“Substandard cleanliness” at Narrogin’s aquatic centre called out in petition launched by concerned residents

Cleanliness in the aquatic area at Narrogin Regional Leisure Centre has come under scrutiny with a petition signed by a group of residents calling on the Shire of Narrogin to intervene. Narrogin resident Maretta Osgood presented a petition with 83 signatures to the Shire at October’s council meeting, calling for the showers, toilets, change rooms and pool to be held to a higher standard of hygiene. They say mould in the changerooms and dirty tiles around the swimming pool have discouraged people from using the facility. Ms Osgood and her son were frequent users of the aquatic area but stopped going last year after she felt the “substandard level of cleanliness” was affecting their health. “My son has a disability, he has autism and his particular need, because he can’t go to school, is to do life learning,” she said. “We actually stopped being able to go to the pool last year because he would get tummy issues every single time we went and the chlorine would hurt this eyes. “So that cut off a big opportunity. He’s very much into physical exercise and he’s just become even more isolated.” Ms Osgood said the leisure centre was an important community hub, especially for people living with a disability. “It’s a real centre, it’s not only the pool — it’s a gym, it’s a toy library and it’s squash courts,” she said. “If they (leisure centre management) took this on not as a criticism, but to use the Shire to help them achieve best practice that would hopefully equal more business and more people going to the pool. “It’s very important to people living with a disability because all they have is the library, the swimming pool, they do have an activity centre but that’s only for a certain level of disabled adult.” The Narrogin Regional Leisure Centre is owned by the Shire, which contracts the day-to-day management to YMCA WA. “We work extremely closely with the Shire to provide a quality health and wellness facility and consequently there are over 300 happy members,” YMCA youth community and leisure general manager Mark Furr said. “Both the Shire and the Y were aware of the petition and we obviously take all complaints seriously and can confirm we have a very thorough cleaning schedule, whereby the centre is checked twice a day. “We have an approved maintenance schedule and we work proactively with the Shire to maintain the facility.” Mr Furr said the leisure centre had experienced problems with its heating, ventilation and air conditioning system but those issues had since been resolved. “We have in the past had issues with the HVAC system which have now been resolved, and fixtures and fittings that were damaged have either been replaced or are due for replacement shortly,” he said. “We continue to welcome feedback from the community, and members, to ensure we provide a safe and clean environment the community can enjoy.” Ms Osgood said the petition was not designed to criticise the centre or staff, but to call on the Shire to address areas of concern. “We felt that the Shire should actually investigate if there were other ways they could help the aquatic centre raise the standard of cleanliness,” she said. “We ask the Shire to investigate and assist, and then measure (the progress) ongoing.” Shire chief executive Dale Stewart said the Shire would prepare a report for the council on the petition after reviewing the content and circumstances. “The Shire and YMCA have a very good working and contract relationship and meets regularly to discuss performance and maintenance issues as or if they arise,” he said. “To date the YMCA has been an excellent service provider and we are confident we can address any perceived shortcomings in cleaning regimes.”