Lightning Protection System

We have recently upgraded our facilities with surge protection devices that comply with Australian Standards, helping protect our electrical systems and you during lightning activity in the area.

What does this mean for you?

It means that we no longer need to close the pool area simply because there is lightning in the surrounding area.

This upgrade allows us to continue providing access to our aquatic facilities while maintaining compliance with Australian Standards and improving the resilience of our infrastructure.

As always, the safety of our members, guests and staff remains our highest priority. The Centre may still need to close or restrict access if there is a power outage, severe weather that creates other safety risks, or other operational issues beyond our control.

MALC’s new lightning protection system allows the MALC pools to remain open during lightning storm events, when previously, the aquatic areas were required to close for at least 30 minutes when lightning was detected within 10 kilometres of the Centre.

The new system should mean fewer disruptions to swimming lessons, lap swimming and, importantly, less moving members and customers out of the Centre during and therefore into, a storm. Of course, some storms may still create conditions that require us to close the pools, and unexpected system issues can occur. However, members can now have much greater confidence that a visit to the MALC pools is unlikely to be interrupted by lightning.