Most managers do not want to see their clients get into hot water, but Rotorua District Council aquatic and leisure manager Louis Sylvester is an exception.
Seeing families from Rotorua and around New Zealand enjoying the water together, with confidence, at the heated pools of the aquatic centre in Kuirau Park is one of the most rewarding aspects of his job.
"From a Water Safety New Zealand perspective, it is also very rewarding knowing that what we do, is contributing towards making a difference in ensuring that all New Zealand children and families are learning vital water safety survival skills to be safe in, on and under the water."
Louis has served two terms on the board of that organisation and says its efforts to raise awareness around water safety have been instrumental in improving drowning statistics.
"Drowning is a major, but often neglected, cause of accidental death globally and it is New Zealand's third-highest cause of accidental death."
While he says New Zealanders, surrounded by coastline, lakes, rivers and swimming pools, are aware of the dangers, , raising awareness that these dangers exist with even the simplest situations is one of the greatest challenges he deals with.
His own background is in the health and fitness industry, working as a personal training co-ordinator. But his own love of water and boating has seen his career shift into aquatics.
"I have been involved with the training of the America's Cup 2000 Stars & Stripes team and the America's Cup 2003 One World Challenge Syndicate team."
He also serves on the Pools Yardstick Technical Committee, which enables facilities, such as the Rotorua Aquatic Centre, to measure their performance against similar organisations.
To Louis, swimming and water safety is about more than just getting fit or cooling off during the summer months.
"Swimming is a life skill, it could save your life or help you save someone else's."
Saving the environment is also a priority and, in July, the centre became the first of its kind to attain the Qualmark Enviro-Gold rating.
"We wanted to put Rotorua on the map and be a leader in New Zealand in the provision of aquatic facilities and services. The centre is continually aiming for improvements so that it can better serve the community and council."
Qualmark launch its Responsible Tourism Initiative in 2008 and the centre identified this environmental and social assessment as one of its goals in its three-year tactical business plan.
"Achieving gold status is a significant stepping stone in the ways we address the ecological impact of our business so that we can minimise our environmental footprint." Louis says the Qualmark accreditation confirmed that the centre's work in energy efficiency, waste management, water conservation, community activities and conservation is making a difference.
Sharing progress in this area with the community recently took a step further with the release of the centre's first annual sustainability report, available at www.rdc-aquatic.co.nz.
"We live in a beautiful place and, by each one of us taking appropriate action to protect the environment, it means our future generations can continue to enjoy this magnificent environment and playground."
Louis helps to keep Kiwis safe in the water
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