Council investigating allegations in relation to pool safety inspections

Lane Cove Council is investigating serious allegations made by a whistleblower employee and published by the Sydney Morning Herald.

The Herald article aired claims by the council’s sole compliance officer including that the council’s pool safety inspection program was seriously deficient.

An amendment to the Swimming Pools Act 1992, in force since 2016, requires local authorities to develop a plan for pool safety inspections and implement it after a period of public consultation.

The officer, Neil Lynch, told the Herald that without a formal plan in place, he developed a draft policy based on the programs used by other Sydney councils, but it was not adopted.

He also told the Herald that the backyard pool in which a near drowning occurred, after a child entered through a gate with a defective lock, would have been inspected up to three times if a proper plan had been in place. Lynch expressed remorse that he did not push harder for his plan to be implemented.

Lane Cove Council replied to SPLASH! to say that, as the allegations are being investigated, it would be inappropriate for Council and/or its staff to respond to matters that are related to the allegations, particularly as it could prejudice both the investigation and its outcome.

SPLASH! will update the story when the results of the investigation become available.