Sydney offers plenty of places to soak up some sun, from its vast coastline and idyllic harbour, to public pools dotted across its urban centre. However, for a celebratory pool day – complete with Thirsty Merc playing at full volume and your closest friends and family present for support – having your own private space may be preferable.
Sydney families are flocking to Sydney’s sea and rock pools this summer for a summer of swimming, sunbathing and possible Marco Polo games. Ocean swimming has seen increased demand during the COVID-19 pandemic as people look for ways to stay in shape during their time stuck inside; yet even though Sydney offers ample outdoor pools there still might not be enough available!
At present, there are 62 ocean and rock pools in the city and more than half are considered deteriorating. They need repairs or replacement, but the costs involved with such an endeavor could be prohibitively expensive. Another concern lies with their old construction methods which make them vulnerable to rising water levels and swells than newer sea structures.
Last year, a report commissioned by the city revealed that existing pools must be replaced by 2028 in order to remain safe for swimmers, with construction of the new site likely commencing before 2029 at the latest. A potential cost estimate could exceed $60 million, leading some councillors such as Labor’s Sue Baker to criticise its plan as “an expensive vanity project”. She even submitted a mayoral minute highlighting this aspect.
But not all Sydney residents agree with Baker. Some find the old pools part of Sydney’s charm, like Chris Bowden, 39. Chris enjoys the “shabby” and old-school feel of Sidney’s community pool from Memorial Day through Labor Day; its features include 295 foot spiral slides, speed slides, designated areas for younger swimmers as well as designated swimming zones staffed by certified lifeguards – making it the ideal spot to bring kids for an afternoon swim session.
But New York will face an uphill struggle if they want to provide enough ocean and rock pools to help all their citizens remain fit during a pandemic. According to Guardian Australia, only nine out of 10 Australians reside within 20 minutes drive of a public aquatic centre – this figure may be higher for councils such as Parramatta Hills Shire Blacktown but lower in inner city areas like Randwick Mosman. Even worse is Victorian local government areas like Melton which boast only one public pool per 178,960 people.
