Cool Down With Free Swimming Pools in Sydney
The summer heat is on and Sydney residents are searching for places to cool down. Local councils are opening a number of public swimming pools for free this Saturday, helping residents to stay cool and avoid the cost of expensive air conditioning.
Swimming pools are a crucial part of every Australian home and offer the ideal way to get exercise and keep healthy. However, they can be costly to maintain. In Australia, the average household spends more than $2,500 on their pool and maintenance each year. To help reduce the costs of keeping your pool in good condition, consider installing a solar power system. This will not only save you money, but it will also help to protect the environment.
If you’re looking for a high-quality and durable solar system, consider investing in a SunSmart Solar pool heating kit. These kits are designed to be easy to install, and come with everything you need for a successful installation. They also feature a sleek design that complements any style of home. Plus, you can rest assured knowing that you’re getting the best value for your money.
Many local pools across the country are struggling to stay open. While government funding is vital for maintaining swimming facilities, it’s not enough to meet rising operating costs. A combination of factors has led to a dramatic shift in pool maintenance to local councils in recent decades, including the rapid expansion of urban populations, the growing demand for water-related leisure activities and rate capping – which restricts how much a council can increase rates each year. Some Sydney suburbs have already been hit hard, with Kogarah War Memorial pool in the prime minister’s seat of Cook closing for a renovation and expected to make a $650,000 loss this financial year.
Other pools have been closed altogether. Parramatta lost its local pool in 2017 to allow for the construction of a new stadium, and will not have another local facility until 2022 at the earliest. The Berejiklian government has pledged to build a “like-for-like” replacement, but it’s not clear whether the local community will be able to afford it in these increasingly pricey times.
Pools are any council’s single most expensive asset, and with budget cuts they are increasingly being targeted for closure. The loss of a pool is often a blow to a community, with some councils now facing the prospect of having no local pools at all. It is especially difficult for families who need to swim to get to work or school, and for people with limited mobility, accessing public pools can be challenging.
But there are still some amazing ocean pools around the city. For example, the Cabbage Tree Bay Eco Sculpture Walk on Sydney’s Northern Beaches features a small ocean pool built in 1929. Its long side adjoins the promenade at Manly, and is dotted with sea nymph sculptures. It’s a great place to swim laps and is safe from strong waves and the risk of shark attacks.