Newsplash - September 2009

Safety tip

It’s getting hotter, are you Water Safety wise?

Supervision - Supervise and save lives!

Drowning is quick and silent, so active supervision is vital.
Always stay within arm’s reach of young children.
At parties, have a designated adult supervisor at all times.
Swimming with your child or taking them to lessons will help build their confidence and develop good water wise skills.
Always keep watch in and around the water.

Water Safety Week

Water Safety week will be celebrated from 21– 30 September with lots of fun and exciting events and activities planned throughout the week. Get involved by entering the competitions and have the chance to win some great prizes including a full day fishing charter for 8 people. There are a range of competitions for everyone including the under 5’s and over 5’s colouring-in competition, the online safe boating quiz competition and your chance to be Boof’s Backup Dancers! You can find all your competition information at www.watersafety.nt.gov.au/week

Water Safety Week Calendar of Events

Here is a snapshot of the activities and events for Water Safety Week 2009. For a more detailed calendar visit www.watersafety.nt.gov.au/week

23 September	Twilight Active Family Fun Night	6pm - 8pm	Casuarina Swimming Pool
23 September	Lifesaving as a sport (8yrs+)	4pm - 5.30pm	YMCA Alice Springs Swimming Centre
24 September	Shopping Centre Display	9am – 5pm	Palmerston Shopping Centre
25 September	Shopping Centre Display	9am – 5pm	Casuarina Shopping Centre
29 September	Family Fun Day	12pm – 2pm	Jabiru Town Pool, West Arnhem Shire
30 September	Water Safety Display	9am – 5pm	Leanyer Recreation Park

Splashfest!

The annual Splashfest event will be held on Sunday 27 September from 10.00am to 3.00pm at the Waterfront Precinct and will be packed full of free activities for the entire family. Some of the exciting activities scheduled throughout the day include rescue a friend competition, meet a surf lifesaver and the Water Safety Creek activity!
Be sure to make it down for the day and meet Boof the Barra, the water safety mascot who will perform live at the Wave Pool with his backup dancers. Activities at the Waterfront Precinct are free; a fee applies to enter the wave pool.

Splashfest 2008
Children enjoying last year's Splashfest.

School visits

The water safety team visited Middle Point School, Borroloola and Gulf Group Schools in August and September. Middle Point School students from transition to year 6, as well as Borroloola and Gulf Group students from pre-school to year 12, participated in fun learning activities. The children participated in water safety lessons including safe swimming areas, water safety signs, dangerous marine animals and boating safety. The school visits were a huge success and greatly appreciated by staff and students.

Pool fencing

Pool Safety in the Northern Territory - The Modified Australian Standard

Owners of pools and spas constructed after 1 January 2003 must comply with the Modified Australian Standard within seven days after the completion of their pool/spa and before the pool is filled deeper than 300mm. Owners of earlier pools may also choose to meet the Modified Australian Standard. Certification to the Modified Australian Standard will be assessed by the Water Safety Branch.

Under the legislation the standards have been modified so that a neighbouring property will not affect a pool or spa's compliance. If a shared boundary fence is being used as part of your pool barrier, you are required to notify your neighbour in writing that a pool is next door.

Standards Australia is the peak non-government standards body in Australia and measures products against a defined Australian or International Standard. There are currently over 6,000 Australian Standards.

With respect to swimming pool fencing, the Australian Standards are directed at obtaining a barrier that will make it difficult for a young child to gain access to a pool area, whether under, over or through the fencing.

Community Safety Standard - for pools and spas constructed prior to 1 January 2003
The Community Safety Standard requires a pool owner to self declare that their pool or spa is enclosed by a barrier that will effectively prevent a child under five years of age from obtaining unsupervised access to a pool area. Safety guidelines and a declaration form are available online from the Water Safety Branch.

Under the Community Safety Standard your neighbour’s property will not affect your pool or spa’s compliance. If a shared boundary fence is being used as part of your pool barrier, you are required to notify your neighbour in writing that a pool is next door.

Free advice and assistance is available from the Water Safety Branch on 1300 301 059 or by email watersafety@nt.gov.au.

Also visit http://www.watersafety.nt.gov.au/fencing/standards

Snippets

The Water Safety Branch visited the Teddy Bears Picnic on Sunday 23 August. Parents registered their children for the Under 5’s Water Safety Awareness Program. Children enjoyed the free colouring in competitions which were handed out on the day.

Boating and fishing

Boof the Barra and the water safety team visited the Junior Angler Education Clinic on Sunday 30 August, hosted by Palmerston Game Fishing Club Inc. and Happy Mick’s Tackle n Tents. Children learned about water safety, in particular boating safety and dangerous marine creatures. The children were able to look at real boat safety equipment and even had the opportunity to check out a few dangerous marine animals, including a box jelly fish specimen i n a jar, blue ringed octopus and a stone fish. Participants received a water safety fun pack to take home, including Boof’s water safety activity book, stickers, boat safety information and entries for the Water Safety Week competitions. (photo to come)

Coming soon – New Safe Boating Campaign from Marine Safety NT! Keep checking their website for updates. http://www.marinesafety.nt.gov.au/

Dates for your diary

12 September	YMCA Alice Springs Swimming Centre re-opens
21-30 September	Water Safety Week (NT)
26-27 September	NT Surf Life Saving Championships (Nhulunbuy)
17-18 October	Darwin Boat and Leisure Show
02-04 October	Barra Bash (Roper River)

Water safety expertise required

Royal Life Saving NT is looking for casual swimming instructors. For further information, please call RLSSNT on 8981 5036.
View the August newsletter (pdf 1.98Mb).

The Australian Lifesaving Academy NT is looking for part-time staff to assist with the delivery of their school sport and recreation program. For further information, please contact Julie Snelling at SLSNT on 8985 6588.
View the Surfline newsletter (pdf 155Kb).