00 am public opening time relates not to cost but to liability, safety and community perception issues. (3) The Local Government Act 1995 does not provide for the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development to intervene in pool opening times. The pool is regulated under the provisions of the Health Act 1911.
(2) Will the minister inform the Parliament of the additional costs, if any, that an earlier opening time would incur? (3) Is the minister able to intervene to ensure that a satisfactory arrangement can be reached; and, if not, why not? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Local Government and Regional Development has supplied the following answer - (1) The Town of Northam has advised that swimming teachers are provided with keys to access the town swimming pool before 10.00 am to set up for lessons, but that private laps and swimming in the pool is not permitted until the pool is open to the general public at 10.00 am. The refusal to allow private swimming before the public opening time was determined on the grounds of public liability and safety issues, and because of the community perception that an exclusive benefit would be provided. (2) The decision to not allow swimming prior to the 10.00 am public opening time relates not to cost but to liability, safety and community perception issues. (3) The Local Government Act 1995 does not provide for the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development to intervene in pool opening times. The pool is regulated under the provisions of the Health Act 1911.
(3) Is the minister able to intervene to ensure that a satisfactory arrangement can be reached; and, if not, why not? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Local Government and Regional Development has supplied the following answer - (1) The Town of Northam has advised that swimming teachers are provided with keys to access the town swimming pool before 10.00 am to set up for lessons, but that private laps and swimming in the pool is not permitted until the pool is open to the general public at 10.00 am. The refusal to allow private swimming before the public opening time was determined on the grounds of public liability and safety issues, and because of the community perception that an exclusive benefit would be provided. (2) The decision to not allow swimming prior to the 10.00 am public opening time relates not to cost but to liability, safety and community perception issues. (3) The Local Government Act 1995 does not provide for the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development to intervene in pool opening times. The pool is regulated under the provisions of the Health Act 1911.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Local Government and Regional Development has supplied the following answer - (1) The Town of Northam has advised that swimming teachers are provided with keys to access the town swimming pool before 10.00 am to set up for lessons, but that private laps and swimming in the pool is not permitted until the pool is open to the general public at 10.00 am. The refusal to allow private swimming before the public opening time was determined on the grounds of public liability and safety issues, and because of the community perception that an exclusive benefit would be provided. (2) The decision to not allow swimming prior to the 10.00 am public opening time relates not to cost but to liability, safety and community perception issues. (3) The Local Government Act 1995 does not provide for the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development to intervene in pool opening times. The pool is regulated under the provisions of the Health Act 1911.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Local Government and Regional Development has supplied the following answer - (1) The Town of Northam has advised that swimming teachers are provided with keys to access the town swimming pool before 10.00 am to set up for lessons, but that private laps and swimming in the pool is not permitted until the pool is open to the general public at 10.00 am. The refusal to allow private swimming before the public opening time was determined on the grounds of public liability and safety issues, and because of the community perception that an exclusive benefit would be provided. (2) The decision to not allow swimming prior to the 10.00 am public opening time relates not to cost but to liability, safety and community perception issues. (3) The Local Government Act 1995 does not provide for the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development to intervene in pool opening times. The pool is regulated under the provisions of the Health Act 1911.
(1) The Town of Northam has advised that swimming teachers are provided with keys to access the town swimming pool before 10.00 am to set up for lessons, but that private laps and swimming in the pool is not permitted until the pool is open to the general public at 10.00 am. The refusal to allow private swimming before the public opening time was determined on the grounds of public liability and safety issues, and because of the community perception that an exclusive benefit would be provided. (2) The decision to not allow swimming prior to the 10.00 am public opening time relates not to cost but to liability, safety and community perception issues. (3) The Local Government Act 1995 does not provide for the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development to intervene in pool opening times. The pool is regulated under the provisions of the Health Act 1911.
(2) The decision to not allow swimming prior to the 10.00 am public opening time relates not to cost but to liability, safety and community perception issues. (3) The Local Government Act 1995 does not provide for the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development to intervene in pool opening times. The pool is regulated under the provisions of the Health Act 1911.
(3) The Local Government Act 1995 does not provide for the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development to intervene in pool opening times. The pool is regulated under the provisions of the Health Act 1911.
