“Today, the Gore District Council was sentenced in the Gore District Court for a charge laid by WorkSafe. The charge arose following the discovery of three-year-old Lachlan Jones in one of the Gore oxidation ponds in January 2019.
The Council pleaded guilty to the charge, which stated that they failed to ensure the pond was without risks to the health and safety of any person, including Lachlan.”
“Gore District Council should have, so far as was reasonably practicable designed, installed and maintained fencing at the ponds to prevent children from accessing the ponds and to deter other members of the public from doing so.”
“On behalf of the Council, I want to express our sincere sorrow and apologize unreservedly to Lachlan Jones’ family for this tragic accident.
“As a parent myself, the loss of a child is beyond comprehension and awful to imagine. I feel deeply for Lachlan’s parents.
“This has been a truly significant event for the Council and haunting experience for our staff.
We have carefully reviewed the circumstances leading up to the tragic discovery of Lachlan in the pond.
“As a result, we have renewed and strengthened fencing around all three of our ponds.
“I appreciate this may be little comfort for Lachlan’s parents and can only offer our deepest remorse and sympathy to them.”
“The Council will not be making any further comment as the case is still before the Coroner.”