File ref: IRC-3883
10 October 2022
M Grange
[FYI request #20520 email]
Kia ora M Grange
Thank you for your request made under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings
Act 1987 (the Act), received on 12 September 2022. You requested the fol owing information:
• Provide the near-miss incident report form and investigation findings for an incident that
happened at 3.30pm on Monday 12th September 2022, which involved a young patron
who got stuck in the ramp and an adult (who was actively supervising) had to jump in into
the pool.
• All information about this incident from the Council, the pool, and the SwimWell
programme run (and endorsed) by the Council.
Wellington City Council has
granted your request for information.
Please see below incident reports (items 1-4) regarding the incident at Keith Spry Pool on 12
September 2022 at 3.30pm. Please note that under the Act some information has been withheld
under section 7(2)(a) to protect the privacy of natural persons.
The Council takes safety of Wellingtonian using our facilities seriously. It is important that staff,
instructors, and parents/guardians play a role in keeping children safe while in the water. The
Council has adopted a National Pool Alone Policy. It is recommended children under five are
accompanied by a caregiver who is within arm’s reach and in the water with them. It is the
Lifeguards responsibility to ensure active supervision is taking place and provide emergency
response and customer care when sports group/squads or Learn to Swim (LTS) sessions are in
progress. Lifeguards need to be proactive and liaise with coaches, swimmers, LTS instructors and
participants when needed as they can assist with rescues and treatment if required.
SwimWell has initiated discussion with their staff involved to determine what had occurred and to
communicate with lifeguards for any issues or concerns. The Council’s Operations Management
team has discussed the scenario with our lifeguards and wil continue to remind lifeguards that they
remain attentive at ensuring active supervision with parents/guardians is occurring in line with our
policy and ensure intervention is occurring proactively, if not being followed.
Below are the documents that fall in scope of your request and my decision to release the
document.
Item Document name/description
Decision
1.
Event Case Report 1299253
Release with redactions
2.
Event Case Report 1299248
Release with redactions
3.
Event Case Report 1299304
Release with redactions
4.
Event Case Report 1299318
Release with redactions
5.
Community Pools NOP - Pool Alone Pool Supervision
Policy - Feb 2022
Release
With respect to the information that has been withheld, I do not consider there are any other
factors which would render it desirable, in the public interest, to make the information available.
Right of review
If you are not satisfied with the Council’s response, you may request the Office of the Ombudsman
to investigate the Council’s decision. Further information is available on the Ombudsman website,
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz.
Thank you again for your request, and bringing this to our attention, if you have any questions,
please feel free to contact me.
Kind regards
Asha Harry
Official Information
Wellington City Council | 2 of 2
