Implement Stricter Dress Code Standards at Public Pools
The issue
My 4-year-old son turned to me at our local council-owned pool one day and innocently said, "that lady forgot to wear her clothes." Right there, in the toddler and baby pools, a woman was wearing a g-string bikini. As a parent of young children, including an 18-month-old baby, I was taken aback - not only by the overexposure but also by the underlying societal bias that allows this while other forms of exposure, such as a man showing his testicles, would be treated as indecent.
Public pools, especially those that are funded by our property rates and maintained by our local council, should serve as family-friendly environments. They are not places for people to strut less-than-appropriate swimwear. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three waterborne disease outbreaks occur at treated venues like public pools (source: CDC). Appropriate dress codes can deter the spread of waterborne diseases - notably those transmitted through fecal matter.
It is not only about the health concerns but also about instilling decent societal and aesthetic norms to our young and impressionable children. Therefore, I am compelled to call for stricter dress code standards at our local council-run public pools. This is about reinforcing social appropriateness, securing family-oriented ambiances, promoting health safety, and above all, protecting our children's innocence. We owe it to our children to have adequate swimsuit regulations in place.
Waipa council has not updated their dress code policy to match today’s climate. Advertised as ‘The Complex
Livingstone Aquatics is an indoor facility which includes a 25 metre pool, hydroslide, hydrotherapy pool, learners pool, toddler's pool, spa, sauna and an inflatable obstacle course’. Their website blurb implies a safe environment for young families and children. Schools, daycares and other educational providers in Waipa have strict dress code policies. Why not the pools? Where there is much less fabric used in swimwear than your usual day to day garments. This is just an accident waiting to happen.
Please sign this petition and help us make our public pools safer and more family-friendly. Let's ensure a standard of decorum tailored to the community's needs. Let’s update our old school polices as they are no longer relevant nor apply.
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The issue
My 4-year-old son turned to me at our local council-owned pool one day and innocently said, "that lady forgot to wear her clothes." Right there, in the toddler and baby pools, a woman was wearing a g-string bikini. As a parent of young children, including an 18-month-old baby, I was taken aback - not only by the overexposure but also by the underlying societal bias that allows this while other forms of exposure, such as a man showing his testicles, would be treated as indecent.
Public pools, especially those that are funded by our property rates and maintained by our local council, should serve as family-friendly environments. They are not places for people to strut less-than-appropriate swimwear. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three waterborne disease outbreaks occur at treated venues like public pools (source: CDC). Appropriate dress codes can deter the spread of waterborne diseases - notably those transmitted through fecal matter.
It is not only about the health concerns but also about instilling decent societal and aesthetic norms to our young and impressionable children. Therefore, I am compelled to call for stricter dress code standards at our local council-run public pools. This is about reinforcing social appropriateness, securing family-oriented ambiances, promoting health safety, and above all, protecting our children's innocence. We owe it to our children to have adequate swimsuit regulations in place.
Waipa council has not updated their dress code policy to match today’s climate. Advertised as ‘The Complex
Livingstone Aquatics is an indoor facility which includes a 25 metre pool, hydroslide, hydrotherapy pool, learners pool, toddler's pool, spa, sauna and an inflatable obstacle course’. Their website blurb implies a safe environment for young families and children. Schools, daycares and other educational providers in Waipa have strict dress code policies. Why not the pools? Where there is much less fabric used in swimwear than your usual day to day garments. This is just an accident waiting to happen.
Please sign this petition and help us make our public pools safer and more family-friendly. Let's ensure a standard of decorum tailored to the community's needs. Let’s update our old school polices as they are no longer relevant nor apply.
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Petition created on 25 March 2025