Oxley Beach ocean pool one step closer to reality after Port Macquarie-Hasting Council meeting

Dreams of an ocean pool at Port Macquarie have inched closer to reality, but one councillor warns it could be “undeliverable” in the current climate. Here’s the latest.

A concept image of the 50m pool planned for Port Macquarie with a kids pool on the Flagstaff Hill side and a disabled access ramp on the other.

A decades-long dream of a Port Macquarie ocean pool has inched closer to reality after the project received the nod from the majority of council.

The pool at Oxley Beach has an estimated price tag of $11 million and sections of the community have been lobbying for the tidal pool since the 1970s.

A reworded motion of “in principle support” for the concept was accepted at Thursday night’s Port Macquarie Hastings Council meeting.

However, the lone councillor who voted against providing support, Rachel Sheppard, has warned the pool may be “undeliverable” in the current economic climate.

“I have concerns about the prospect of further funding and resources going in to what would be truly be beautiful when there are more pressing matters to focus on like the delivery of core services,” she said.

Kathryn Butler, chair of the Tidal Pool for Port Macquarie Committee, at Oxley Beach, where the 50m pool is proposed to be built, nestled up against Flagstaff Hill. Picture: Janine Watson.

Councillors divided

For the past seven years, the Port Macquarie Tidal Pool Committee has been leading the charge for the attraction, with chairperson Kathryn Butler at the helm.

Ms Butler grew up in the Sydney seaside suburb of Maroubra where there were “tidal pools everywhere”.

Last month, the councillors were divided on providing the support needed for the next stage of the pool development application process to proceed.

Ms Butler said she was left “blindsided and disappointed” at the time.

Oxley Beach Reserve. Picture: Janine Watson.

“The Federal government can ask for its funding back if they find out we don’t have council support,” she said.

Ms Butler said the committee has been working with Newcastle company Projence in hopes of proceeding with the build.

Concerns have been raised about costs for the council, but the committee believes it will not cost ratepayers a cent.

In the lead up to the 2019 Federal election, the Morrison Coalition government pledged $4.5m to build the tidal pool as part of a controversial $150m grants program.

Then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison came to town to make the pledge and to back Nationals newcomer Pat Conaghan taking over from long-serving and retiring Cowper MP Luke Hartsuyker.

Mr Conaghan fended off a fresh tilt from independent former state MP Rob Oakeshott. Mr Oakeshott famously supported the Gillard Labor government after the 2010 federal election.

A concept design for the 50m pool planned for Port Macquarie.

Funding announcement concerns

At the meeting, Cr Sheppard reminded fellow councillors the Federal funding announcement left a sour note for years.

“He (Mr Morrison) made the announcement without consulting with council,” she said.

“ScoMo disregarded the expressed infrastructure priorities of this council and allocated $4.5m – and raised questions of pork barrelling.”

Peta Pinson.

But a newly worded motion brought forward by Mayor Peta Pinson was able to sway the majority of councillors.

Cr Pinson said her new motion came down to outlining the in principle support did not extend to consideration or commitment of funding for the project or future ownership, management, operational or maintenance arrangements.

Happy dance for show of support

The decision paves the way for the lodgement of the planning proposal.

Lauren Edwards.

In the lead up to the vote, Ms Butler was concerned Greens councillor Lauren Edwards would not support the new motion – but instead Cr Edwards thanked the mayor for bringing the project back for a second shot.

“I thank councillors for the debate and thank the mayor for coming around with this amendment that makes things a bit clearer,” Cr Edwards said.

Cr Edwards said she acknowledged the hard work behind the pool concept but she also spoke of the “unhelpful way it was started”, referencing the Morrison government funding announcement.

Following the vote, Ms Butler was almost lost for words – and simply said she was doing a happy dance “for her dog’s eyes only”.