Jenny Clark’s Geelong waterfront swimming area petition gains steam

An early morning swimmer is on a crusade to clean up Eastern Beach, garnering more than 200 signatures on a paper petition calling on council to step up their game through the winter months.

Jenny Clark has long been an advocate for the Eastern Beach area. Picture: Alison Wynd

An early-morning swimmer is on a crusade to clean up Eastern Beach, garnering more than 200 signatures on a paper petition calling on council to step up their game through the winter months.

Local bather Jenny Clark began taking signatures of other users of the Eastern Beach precinct during her daily pre-sunrise visits, pleading with council to recognise the facilities are used all year round.

Ms Clark said the ocean wasn’t receiving enough attention, despite the increase in usage after the children’s pool closure.

“I’m pretty cross,” Ms Clark said.

“They’ve closed the kids’ pool, so all the footballers can’t go in and recover, they don’t like going in the water because there’s so much weed.

Ms Clark said the swimming area at Eastern Beach is well used throughout winter.

“It’s yuck, people don’t like to walk through the thick sludge in the dark.”

Ms Clark said council workers cleaning the area have informed her that a recent clean would be the last until December.

“I thought, ‘hang on,’” she said.

“I just said ‘I’m going to cause a fuss, because this place needs to be cleaned.”

City of Greater Geelong acting executive director of city infrastructure Shaun Nuttall confirmed the area was cleaned less during winter.

“During peak season, the beach within the promenade is cleaned fortnightly whereas in the low use season, it is cleaned as required.

“This schedule can be affected by tides, weather and public use, including when levels of seagrass wrack becomes uncomfortable for swimmers.”

Ms Clark has long been an advocate for the area.

In August Ms Clark raised concerns about fishermen casting lines into the swimming area, and in December 2023 she highlighted a “dangerous” sludge on the shoreline.

On New Year’s Day her focus was on illegal overnight campers.

Geelong local Jenny Clark in 2021, concerned about the state of Geelong’s circular Pier at Eastern Beach. Picture: Mark Wilson

Ms Clark said she was “tired” of having to complain to authorities.

“It’s very interesting they’ve just decided to stop the maintenance side of things,” Ms Clark said.

“It’s unbelievable, they stop it until someone complains.”

Furious residents lashed out earlier this month over council’s decision to close the Eastern Beach swimming pool over the colder months.

The City of Greater Geelong informed residents via social media last month that the children’s pool would shut until November 1.

Mayor Stretch Kontelj, who has advocated for increased public access to the pool in the past, said he had heard the community outcry regarding the closure and was looking at all options.

“Basically, it’s all to do with risk assessment, and it’s classified a swimming pool,” Mr Kontelj said.

“Once it’s classified a swimming pool, it has to be manned by lifeguards, so when it comes down to budget, lifeguards being down there during winter is probably expensive, and not a great use of ratepayers’ money.

“I understand people’s concerns, and ideally I’d love to see it open all year round.”

Originally published as Jenny Clark’s Geelong waterfront swimming area petition gains steam