Lifeguards in training as part of Splash Planet reopening preparations

Two months out from opening, preparations to get Splash Planet ready for the summer season are well underway.

Key to the operation of this popular summer attraction each year are the lifeguards who help ensure visitors are safe, and over the past few months a recruitment campaign has been running to find staff.

At the same time, Hastings District Council has been working with schools to support training up more lifeguards, with potential job opportunities both seasonal and permanent at Splash Planet and Council’s other aquatic facilities.

This week Karamū High School student Danielle Setford, and William Colenso College’s Seth Flanders, both 16, were at Clive Pool taking part in the Pool Lifeguard gateway programme run by Te Mahi Ako.

The programme assists students to gain a NZ Certificate in Aquatics (Level 3), and this year is the first time Council has linked up, with the aim to provide work placements for the students taking part.

As part of the course they complete two days of training at one of Council’s pools, and then volunteer for 20 hours of on-the-job training. This can be at Splash Planet or one of the summer pools at Havelock North and Frimley, or the all-year facilities at Flaxmere and Clive.

Seth said he had always wanted to be a lifeguard as he had a family of keen swimmers who were also involved with running Onekawa Pool.

“I want to get qualified and get a job as a lifeguard at Splash Planet this summer. I like interacting with people so think I would really enjoy it.”

Danielle said she was keen to learn life skills and saw lifeguarding as a great qualification to have under her belt.

“I would like to be a part time lifeguard at Flaxmere Pool, fitting it around my studies,” she said.

Council aquatics sports and recreation manager Tom Page said it was great to see the students gaining these practical life and work skills.

“Lifeguards are essential to the safe and effective running of our aquatic facilities, and we often have vacancies for suitably qualified people seeking work.”

At the same time as getting the people ready to staff the facility, a lot of work was happening to get the grounds, rides and equipment in shape for summer.

This included full maintenance checks and cleaning of the slides, installing a new jungle adventures playground, putting in new e-lockers, transferring the Flying Fox to a new location, painting new murals and putting the Jungle Jeeps track in a new location.

Council is still taking applications for seasonal and permanent lifeguards at all Aquatics Hastings facilities and Splash Planet. Go to https://hastingsdc.elmotalent.co.nz/careers/hastingsdc/job/view/671

25 September 2023

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