The training season for more than 70 competitive divers in the Hunter region has been thrown into chaos after the sudden closure of almost all diving facilities at Lambton pool.
Safety Review Grounds Diving Operations
City of Newcastle announced on Monday that the heritage dive tower, all three-metre springboards, and one of the one-metre boards have been temporarily closed. The decision follows a safety review initiated by councillors in December last year and recent inspections by SafeWork NSW in November, which resulted in the issuance of improvement notices.
The council stated it sought guidance from the workplace safety regulator due to the age of the asset and "challenges in meeting current safety standards." The identified risks primarily involve potential slips and falls on the tower and the affected boards.
As a result, the Hunter United Diving Academy, the sole dedicated diving facility in the Hunter, is now left with only a single one-metre springboard for its entire membership base to train on.
Olympic Judge Slams Timing and Impact
Club treasurer and former Olympic diving judge Eric Brooker did not mince words, labelling the council's move as having a "terrible impact." He highlighted the impracticality of up to 30 athletes trying to train simultaneously on one board in the middle of the competitive season.
"We're trying to prepare for competitions and everything else, so it's going to have a huge impact on us," Mr Brooker said. He expressed frustration that SafeWork NSW had years to issue notices during the winter off-season rather than at the peak of training.
Mr Brooker, who served as a judge at the 2012 Olympics and chief referee in 2016, also pointed to the club's perfect safety record and a recent significant investment. More than $65,000 was spent upgrading the springboards just a few years ago, with funding assistance from the council and NSW government.
"For them to turn around and do this to us is extremely harsh," he added, questioning how the club would be compensated for the disruption.
Heritage Tower's Future in the Balance
The Lambton dive tower is a piece of local history, opening in January 1963 as part of the original pool complex. It features platforms at five, 7.5, and ten metres, alongside the springboards, all serviced by a five-metre-deep pool. Public access to the tower was restricted seven years ago, with access now limited to accredited diving organisations.
The closure places the future of a rare piece of infrastructure in focus. The Lambton tower is one of only 12 heritage dive towers remaining in the country and one of just two built before the year 2000 that are still operational. The other, at Canberra Olympic Pool, is slated for permanent closure as part of a redevelopment.
City of Newcastle stated it would engage a qualified expert to conduct a risk assessment to determine necessary control measures and their costs. The council has until February to report back to SafeWork NSW, meaning the club faces nearly three months of severely hampered training.
In a statement, the council confirmed it would consult with stakeholders, including the dive club, during the review. However, for the 70 members and their families who paid for a full season of training, the wait for a resolution promises to be a frustrating dive into uncertainty.
