A unanimous decision by Indigo councillors has saved schools from a staff proposal to charge for lifeguard services.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The proposal, presented at Tuesday night’s council meeting in Beechworth, would have cost schools $65 per hour and saved the council about $6000 per year.
Cr Larry Goldsworthy moved an amendment to overturn the plan, saying it was unfair to charge extra while trying to encourage children to participate in swimming activities and the council should not burden schools with further costs.
He denied he had a conflict of interest as Beechworth Secondary College council president because the issue had never been considered at board level.
All other six councillors agreed with the change.
Cr Barb Murdoch was on the council when it first decided to remove the lifeguard fees for schools.
“Things haven’t changed, the schools are still struggling and it’s the small schools that are going to be impacted by this because it costs quite a lot of money for them to get all the kids down to the pool,” she said.
“Anything for children to learn how to swim, especially in these areas where we have a lovely big stream north of us that really requires children to be able to swim.”
Council management confirmed no schools had been consulted before the proposal was created.
Cr Sophie Price also said she was excited the trial to extend the Rutherglen pool season from eight weeks to 12 weeks would continue.