Plan to save North Bondi Children’s Pool and create new murals

Multimillion-dollar repair works will be carried out to save the North Bondi Children’s Pool and the surrounding seawall. Council voted to fund the $3.5 million works which will include new pool murals.

The pool has been a summer staple for families for many decades.

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Multimillion-dollar repair works will be carried out to save the North Bondi Children’s Pool and the surrounding seawall.

Engineers have warned Waverley Council the nearby North Bondi stormwater culvert is badly corroded and will be a risk to public safety if nothing is done.

The culvert was found to have “concrete cancer” and cars and lorries have been banned from driving on the pathway above.

If nothing is done it will be too dangerous even for pedestrians within 18 months.

Urging councillors to approve the $3.5 million restoration works, Waverley Mayor John Wakefield said it was a project they could not avoid.

“We have an erosion issue caused by the drainage of the culvert underneath or perhaps by an aquifer,” he said.

Mulga the artist working on one of the current murals back in 2016. Picture: John Appleyard

“Nobody knows exactly what the problem is, only that we have a problem.”

He told council it was also an opportunity to repair the popular children’s pool.

A report presented to council stated the pool was past or near the end of its asset life cycle and “now not fit for purpose”, and presented “potential risks to public safety”.

Councillors unanimously voted in favour of the works which will include reconstruction of the culvert, reconstruction of the nearby seawall and upgrades to the pool including a new concrete pool edge, new steps and the installation of benches and handrails.

Waverley Mayor John Wakefield told councillors it was a project they could not ignore. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Work is set to start after Anzac Day next year.

As part of the reconstruction works, the murals along the pool will have to be ripped down and replaced.

“This is a fantastic mural,” Mayor Wakefield said. “It is much loved, adored and photographed … this a significant cultural element we are dealing with.”

The site features two murals. The mosaic artwork was installed 30 years ago and was created by a group of local artists led by Lloyd Kellerman.

The neighbouring painted mural was created by Sydney-based artist Mulga in 2016 and features pink dolphins as well as the word “BONDI” in huge yellow letters.

The current mosaic mural was created 30 years ago

And Mulga’s painted mural.

Council voted to work with the original artists on the new murals, although there was division in the council chamber as to whether the artworks should be recreated or new designs sought.

Cr Angela Burrill argued it presented an opportunity to throw it open to other local artists.

“Thirty years is a long lifespan for an artwork and we do have other artwork in Waverley that has been decommissioned in that time,” she said. “He has had that wall for 30 years, shouldn’t we now open it up to other artists?”

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Cr Steven Lewis, to chuckles from the council chamber, responded: “When the Sistine Chapel was restored was it the intention that Michelangelo’s ceiling would be dismantled and disposed of and the opportunity given to other Italian artists to recreate?”

Council general manger Ross McLeod said the original artists would be consulted to work on the scope for the new murals.