Whether you’re snoozing on a lounger, imagining yourself in a summery coming-of-age film or swimming laps, Sydney pools are a beloved part of the city’s culture. But despite their popularity, Australia’s iconic seawater pools aren’t all equal. Some, like the Bondi Icebergs Pool, are open all year round and attract world-class swimmers; others are closed for months at a time and only used by locals.
The story of Sydney’s ocean pools is one of politics, money and public passions. With the budget for North Sydney’s new redevelopment blowing out to $100m, a council infighting scandal and claims of pork-barrelling, the project has become a case study in how not to run a large infrastructure project. It’s a lesson that is being heard nationally as councils consider upgrading their own pool facilities.
A seaside community’s love affair with sidney pools has spanned two centuries, beginning in Newcastle where convicts carved and dynamited the first man-made sea pools to lure tourists. Then, in the late 1800s, Sydney began building its own.
In the early days, constructing a sea pool was no small undertaking. It was a labor-intensive, expensive endeavour that required an army of workers and tonnes of timber and sand. It was not uncommon for a single pool to cost up to £40,000, with some being as long as three football fields.
Modern pools, however, are constructed using a range of technologies to improve efficiency and reduce costs. One such technology is precast concrete, a material that can be formed and cured underwater. This allows for a faster construction schedule, and minimises the risk of cracking, warping or leaks. It also allows for a more precise and uniform finish.
Other technology is used to help maintain water quality and minimise chemical use, as well as make the pool easier to maintain and sanitise. In addition, modern filtration and disinfection systems allow for the pool to be refilled with fresh water more quickly than in the past.
Another benefit of a precast concrete pool is its versatility. It can be designed to fit a variety of different spaces and uses, with the ability to accommodate a wide range of finishes and features. This includes landscaping, decking, water features and even a beachfront hut!
While nine out of 10 Australians live within a 20-minute drive of a public aquatic centre, access isn’t evenly distributed. In fact, some suburbs have more than one pool per 134,000 residents, while other areas have only one for every 70,000 people. This can have an impact on the health and wellbeing of the communities they serve. In some cases, such as with the new North Sydney pool, rates are rising to fund what one mayor describes as a “bloated vanity project”. The rise will also fund other projects that are outside a council’s core responsibilities, such as a sports centre and a cultural hub in the city centre.