(1) Will the minister determine on what grounds the Northam council refuses to change the opening time, noting section 14(4) of the Health (Swimming Pools) Regulations 1964? (2) Will the minister inform the Parliament of the additional costs, if any, that an earlier opening time would incur? (3) Is the minister able to intervene to ensure that a satisfactory arrangement can be reached; and, if not, why not? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Local Government and Regional Development has supplied the following answer - (1) The Town of Northam has advised that swimming teachers are provided with keys to access the town swimming pool before 10.00 am to set up for lessons, but that private laps and swimming in the pool is not permitted until the pool is open to the general public at 10.00 am. The refusal to allow private swimming before the public opening time was determined on the grounds of public liability and safety issues, and because of the community perception that an exclusive benefit would be provided. (2) The decision to not allow swimming prior to the 10.00 am public opening time relates not to cost but to liability, safety and community perception issues. (3) The Local Government Act 1995 does not provide for the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development to intervene in pool opening times. The pool is regulated under the provisions of the Health Act 1911.
(2) Will the minister inform the Parliament of the additional costs, if any, that an earlier opening time would incur? (3) Is the minister able to intervene to ensure that a satisfactory arrangement can be reached; and, if not, why not? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Local Government and Regional Development has supplied the following answer - (1) The Town of Northam has advised that swimming teachers are provided with keys to access the town swimming pool before 10.00 am to set up for lessons, but that private laps and swimming in the pool is not permitted until the pool is open to the general public at 10.00 am. The refusal to allow private swimming before the public opening time was determined on the grounds of public liability and safety issues, and because of the community perception that an exclusive benefit would be provided. (2) The decision to not allow swimming prior to the 10.00 am public opening time relates not to cost but to liability, safety and community perception issues. (3) The Local Government Act 1995 does not provide for the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development to intervene in pool opening times. The pool is regulated under the provisions of the Health Act 1911.
(3) Is the minister able to intervene to ensure that a satisfactory arrangement can be reached; and, if not, why not? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Local Government and Regional Development has supplied the following answer - (1) The Town of Northam has advised that swimming teachers are provided with keys to access the town swimming pool before 10.00 am to set up for lessons, but that private laps and swimming in the pool is not permitted until the pool is open to the general public at 10.00 am. The refusal to allow private swimming before the public opening time was determined on the grounds of public liability and safety issues, and because of the community perception that an exclusive benefit would be provided. (2) The decision to not allow swimming prior to the 10.00 am public opening time relates not to cost but to liability, safety and community perception issues. (3) The Local Government Act 1995 does not provide for the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development to intervene in pool opening times. The pool is regulated under the provisions of the Health Act 1911.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Local Government and Regional Development has supplied the following answer - (1) The Town of Northam has advised that swimming teachers are provided with keys to access the town swimming pool before 10.00 am to set up for lessons, but that private laps and swimming in the pool is not permitted until the pool is open to the general public at 10.00 am. The refusal to allow private swimming before the public opening time was determined on the grounds of public liability and safety issues, and because of the community perception that an exclusive benefit would be provided. (2) The decision to not allow swimming prior to the 10.00 am public opening time relates not to cost but to liability, safety and community perception issues. (3) The Local Government Act 1995 does not provide for the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development to intervene in pool opening times. The pool is regulated under the provisions of the Health Act 1911.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Local Government and Regional Development has supplied the following answer - (1) The Town of Northam has advised that swimming teachers are provided with keys to access the town swimming pool before 10.00 am to set up for lessons, but that private laps and swimming in the pool is not permitted until the pool is open to the general public at 10.00 am. The refusal to allow private swimming before the public opening time was determined on the grounds of public liability and safety issues, and because of the community perception that an exclusive benefit would be provided. (2) The decision to not allow swimming prior to the 10.00 am public opening time relates not to cost but to liability, safety and community perception issues. (3) The Local Government Act 1995 does not provide for the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development to intervene in pool opening times. The pool is regulated under the provisions of the Health Act 1911.
(1) The Town of Northam has advised that swimming teachers are provided with keys to access the town swimming pool before 10.00 am to set up for lessons, but that private laps and swimming in the pool is not permitted until the pool is open to the general public at 10.00 am. The refusal to allow private swimming before the public opening time was determined on the grounds of public liability and safety issues, and because of the community perception that an exclusive benefit would be provided. (2) The decision to not allow swimming prior to the 10.00 am public opening time relates not to cost but to liability, safety and community perception issues. (3) The Local Government Act 1995 does not provide for the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development to intervene in pool opening times. The pool is regulated under the provisions of the Health Act 1911.
(2) The decision to not allow swimming prior to the 10.00 am public opening time relates not to cost but to liability, safety and community perception issues. (3) The Local Government Act 1995 does not provide for the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development to intervene in pool opening times. The pool is regulated under the provisions of the Health Act 1911.
(3) The Local Government Act 1995 does not provide for the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development to intervene in pool opening times. The pool is regulated under the provisions of the Health Act 1911.
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