Cost overruns and logistical complications aren’t unusual when it comes to local infrastructure projects, but North Sydney Olympic Pool stands out as an extreme case. When independent federal MP and North Sydney mayor Zoe Baker discusses it, she often sounds frustrated and impatient: “This project is an example of how not to manage public funds,” she laments.
Sydney’s ocean rockpools and pools are well known for their beauty, but they also have deep cultural meaning. Built by locals themselves over many years of use by residents who had an established swim culture within their community, these ocean rockpools and pools offer safe spaces to practice recreational and competitive swimming – as well as provide shelter from surf and shark attacks.
Marie-Louise McDermott has written extensively about Sydneysiders learning to swim at these pools and developing their sense of identity, in an extensive website called All Into Ocean Pools. These pools were initially constructed for men’s and women’s swimming clubs before becoming more generalised under community organisations’ control in later decades. Pools became popular places to spend summer weekends when swimming outdoors was unsafe or forbidden due to hazardous tide conditions; today they provide safer alternatives as alternatives for leisure swimming than open ocean swimming.
These days, most ocean rockpools in cities across America are at risk of disappearing due to rising costs associated with climate change and urban development, coupled with reduced government funding for maintaining them. Some councils have passed on these costs directly onto ratepayers while in other cases non-profit groups manage the pools directly.
Composing great rockpool shots requires careful composition and an understanding of how light and shadow interact with both water and rocks. As a result, it’s crucial that you think through how you want the image to come out prior to setting up your camera. Rockpool photography can be difficult due to their complex scenes so make sure to find a spot with ample room and an uncluttered background for optimal photography results before experimenting with various angles and perspectives to see which work best.
Though concrete pools are the strongest material to use for pools, they do have their limitations. Installing features can be challenging due to mold restrictions. However, these issues can be overcome through creative planning and thoughtful design: pools could feature sloped edges or curved decks that help swimmers navigate the water more naturally while giving it an aesthetically pleasing design.
As you design your next backyard pool, incorporate these creative design features. They will increase its value while offering an enjoyable place for family and friends to spend time. Even if you aren’t yet ready to commit to an extensive remodel project, these tips can help turn an existing pool into an oasis for summer enjoyment!