Summer swimming pop-up proposal criticised by Woollahra Councillors

A proposal to erect ‘pop-up’ pools has been labelled “elitism” by members of a wealthy eastern suburbs council, who pointed to the lack of swimming infrastructure available in western Sydney.

The pop-up swimming pool erected at Prospect by Sydney Water. Picture: Chris Romer Lee.

A proposal to erect ‘pop-up’ pools has been labelled “elitism” by members of a wealthy eastern suburbs council, who highlighted the lack of swimming infrastructure available in western Sydney.

Woollahra councillor Harriet Price proposed the motion at the council’s Monday night meeting, where she argued the proposed temporary swimming spots would offer residents and visitors additional water recreation options while the popular Shark Beach at Nielsen Park remained closed for a second summer due to construction.

Council papers state the council could explore delivering an “urban plunge” site at Nielsen Park or other suitable sites similar to a pop-up swimming pool erected at the western Sydney suburb of Prospect by Sydney Water last summer.

The motion suggested the council investigate the availability of grant funding opportunities, including accessing a “places to swim” grant, to deliver the initiatives.

Henry Fisher and Max Jones photographed jumping off the pier at Redleaf pool beach, Double Bay. Picture: Monique Harmer.

The pop-up swimming pool at Prospect built by Sydney Water. Picture: Chris Romer Lee.

Greens councillor Nicola Grieve decried the motion as “obscene” and “elitist”.

“This proposal does not stack up environmentally, sustainably financially or equitably,” she said.

Woollahra was one of the smallest local government areas, but had around 18 km of coastline with approximately 30 places to access the harbour, the Greens councillor explained.

In stark contrast, Ms Grieve said many areas of western Sydney set to bear the brunt of extreme heat this upcoming summer did not have adequate swimming resources.

“The whole of the western suburbs will be sweltering under 40-plus degree days back to back,” she said.

“Western Sydney is where people need the most respite from the heat”.

“As a council … we should be lobbying Sydney Water to be giving the money to the western suburbs on the grounds of equity and fairness, not spending more money to create more spots that are inaccessible to so many people who are going to be living under such heat stress,” Ms Grieve said.

Nielsen Park Beach in Vaucluse is construction that has been delayed and delayed on the project to build a new sea wall due to government and contractor issues. Picture: Richard Dobson.

Sydney’s eastern suburbs boasts numerous harbour swimming spots, including Camp Cove Picture: Monique Harmer.

Liberal councillor Richard Shields said a motion “smacks of elitism” given the existing swimming infrastructure divide.

“How in all consciousness can we support the NSW government putting more funding into this area when people in western Sydney are crying out for more resources,” Mr Shields said.

“It smacks of not understanding how other parts of Sydney struggle during the summer heat,” he said. “And it is just a shocking waste of NSW government taxpayer resources

“I can see how this will play out in the Telegraph”.

Councillor Price said the motion was intended to be “as inclusive and non elitist as possible”, citing the safety benefits of man made swimming infrastructure for small children, the disabled and elderly.

Ms Price said offering an alternative to the closed Nielsen Park would benefit visitors from other suburbs who also access harbour swimming spots over the summer.

“We love that our swimming places are very popular, and that we do provide facilities for not just the eastern suburbs elite,” she said.

The motion was lost nine votes to four.