Inner West Council: Calls to open pools for locals during lockdown

Despite one of its pools being used as a Covid testing centre a Sydney council is calling for its pools to be opened to the public. But not everyone is happy with the proposal.

Despite edging toward being an area of concern councillors in Sydney’s inner west are calling for their closed aquatic centres to be opened up for locals to enjoy a lockdown swim.

Similar to their neighbours in western Sydney, the council has agreed to also write to Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Premier Gladys Berejiklian asking to allow for “Covid-safe” outdoor swims.

Mr Hazzard recently amended the health order to allow Dawn Fraser Baths to open up to the public.

The council is now going a step further and asking for its other facilities to be opened up for a splash, despite one of them being used as a major Covid testing hub.

Swimmers returned this week Dawn Fraser Baths in Balmain. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

It has been closed for more than a year after lengthy heritage works. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

The newly opened Ashfield aquatic centre is taking in droves of potentially infected residents every day and is one of the biggest testing hubs close to Burwood, which has been an “area of concern” since last month.

“I think it’s important we do what we can to get the pools open because summer is almost here now,” Mayor Rochelle Porteous said.

Health officials including Dr Kerry Chant over the past week have repeatedly warned about growing cases in suburbs like Marrickville and Camperdown.

The $40 million Ashfield Aquatic Centre only opened recently and is being used as a Covid-19 testing centre. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Bianca De Marchi

Brad Hazzard this week knocked back the plea from western Sydney mayors to open up their pools because the facilities meant that locals would still have to congregate indoors to get to the pool.

Liberal councillor Julie Passas warned the council was “getting blasé” with the pandemic response.

“We still have people who aren’t vaccinated against Covid, we’ve just been told we’ve got staff in lockdown areas,” she said

“If we open up these venues how will they be staffed?

“There’s a feeling out there … that we no longer have Covid and nothing could be further from the truth.”

Councillors voted on Tuesday night in favour of writing to the Health Minister and Premier to see how they could open their pools ahead of the summer swimming season.