TJS Services
TJS Services is a leading national facility services provider. We deliver quality cleaning, maintenance, construction and facility management services to over 1,500 sites Australia wide. Our…
read moreBelfast Aquatic Centre – a regional Victorian pool in Port Fairy – is challenged with finding an insurer following the tragic drowning death of eight-year-old student Cooper Onyett.
Cooper Onyett drowned during a school camp in May 2021 and the Centre is facing the prospect of closing amid ongoing insurance struggles.
After a period of closure, Belfast Aquatic re-opened to the public. However, the community facility is now facing the prospect of closing, having struggled to secure ongoing insurance in the wake of the tragedy.
Moyne Shire Council, which owns the land the pool is built on but does not run the facility, has according to the ABC engaged a specialist consultant to analyse the centre's risk assessments.
Shire Chief Executive Bill Millard advised "If the committee is unsuccessful in obtaining insurance, council will work with the committee and consider what other options exist to secure the future of the facility.”
A last-minute reprieve from the centre's current insurer means it can continue operating for a month, however, the future beyond that remains unknown.
The aquatic centre's chair Anne McIlroy said the pool's management team were surprised when their insurer asked them to look elsewhere for coverage.
"We all got a shock," McIlroy told the ABC adding "the community was devastated to think it (the pool) was going to shut."
The centre's insurance claim regarding the fatality is yet to be resolved, which McIlroy concedes is part of the struggle to find ongoing cover.
Moyne Shire Council said it would continue to work closely with the Belfast Aquatics Committee in an attempt to find a solution to the insurance issues it was facing.
A Worksafe investigation into the fatality was launched soon after and has not been resolved.
22nd February 2022 - Life Saving Victoria offers discounted swim teacher courses
21st February 2022 - Widow sues Whitsunday Regional Council over Airlie Beach Lagoon drownings
22nd January 2022 - Public reminded to observe water safety warnings following spike in NSW coastal drownings
8th January 2022 - Poor adult swimming skills contribute to summer drownings
2nd January 2022 - Life Saving Victoria calls for caution after four people drown since New Year’s Eve
1st December 2021 - Victorian drowning report reveals tragedies behind highest drowning toll in 20 years
20th November 2021 - Widely reported near drowning at Adventure World shows need for child supervision in aquatic environments
18th November 2021 - Risk management the key to way out of attractions industry’s insurance crisis
25th October 2021 - AALARA urges members to respond to Australian Small Business Ombudsman’s insurance crisis interim report
12th January 2021 - Sportscover partners with Sport Climbing Australia to offer insurance for climbers
16th November 2020 - Industry operators impacted by rising insurance premiums
15th September 2018 - Commercial trampoline centre operators struggle to secure insurance
19th April 2018 - Royal Life Saving study finds lack of supervision behind child drownings at public facilities
1st January 2016 - YMCA aquatics specialist highlights the need to guard against drownings
Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?
As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.
The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.
TJS Services is a leading national facility services provider. We deliver quality cleaning, maintenance, construction and facility management services to over 1,500 sites Australia wide. Our…
read moreGeoff Ninnes Fong & Partners (GNFP) is a structural, aquatic and civil engineering consultancy with broad experience in the design of new municipal and institutional swimming pools, hydrotherapy…
read moreHIB Insurance Brokers - Experts in Leisure and Amusement Insurance With over 20 years specialising in the Amusement and Leisure industries, we have the experience to understand your operations and…
read moreAIS Water, the trading name of Australian Innovative Systems, is a multi-award winning, Australian owned leader in the design, production and supply of commercial and residential chlorine generators…
read moreAs of the 1st July 2018, Enta Australasia Pty Ltd/Best Union has been rebranded as Vivaticket Pty Ltd. Vivaticket is the ideal strategic partner for the organisation and management of your…
read moreTurnstile Entry Systems and Access Control Centaman Entrance Controls’ Award Winning Range of Access Control Systems includes tripod & triarm turnstiles, speedgates, full height…
read moreCommercial gym equipment supplier Aussie Strength was wound up at the end of 2022. .aussie p { padding:20px; }
read moreGet your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!