If you have ever visited Sydney beaches, chances are you have witnessed its stunning ocean rockpools. Carved straight out of the rocky headlands on which they sit and each with its own interesting history and characteristics, these pool are photographers’ dream subjects – however capturing an ideal shot requires skill and patience; to capture it on camera will require early arrival so as to find out where exactly the sun will fall into your composition.
Icebergs Pool at Bondi is unquestionably one of Sydney’s most beloved pools, renowned for its breathtaking views, vibrant atmosphere and history. As well as swimming laps there is also an adjacent bar and cafe – an international icon that has come to symbolize Sydney summers – attracting crowds of people for relaxing dips into its cool waters or taking quick dips while chatting with friends!
But in reality, this pool is struggling to remain open. Council infighting, pork-barrelling and heritage concerns have all contributed to the delay of what should have been a project which everyone could agree upon and be proud to call their own. Now budgets have skyrocketed up to $100 million with opening dates being pushed back as far as 2025 at best.
Discontent in the community over this development is rising quickly. Residents waiting for their local pool to reopen have expressed frustration that there has been no explanation from council. Furthermore, other Sydney suburbs that contain their own swimming pools have experienced similar issues to Icebergs Pool.
One key reason is the emphasis on health and fitness that has lead to the removal of diving boards from suburban pools over time, many may not even notice. While sad to witness this change occuring gradually over time, perhaps this is best in terms of improving overall health and fitness.
Local government authorities face other trends which add to their difficulties, most significantly the increased shift from concrete to fiberglass in backyard pools. This trend is significant for multiple reasons, most notably its effect on maintenance costs and water quality – fiberglass provides several advantages over concrete in terms of maintenance costs and water quality, without raising pH levels or needing chemical treatments for safety swimming environments. As a result, fiberglass has quickly become one of the premier choices among pools, yet not suitable for pools with special features such as stairs or shallow ends.