Sydney Pools
Sydney pools are a great way to stay cool and have fun during the sweltering Australian summer. However, swimming pools require a high level of maintenance to ensure that they are safe for use and comply with the established NSW government standards. There are also some specific rules that pool owners must follow to avoid penalties. Choosing an experienced pool builder is crucial in the success of your backyard oasis.
Zoe Baker learned to appreciate the simple charms of local swimming pools while growing up in suburban Sydney. “A basic big blue rectangle, patches of grass and concrete on which to roll out a towel and a kiosk selling hot chips and ice blocks,” she recalls. Now mayor of North Sydney, she’s calling for the reinstatement of outdoor public pools across the city in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has left residents without easy access to water.
The city is home to some of Australia’s most iconic ocean pools, including the historic Bronte Baths and the ring-of-rocks pool at Shelly Beach on Sydney’s northern shore. But the tides and winds can quickly turn these once-peaceful spots into dangerously choppy waters that have killed at least two people this year.
Other councils have had to shut their pools altogether, most notably Parramatta in western Sydney, which lost its local pool in April 2017 when it was closed for the construction of a new stadium. The city is constructing a “like-for-like” replacement pool, but it won’t open until December 2020 at the earliest. That’s a long time for children to be kept out of the water during school holidays.
There are also calls for more indoor public pools, particularly in the city’s inner suburbs. A former city councillor says the city is in need of “a few more like that Granville Swimming Centre” — a basic, big-blue rectangle that offers the same kind of community swimming experience as the ocean pools but with much more shade and a few extras to keep swimmers happy such as an arcade and a food kiosk.
The number of local council-owned indoor swimming pools has fallen over the past few decades as they have struggled to balance budgets and cope with a growing population. The city now has six indoor facilities and one outdoor pool, all operated by NSW Health, which has a goal of increasing the proportion of locals who swim regularly from 30% to 60% by 2024.
If you’re thinking of installing a pool in your backyard, be sure to choose a licensed Sydney pool builder. NSW Fair Trading requires pool builders to have a licence, which you can ask to see. You should also look at their portfolio and references before committing to a builder. In addition, check that the pool builder has adequate insurance coverage to cover both the building work and any warranties. The pool builder must also be prepared to provide a copy of their home building compensation cover.