Whether it’s a swim in an ocean pool, or imagining yourself in a summery coming-of-age movie, Sydney pools are a beloved part of the cityscape. But what’s behind their long-lasting appeal? And how did Australia’s most populous city come to be so richly endowed with them? 2SER’s Nicole Salter asked me to investigate.
Our love affair with sea and harbour pools dates back to the 1800s, when convicts carved (and occasionally dynamited) pools to lure tourists. These days, they’re a popular spot not only for fitness swimming but also for photographers in search of that perfect sunrise shot.
But what’s been happening recently with the redevelopment of Port Macquarie’s iconic Bogey Hole isn’t good news for swimming lovers. The project has been beset by infighting among councillors, claims of pork-barrelling and a lack of transparency. With a budget blown out to $100m and the opening date pushed back to 2025, it has become the stuff of nightmares for some locals.
I’m not among them, but I can understand why they’re so worried. A redevelopment of this magnitude is a massive undertaking, and with so much riding on it, you’d expect there to be some bumps along the way.
What’s gone wrong, in my view, is the decision to take on board an external contractor rather than rely on the expertise of local staff. By doing so, council has put its own interests ahead of the community’s. In addition, the project has been plagued by delays, cost blowouts and heritage concerns.
All of this is very concerning to those who want to see a successful and sustainable project deliver on its original objectives. I’ve spoken to some of them for this article and they all agree that the current situation is a disaster. The good news is that there is hope.
The community has a unique opportunity to turn this around by putting the pool’s needs first and voting with their wallets at the ballot box. If you haven’t yet, please consider supporting the campaign for Bogey Hole to be reinstated by donating to the campaign here. You can also share the campaign on social media to help spread the word. The future of this beautiful swimming hole depends on it. The more people who support it, the less likely it is that the project will fail. It’s too important to the city to be abandoned.