Sydney’s city pools are treasured resources. Not only do they allow locals a chance to splash around in warm, chlorinated water, they’re also social gathering points and great ways of exercising or stretching out after work or school. Yet increasingly under threat as cost overruns and declining revenue has seen councils increase rates by an alarming 87% over two years – compounded with slow progress on heritage-listed North Sydney Pool’s redevelopment this is enough to make anyone shrug their shoulders in exasperation.
But it’s possible to dispel cynicism when discussing council swimming pools. Royal Life Saving has warned that without urgent upgrades of their 500 community pools, families will struggle to find safe and convenient places for their families to swim. Their research indicates many are operating below capacity while some present potential safety issues while still others are plagued with design or construction flaws.
North Sydney’s issue mirrors wider problems within Sydney. A third of Australia’s council pools require significant facelifting and one quarter have closed within the past decade due to financial hardship, ageing infrastructure or staffing shortages. Funding was made available during the 1930s depression period for community projects like building sea pools at beaches such as Mahon at Maroubra or North Curl Curl Beach (Whale Beach/North Curl Curl Curl).
At this time, many of Sydney’s greatest swimmers, such as Dawn Fraser – Australia’s first female Olympic champion – were born. Dawn trained in MacCallum Park’s harbour pool at Balmain which used to be a rock pool reconstructed above high water mark to offer safe harbor swimming spots with breathtaking views of Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Today it remains small and narrow but still attracts large crowds due to its historical charm – as does nearby Mort Bay.
Mort Bay may not boast the picturesque backdrops of Bondi or North Sydney, but it still makes a good spot for harbour swimming with excellent water quality and popular with locals – even some who refer to it as “wetland”. Both Dawn Fraser Baths and Mort Bay showed levels below those set out by NSW Health Department thresholds in tests performed there.
Mort Bay and Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre are in good hands, as Sydney City alone hosts four of Sydney’s best city pools: Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool in Woolloomooloo bay offers harbour views with recently reopened Oh Boy Cafe; Cook + Phillip Park Pool on Woolloomooloo bay offers swimming lessons; while Parramatta’s 1066 Million centre includes three indoor/outdoor pools as well as yoga, fitness and health studios – perfect for lazy weekend afternoon dips in.