What’s happening?
Council has rolled out The Lowdown on Code Brown at Bluewater Lagoon to encourage better pool hygiene and reduce preventable closures.
The campaign promotes a few simple actions. Families are being urged to put swim nappies on children aged three and under, or those still toilet training. Pool users are also being asked to make a pre-swim pit stop and take regular bathroom breaks.
The message is direct and light-hearted, but the purpose is serious. As council says, “Code Brown ruins the fun, so let’s all be responsible pool users!”
If families forget a swim nappy, staff at the Bluewater Lagoon Mackay Cafe can provide one for free.
Staff are also speaking with families at the venue. That creates a chance to talk about water hygiene before people enter the pool.
Why it matters?
The campaign comes after repeated closures at the lagoon disrupted public use and added costs for ratepayers.
Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said each “Code Brown” costs about $3,000 in plant room materials and labour. He said the social impact is often greater because unplanned six-hour closures can throw birthday parties, school events and family outings into disarray.
Council’s own campaign message says “The Lowdown on Code Brown shows the economic and social impacts of unplanned closures due to code browns and it’s significant!”
That is why council is trying to stop incidents before they happen.
Local impact
Bluewater Lagoon is a major community facility in Mackay, so every closure affects local families.
When the lagoon shuts without warning, planned outings can quickly fall apart. Parents, school groups and children all feel that impact.
The free swim nappy program is one way council is trying to support families while protecting the venue. It gives parents an easy option if they arrive unprepared.
Venue manager Kimberley Armstrong from Belgravia Leisure said the program has worked well, with more than 200 free nappies handed out over the last two months.
By the numbers
- Bluewater Lagoon has closed 10 times due to faecal incidents since late September 2025, showing how often the issue has disrupted the facility.
- Those closures have cost ratepayers $30,000, with each incident adding about $3,000 in plant room materials and labour.
- More than 200 free swim nappies have been distributed in the past two months, and the program will continue until the June 2026 winter maintenance shutdown.
Zoom in
The campaign focuses on practical steps that pool users can follow straight away.
Council is asking families to use swim nappies for young children, take a toilet stop before swimming, and make regular bathroom breaks part of the visit.
Those simple actions are now central to the campaign’s push to keep the venue open.
The message may use humour, but the point is clear. “Keep the 💩 out of the pool!”
Zoom out
This is a local campaign, but it reflects a wider issue around shared responsibility in public spaces.
Rather than relying only on rules, council is using education, reminders and free supplies to change behaviour. The aim is to protect a popular public facility and reduce avoidable shutdowns.
It also shows how small actions from families can help prevent wider disruption for the whole community.
What to look for next?
The free swim nappy initiative will remain in place until Bluewater Lagoon’s scheduled winter maintenance shutdown in June 2026.
Council will now be watching whether The Lowdown on Code Brown leads to fewer incidents and fewer unplanned closures in the months ahead.
