Shorter, Safer Swimming Season

There will be changes in opening hours at swimming pools at Kingaroy, Wondai and Murgon this year and lifeguards will patrol all six Council pools

September 19, 2018

The South Burnett Regional Council has cut back the swimming season at Kingaroy, Wondai and Murgon swimming pools slightly this season … but patrons will be safer.

On Tuesday, the Council said qualified lifeguards would now patrol all Council’s six pools over the summer to help meet Royal Lifesaving Australia guidelines for public pools introduced by the State Government.

However, Council will trim back pool opening hours at Kingaroy, Wondai and Murgon pools and reduce the swimming season slightly.

This year, the three pools will open on October 1 rather than early to mid-September, but will operate until the end of the Easter school vacation in April 2019 as usual.

During school holidays, Kingaroy’s pool will be open from 9:00am to 5:00pm, and Wondai and Murgon’s pools will be open from noon to 5:00pm.

Outside of school holidays, there will also be some reductions in normal opening hours (see below).

Mayor Keith Campbell said the changes were necessary to ensure the pools complied with the Council’s 2018-19 swimming pools budget.

Mayor Campbell also announced that Terry Dunn has been appointed as the new manager of Kingaroy’s WJ Lang Memorial Swimming Pool, and Josephine Sleeman will manage the Wondai Swimming Pool.

Murgon’s Jubilee Swimming Pool will continue to be managed by Lori Hall.

The Mayor said the changes would not affect the South Burnett Aquatic Centre in Nanango.

Blackbutt and Proston’s swimming pools are operated in conjunction with Education Queensland, and are not expected to be affected, either.

Mayor Campbell advised pool users to check the opening times for each pool on Council’s website and Facebook page, or on pool notice boards.