Council & Politics
20 April, 2026
Council accepts spring board petition
“While we understand the limitations around the existing springboard, we are interested in exploring a 3-metre diving platform which still meets safety requirements,” petitioner Paul McIntyre said.
DESPITE giving reasons for the decision to remove St Arnaud’s beloved springboard, Northern Grampians Shire Council has accepted the community’s petition to keep it.
Discussed at council’s April meeting last week, councillors agreed to receive the petition and investigate the request, which would then be reported at a subsequent meeting.
The petition has asked council to pause the removal of the three-meter board and consider alternative solutions, which petitioner Paul McIntyre says he has sought.
“While we understand the limitations around the existing springboard, we are interested in exploring a 3-metre diving platform which still meets safety requirements,” he said.
Another community member wrote in a question on the spring board removal, where Director Strategy and Prosperit Justine Kingan reiterated council’s previous concerns that lead to the decision.
“Council did not include a substitute platform because the pool is not deep enough to safely or legally support any 3 metre diving structure under current Australian safety guidelines,” she said.
“Installing one would have required deepening the pool, which was not funded, not approved, and not part of the project scope.
“Council’s decision was driven by mandatory safety compliance and budget constraints, not preference.”
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