'There's so many kids that can't swim': Staff issues close Warrnambool, Terang, Mortlake, Timboon pools

YMCA Victoria senior coordinator of operations Kate Ludeman said it was a "nightmare" juggling staff to keep the pools open across Corangamite and Moyne shires.

And Warrnambool's AquaZone has also had to close its outdoor pool on different days and times because of a lack of staff.

Ms Ludeman said they were forced to shut the Terang pool on Sunday and Monday but that was not the only days, or only facility, they've had to close to doors on.

"I was left with three juniors and that's why I had to shut," she said.

Those staff were instead sent to Camperdown and Mortlake on Monday so those pools could at least stay open and keep vital swimming lessons running.

"On Sunday I was driving home and I got three phone calls on that trip to say 'sorry I'm a positive or a close contact'," Ms Ludeman said.

"It's a nightmare. I never thought in my whole life that a pool would shut because we don't have staff.

"The Mortlake pool has shut heaps because of COVID, but because they have VicSwim this week that was a priority to keep it open. Cobden's pool has been hit a few times."

Timboon also had to close around Christmas because of COVID isolation. Skipton was the only pool in the shire that hadn't been affected. Others are opening half-days just to share it around.

Ms Ludeman said some of the facilities had been running swimming lessons this week and the focus was to keep those pools open.

"There's so many kids that can't swim. You've got kids now in grade two that have missed swimming lessons in prep and grade one, and they still can't swim," she said.

She said the facilities were also now forced to shut kiosks when the number of swimmers increased.

With more children than ever not being able to swim, they were having to devote extra staff to supervise the pool rather than operate a kiosk. "Kids can't swim, so we have to reduce the risk," Ms Ludeman said.

Corangamite mayor Ruth Gstrein said staff shortages had impacted pools over the Christmas holiday break.

"There are a number of staff who have been impacted, and councillors too I might add, who are isolating as being a close contact or having tested positive," she said.

Staff shortages are forcing the outdoor pool in Warrnambool to be closed at various times of the day over the next three days. The indoor pool is not affected.

Warrnambool City Council chief executive officer Peter Schneider said there was an industry-wide lack of qualified lifeguards prior to summer which had now been exacerbated by staff unavailability due to COVID-19.

"Our pre-summer recruitment campaign, which offered suitable training, only led to the appointment of one additional lifeguard at AquaZone," Mr Schneider said.

"As we are seeing across a range of industries that rely on seasonal, casual employment, attracting staff has been a significant challenge.

"Now that we are into mid-January, if we were to recruit and train someone, the outdoor pool season would be over by the time they are ready."

Mr Schneider put out a call for anyone who is a qualified lifeguard to contact the council on www.warrnambool.vic.gov.au/careers from Friday.

He said that AquaZone was fortunate to have a multi-skilled team, so some lifeguard shifts had been covered and disruptions to the outdoor pool limited.

"This arrangement is far from ideal, however, as it takes staff away from their regular duties," he said.

"We are prioritising keeping the indoor pool open as usual as it provides a broader range of activities to a broader group of people.

"With the outdoor pool, when closures are necessary, we do all we can to make sure they take place during quieter times of the day."

Mr Schneider said they expected further closures in the coming weeks.

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