Two ‘code brown’ incidents shutdown both Hedland pools in same week

If suffering through a heat a wave wasn’t enough, Port Hedland residents have also had to evacuate the water after two “code browns” shutdown both of the town’s public swimming pools in the same week. On January 19, Port Hedland Leisure announced via its Facebook page that the pool at Gratwick Aquatic Centre would be closed for the rest of the day after faeces was found in the water. The centre reopened the pool the following morning at 8am but that wasn’t the end of the pool poop saga with South Hedland Aquatic Centre also having to shut down due to a “code brown” just a day after Gratwick on January 20. “We’ve got another ‘code brown’ – but today it’s at South Hedland Aquatic Centre – let’s not make it a hat-trick,” a Port Hedland Leisure statement read. The pool was closed for cleaning before being reopened the same day at 2:15pm. The Town of Port Hedland was contacted for comment but did not provide a response at time of publication.