Gore ratepayers may provide more money to help the district's children learn to swim.
The council already contributes just over $10,000 and will today debate whether it should add almost $13,000 more to the swimming lesson funding pool in a move Gore District Council chief executive Steve Parry believes could save lives.
In his report, Mr Parry said recent statistics from Water Safety New Zealand provided "some chilling facts" about the need for swimming tuition.
Last year, only one in five children could swim 200m - the benchmark for being able to swim and survive in the water.
A recent council survey showed only 38% of the district's school pupils were receiving the minimum swimming training.
Schools were under-funded and parents were being asked to make up some of the financial shortfall.
However, an adequate level of swimming tuition was not being provided due to a combination of swimming and transportation costs, he said.
Mr Parry said these results showed a funding mechanism was needed to ensure children had the "essential life skill" of swimming.
He suggested a possible funding collaboration with the likes of the Mataura Licensing Trust. A similar deal already exists in Invercargill with the council and trust there.
Mr Parry is recommending the council's finance and policy committee approve, in principle, adding $12,820 to the 2009-19 long-term council community plan estimates and the start of the talks between council staff and the licensing trust.
