Local swimming pools at Deloraine, Caveside and Mole Creek are not yet operating this summer.

The Council owned pools at Deloraine and Caveside were damaged in the recent floods.

The Caveside pool liner was damaged, whilst the Deloraine pool sustained considerable damage to public areas, and electrical, pump and filtration systems.

Repairs to the pool filters will be finished in late January, with opening scheduled for early February.

The Mole Creek pool and Caveside pools face additional operational challenges that mean they will not operate this summer.

“Safety standards for public liability insurance have changed significantly.

This means (that the) pools will need to operate differently and a key element of that is the provision of a qualified lifeguard” Mayor Johnston said.

Council has considered supporting the training of volunteer lifeguards, however this training has not been available this season.

It was fortunate that the Rotary Club of Deloraine’s Learn to Swim program was relocated to the Deloraine Primary School pool.

It is a critically important swimming safety activity, particularly if people are swimming in local waterways.

The Meander Valley Council Environmental Health Officers undertake regular water quality testing to ensure swimmer safety in recreational swimming areas of the Meander, Liffey and South Esk Rivers and Lake Trevallyn.