Taking a dip is probably the last thing on your mind after this week’s rain and chilly temperatures, but swimming season is on the way, with warm weather forecast next week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
When spring arrives on Monday, temperatures are set to climb into the low 20s, which is sure to attract more beachgoers and pool users.
However, Bulli Sea Lions winter swim club members Hugh and Wendy Carpenter are worried their local pool will soon become unusable due to a large bank of sand.
A life member of the club and Bulli pool user for 65 years, Mr Carpenter said he had never seen so much sand in the ocean pool, while Mrs Carpenter said the sand could hamper the club’s upcoming championships.
‘‘We want to have eight people across swimming in the pool,’’ she said.
‘‘But with how it is now, we can only get about three people in and the sand has filled so much at the deep end that one of the members could stand up.’’
Wollongong City Council infrastructure and works director Mike Hyde said the council was scheduled to remove the sand next Thursday, but needed to complete a ‘‘review of environmental factors’’ first.
He also said winter works on the ageing rock pools at Austinmer and Wollongong’s continental pool were going well.
Works at Austinmer should be finished by the end of October,’’ he said. ‘‘This is weather, tide and storm dependent though.’’
The continental pool is open to the public while the council completes work on the main seawall.