RUTHERGLEN’S diving board is staying put — literally.

Indigo Council this week considered a recommendation to remove the Rutherglen pool’s springboard because it did not meet safety standards.

The meeting’s agenda noted removing the popular attraction was “a very sensitive topic” that could generate “negative feedback”.

So, after long discussion, councillors resolved to take the spring out of the board and make it a fixed platform.

FINA and Royal Life Saving Society of Australia require water 3.6 metres deep for a one-metre springboard.

Rutherglen’s maximum depth is 3.2 metres — the minimum for a fixed structure.

Pool users can still use the board this summer under strict rules the council imposed. The diving area will be roped off from swimmers.

Cr Peter Croucher suggested the board should only be used at certain times.

A report on the shire’s swimming pool development, tabled in August, said the council could be liable for any incident on the springboard, given it knew of the risk.

Cr Roberta Horne first proposed to keep the board sprung but that it should be lowered it six centimetres, making its height “appropriate” but not covered by any FINA standards.

Cr Bernard Gaffney asked whether that would still leave the council at risk.

Chief executive Brendan McGrath said any claim would likely be assessed against the “grey area” of whether has council done enough to mitigate a risk it knew about.

Removing the board would cost up to $400, while lowering it would cost about $700.

The cost of installing a fixed platform is not yet known.

A second motion, to buy an inflatable play device valued at up to $8000, was briefly considered, but councillors agreed to delay a decision until the proposal could be further investigated.

The cost of the device, which would be shared between all the council’s pools, has not been included in the council’s budget.

Indigo’s pools, including Rutherglen, will open for the summer from November 16.

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THE PROBLEM

Rutherglen’s popular one-metre springboard does not meet the standard safety requirements set out by FINA-RLSSA. Water must be at least 3.6 metres — the pool’s maximum depth is 3.2 metres.

OPTIONS CONSIDERED

1. Lower the board by six centimetres to create the right height-depth ratio at which it would not be covered by FINA-RLSSA guidelines. Cost: $700

2. Remove the board entirely, an unpopular choice with pool users. Cost: $300-400

3. Modify the board to a non-sprung, fixed platform. Minimum water required is 3.2 metres, the depth of the Rutherglen pool. Cost: unknown

THE SOLUTION

Fix the board to be a non-sprung platform, and create new safety rules around its use, including roping off an area of the pool to separate divers and swimmers.