Council kicks in for towels and cozzies as Covid puts Orange kids way behind on learning to swim

June 23, 2022

Stock image.

By David Fitzsimons

An Orange school needs money for swimming costumes and towels to help its pupils learn to swim, but who should be paying for it?

Orange City Council has agreed to provide $2,500 toward helping children learn to swim, but questions have been asked about why the state government education department is not already covering the costs.

The needs of Glenroi Heights Public School were outlined at Thursday night’s council meeting.

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It was revealed in a report to council that due to Covid students had not participated in their

Swim School “and therefore have very limited swimming abilities".

“Out of the 110 students recently assessed, only 10 have participated in swimming lessons ... and all students are swimming below a level 3,” the report said.

“This means students cannot meet the benchmark for 12 years of age, and over half of students attending cannot meet the benchmarks for six-year-olds. Additionally, 50 per cent of the school’s students identify as Aboriginal, and statistics show that Aboriginal people are 2.9 times more likely to drown than non-Aboriginal people.”

The council will send a letter to the state government alerting them to the funding shortfall at the school, after councillor Tony Mileto questioned whether it was a council responsibility.

In other news:

* Council passed its budget, with staff saying public concerns about funding for the proposed Mount Canobolas mountain bike park were unfounded, as no extra funds had been allocated so far;

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* Improved access for people with disabilities will be provided at Cook Park and Robertson Park. [The Orange News Examiner reported on councillor Steve Peterson's concerns earlier this week.];

* Councillors will receive an allowance of $25,310, while mayor Jason Hamling will get an extra mayoral allowance of $62,510 for 2022/23, the maximum allowed and;

* Tourism plans for the region will go on public exhibition for 28 days.