Quote from
Gary Kelly on September 18, 2019, 8:43 am
Sea Pools and Ocean Rock Pools are becoming increasingly popular, having significant advantages over other pool types where they are possible. They are cheaper to establish and maintain, encourage multiple uses when properly established and support other facilities, businesses and community use depending on location. We propose a netted sea pool be built on Corrigan’s Beach shoreline complimenting the Batehaven playground.
Background
The new playground at Batehaven provides an all access community asset now well supported by public facilities and local services and businesses. It provides physical activity and fitness options for all children, and is now a social focus of Batehaven. Further development enhancing this facility is under consideration establishing a splash pad.
The playground and facilities sit on the foreshores at Batehaven. The area is beloved by tourists and locals but there is a significant opportunity to further enhance this areas utility by significantly broadening the attraction. By targeting our areas very very significant seniors community, as well as tourists, schools and businesses, the addition of a sea pool will enhance the opportunities for all to enjoy Batehaven by including a safe ocean dip.
The ocean pools around Sydney and other areas have been envied everywhere for many years. But many councils have preferred to develop chlorinated pool complexes. They do have some advantages. But there is a shift back with coastal towns like Ballina and Port Macquarie in NSW, Hallett Park in SA, and Mosman Park in WA looking at constructing tidal pools. Port Macquarie was awarded $50,000 by the state government in 2018 to undertake a feasibility study.
Many pools were originally built for bathers who were not confident in the sea or who had a fear of sharks. These issues are still relevant today, potentially even more so for seniors, young children and those with a disability.
Sea pools, even more so than rock pools, can bring a lot of people to the coast to experience an ocean swimming environment without the risks that beaches can have for those who aren’t strong swimmers. A sea pool can provide safe and attractive swimming for all. It will provide a boost for tourism and for local businesses, cafes and accommodation, and the community.
Examples and Cost Comparisons
Ballina Council has recently refurbished two chlorinated pool complexes at a cost of $7.5 million each. The proposed cost of building a new pool (rock pool) and infrastructure will be about $4m with maintenance of less than $50k annually which is a ‘drop in the ocean’ by comparison with the annual maintenance costs of chlorinated pools.
The Council for Adelaide's Semaphore Beach (sea pool) is proposing a shark proof enclosure at a cost of approximately $750,000. This pool will offer disability access and be attached to a jetty. It will provide disabled children with the ability to experience the sea in safe conditions. The disability support provider Novita has indicated that it is willing to offer its rehabilitation engineers and other disability experts to help the councils design shark proof enclosures with appropriate access ramps to enable all access to the sea.In 2017 the Copper Coast in South Australia opened a free access floating pontoon complex (Wateroo) within a shark enclosure. It boasts two bold gangways from the stability of the foreshore to the complex of floating pontoons. It’s a huge floating pontoon area.
Proposal
We propose a design and feasibility study to establish the Best Design approach and likely Cost to establish the Corrigans Cove Beach Sea Pool. We believe that the overall approach should cover:
-
all access facility, close to Batehaven, existing facilities and recreational area
-
cost preferably less that $1m
-
a 50m to 100m width and seaward extension sufficient to allow all year access
-
low maintenance, high security enclosure
-
costing of inclusion of internal pontoons to define specific swimming areas similar to Wateroo
-
an environmental component to ensure safety and water quality
-
work with qualified disability and aged care providers to ensure design suitability
-
consult with other similar project developers in other areas to build on their experience
Sue and Gary Kelly
Sea Pools and Ocean Rock Pools are becoming increasingly popular, having significant advantages over other pool types where they are possible. They are cheaper to establish and maintain, encourage multiple uses when properly established and support other facilities, businesses and community use depending on location. We propose a netted sea pool be built on Corrigan’s Beach shoreline complimenting the Batehaven playground.
Background
The new playground at Batehaven provides an all access community asset now well supported by public facilities and local services and businesses. It provides physical activity and fitness options for all children, and is now a social focus of Batehaven. Further development enhancing this facility is under consideration establishing a splash pad.
The playground and facilities sit on the foreshores at Batehaven. The area is beloved by tourists and locals but there is a significant opportunity to further enhance this areas utility by significantly broadening the attraction. By targeting our areas very very significant seniors community, as well as tourists, schools and businesses, the addition of a sea pool will enhance the opportunities for all to enjoy Batehaven by including a safe ocean dip.
The ocean pools around Sydney and other areas have been envied everywhere for many years. But many councils have preferred to develop chlorinated pool complexes. They do have some advantages. But there is a shift back with coastal towns like Ballina and Port Macquarie in NSW, Hallett Park in SA, and Mosman Park in WA looking at constructing tidal pools. Port Macquarie was awarded $50,000 by the state government in 2018 to undertake a feasibility study.
Many pools were originally built for bathers who were not confident in the sea or who had a fear of sharks. These issues are still relevant today, potentially even more so for seniors, young children and those with a disability.
Sea pools, even more so than rock pools, can bring a lot of people to the coast to experience an ocean swimming environment without the risks that beaches can have for those who aren’t strong swimmers. A sea pool can provide safe and attractive swimming for all. It will provide a boost for tourism and for local businesses, cafes and accommodation, and the community.
Examples and Cost Comparisons
Ballina Council has recently refurbished two chlorinated pool complexes at a cost of $7.5 million each. The proposed cost of building a new pool (rock pool) and infrastructure will be about $4m with maintenance of less than $50k annually which is a ‘drop in the ocean’ by comparison with the annual maintenance costs of chlorinated pools.
The Council for Adelaide's Semaphore Beach (sea pool) is proposing a shark proof enclosure at a cost of approximately $750,000. This pool will offer disability access and be attached to a jetty. It will provide disabled children with the ability to experience the sea in safe conditions. The disability support provider Novita has indicated that it is willing to offer its rehabilitation engineers and other disability experts to help the councils design shark proof enclosures with appropriate access ramps to enable all access to the sea.In 2017 the Copper Coast in South Australia opened a free access floating pontoon complex (Wateroo) within a shark enclosure. It boasts two bold gangways from the stability of the foreshore to the complex of floating pontoons. It’s a huge floating pontoon area.
Proposal
We propose a design and feasibility study to establish the Best Design approach and likely Cost to establish the Corrigans Cove Beach Sea Pool. We believe that the overall approach should cover:
-
all access facility, close to Batehaven, existing facilities and recreational area
-
cost preferably less that $1m
-
a 50m to 100m width and seaward extension sufficient to allow all year access
-
low maintenance, high security enclosure
-
costing of inclusion of internal pontoons to define specific swimming areas similar to Wateroo
-
an environmental component to ensure safety and water quality
-
work with qualified disability and aged care providers to ensure design suitability
-
consult with other similar project developers in other areas to build on their experience
Sue and Gary Kelly
