Hundreds turn out for final dip at Parramatta pool

It truly was the peoples’ pool on Friday as hundreds turned up to bathe in the glow of the last swim, and the very last time anyone will ever walk through the doors of Parramatta Memorial Pool.

The final water polo game was played at Parramatta pool on Friday evening. Picture: Justin Sanson

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It truly was the peoples’ pool on Friday as hundreds turned up to bathe in the glow of the last swim, the final water polo match and the very last time anyone will ever walk through the doors of Parramatta Memorial Pool clutching a towel and togs.

“Yes, it is a sad occasion,” Parramatta Council general manager Greg Dyer said as he watched the crowds and the clock ticked down to the 8pm deadline.

The council let everyone in for free on the final day and Mr Dyer said it was good to know a new pool would be built, even though it would take years.

Locals held a party to celebrate the end of an era.

Sophia Bakker-Ness, Gabriele Bakker, Mia Kerr and Ariane Nicholson-Burbidge take a final chilly dip.

The pool opened in 1959 and despite a strong protest movement over the past 18 months it is about to be demolished to make way for the new $300 million Western Sydney Stadium.

The Parramatta Advertiser told the ongoing story every week in our pages and online but really, you had to be there on the final evening to experience the sense of loss.

Regulars came with their extended families and as well as greeting each other and jumping in the pools they stood often for group pictures so they could remember this last day and savour every moment of it so in years to come they could say, “I was there.”

There were the oldies who had swum pretty much every day since the pool opened, the children little more than babies being carefully eased in by laughing parents who remembered when they had first dipped a toe in Parramatta pool, the teens aiming to impress their mates with water-shattering belly flops, and the mums and dads keeping a watchful eye on the nippers.

Baldo Polizzi has been swimming at the pool for 39 years.

Stevie-Ray Gage and Benjamin Crabb take on Kenszie Willbow and Kali Madden.

As the sun dipped, Parramatta RSL trooped in with a flag and a priest called Father Bob. Serious men who have served their country and the only people at the pool dressed smartly in blazers and long pants. It felt right they made a fitting tribute to this pool named in honour of all those who had fallen in World War II.

Most got out of the water and stood in a semi-circle in silence as the Last Post echoed eerily, the mournful sound broken only by the shrieks of small children still playing and splashing, too young to understand, and the priest in all his finery led a short prayer for the pool, the people who have attended over the years, and for the future.

“It is a very sad day,” Parramatta Memorial Swimming Club president Peter Ayoub said.

“I’ve been president for 15 years and a member of the club for 25 years and I’ve been coming here for a swim for 35, so it’s a big part of my life and of many others too.

Hundreds of people turned up to the final day.

The sun sets on Parramatta pool as locals hold a party to celebrate.

“It’s sad for the people of Parramatta that they haven’t got a pool to go to, but we have to look forward and hope they get the new pool built soon as they can.”

By 8pm, night had fallen and lifeguards hurried up a few swimming stragglers who wanted to be last in the pool as floodlight rippled on the water.

As the public drifted away and the gates clanged shut, staff — lifeguards, admin, security, managers, cleaners and technicians — got together for a raucous final picture before one last event at the pool — their very own pool party.

Council to make up shortfall

Parramatta ratepayers will have to find at least $30 million to go towards a new aquatic centre to replace the Memorial Pool after the State Government — who decided to shutter and demolish the pool — committed to funding only half the cost of the new centre.

At the next Parramatta Council meeting, administrator Amanda Chadwick will ask council officers to come up with funding options to find the extra $30 million.

“Council is excited for the community as this funding pledge from the government guarantees that a new aquatic centre can be constructed,” Ms Chadwick said.

The new aquatic centre is expected to be built in Parramatta Park near the old golf course.

“At its next meeting I will ask council to identify additional funding options of up to $30 million to be provisionally allocated to the project to ensure that the design and facilities of the new aquatic centre meet the expectations of the current community, and the future needs of the people of Parramatta. Council will also consider strategies to fast track delivery.”

The funding announcement was made on Friday morning by Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres and Premier Gladys Berejiklian.

“Delivery of major infrastructure across Parramatta is moving at a rapid pace and now users of this 60-year-old Memorial Pool will have a brand new state-of-the-art facility to call home,” Ms Berejiklian said.

But not for several years. The final site for the replacement pool has still not been officially announced, though it is likely to be on the old golf course at Parramatta Park, according to Mr Ayres.

The pool will be demolished to make way Western Sydney Stadium due to open in 2019.

“The future facility, expected to be located within the former Parramatta golf course, will form another key part of Parramatta’s transformation and represent a massive win for residents and visitors alike,” he said.

“We committed from the outset to deliver a replacement facility as part of the Western Sydney Stadium project and now council’s investigations into potential locations and consultation have progressed to a good level, we can announce the funding to help deliver a new aquatic centre.”

North Parramatta Residents Action Group president Suzette Meade, who led the campaign against the pool’s closure, said Premier Gladys Berejiklian was at least $20 million short.

Ms Meade said NPRAG and Save Parramatta Pool supporters stood firm in their position that the pool and stadium could coexist.

“World Heritage Listed Parramatta Park needs a new set of trustees if they continue to carve up one of the world’s oldest parks to development.

Parramatta’s population is set to explode by 150 per cent in high-density living so we must protect our open green space as priority.”

Parramatta state Liberal MP Geoff Lee said Parramatta deserved a world-class pool and the government was committed to delivery of a new centre.

“We thank the community for their patience while this planning has been under way and will continue to work with council, the Parramatta Park Trust to ensure this project can be delivered as quickly as possible.”