The Sydney coastline is dotted with ocean rockpools and baths. Some were built by convicts, others by wealthy people in the 1800s and now many are run by councils. They come in all shapes and sizes, and each has its own colourful history. Australia has the highest number of such pools in the world, and it’s not hard to see why. They are the birthplace of our nation’s love affair with swimming, and have been a key generative matrix for our civic identity.
They may have an inextricable link to the Australian psyche, but they’re also a major headache for local governments. Their budgets can balloon to astronomical levels, and they are subject to endless controversies over how they should be managed. A recent scandal involving the North Sydney pool has been slammed as a case of pork-barrelling and bad governance. With a blown budget of more than $100m and a scheduled opening date that now looks likely to be 2025, it has been the source of much ire in the community.
Amid a backdrop of raging infighting, claims of pork-barrelling and public health concerns, the project spiralled into a political folly of epic proportions. It has become a prime example of how to botch a large infrastructure project.
Among the many controversies is that it has been forced to close at least twice during the coronavirus pandemic, due to OH&S restrictions on patron numbers and staffing requirements. This has been a bitter pill to swallow for locals, particularly those who pay the council rate. It has also served as a cautionary tale for councillors across the country, who now face the looming threat of the axe falling on their vanity projects.
As the water park nears its summer opening, Garsjo is looking to host fashion weeks and production companies in a bid to recoup some of the enormous bill. She says the pool needs to have a wider range of income streams than just swimming carnivals and entry fees if it’s to break even.
But despite the problems of running such an expensive and complex facility, the Sidney Water Park is still being built. And it’s a beautiful place to spend a day in the water.
To celebrate the opening of the pool, we’ve gathered together some of our favourite photographs of it from the past. To capture these images, you need to be at the right time, and get creative with your composition. The trick is to find harmony between the different elements in your photograph, while keeping an eye out for opportunities to be original. The best way to do this is to look at the landscape from a new perspective, and try to see how you can add a new dimension to a familiar scene. This will create a sense of drama and add depth to your image. If you’re interested in learning more about how to take great pictures, sign up for our free photography course.