'Lifeblood' of communities drying up as pool costs drain council funds

On a Friday afternoon in Ngukurr on the banks of southern Arnhem Land's Roper River, the local pool is full of children and families enjoying some reprieve from the stifling heat. Ngukurr is one of seven communities working alongside the Y NT as part of the Remote Pools Project, which helps communities operate their local pool. Pools the 'lifeblood' of remote communities The critical importance of a local pool for community safety was tragically hammered home this year when a 12-year-old girl was killed by a saltwater crocodile while swimming in a river near Palumpa in the West Daly region. Tiwi Islands Mayor Lynette De Santis said a "no school, no pool" policy also helped keep kids out of trouble, before the Wurrumiyanga pool closed four years ago. One-off cash splashes not enough While the case for remote pools may be compelling, the costs associated with building and maintaining them are a significant barrier, especially in the NT where the financial burden of running a community pool rests with local councils.