SafeWork notices force temporary closure of Lambton dive tower for safety review

newy.com.au – City of Newcastle has temporarily closed the heritage dive tower and several springboards at Lambton Park War Memorial Swimming Centre while it responds to safety improvement notices from SafeWork NSW following inspections in November.

The decision affects one of the last remaining heritage dive towers still in use in Australia and comes as the council reviews how the ageing structure can meet contemporary safety standards, with the outcome likely to shape future access for divers and other users of the popular Lambton facility.

In a statement, City of Newcastle said the review followed a resolution of the elected Council in December 2024 to examine “the use and operation of the dive tower at Lambton Park War Memorial Swimming Centre”. The tower was constructed as part of the original complex, which “officially opened to the public in January 1963”, and sits alongside 1m and 3m springboards over a 5m-deep pool.

General public access to the dive tower was restricted seven years ago due to safety concerns and it is currently only available to accredited diving organisations, rather than casual swimmers. The council said that contemporary diving facilities built since 2000 around Australia are also “predominantly restricted for use by trained and qualified professionals associated with accredited diving clubs, with public use highly limited”.

City of Newcastle said it sought guidance from SafeWork NSW because of the age of the structure and the challenges of bringing it into line with current standards. After two inspections in November, SafeWork issued improvement notices identifying “the risks of falls and slips on the tower, 3m springboards and one of the 1m springboards”.

In response, the dive tower, the 3m boards and the south-eastern 1m board have been temporarily closed while the council works through the notices. As part of that process, a qualified expert will be engaged to carry out a risk-based assessment, determine appropriate control measures and estimate associated costs before any longer-term decisions are made.

The council said there are 12 aquatic centres with heritage dive towers in Australia, including Lambton. However, it said the Lambton tower is now one of only two heritage towers, defined as those built before 2000, still in use, alongside the tower at Canberra Olympic Pool. According to the statement, the Canberra heritage tower is scheduled for permanent closure as part of an upcoming redevelopment project.

City of Newcastle said it will consult with stakeholders during the review period in line with SafeWork’s direction. That will include discussions with the Lambton-based Dive Club, which has about 70 members, and other affected users of the diving facilities.

The temporary closure will remain in place while the expert assessment is completed and SafeWork NSW’s requirements are addressed, after which councillors will be briefed on options for the future of the tower and associated springboards.