Could open changerooms at pools be an endangered species?

And if so, shouldn't we talk about it first?

Austinmer's beach pavilion is the next facility in line to get a refurbishment to improve access and furnishings.

This will please many northern residents - for years, maintaining the amenities to a proper state of function and cleanliness has proved too much for Wollongong council. The urinal often has no pull-chain so it can't flush, meaning the whole place often smells like buckets of urine.

But part of the plan as described by the council on its website is to enclose each of the showers in a cubicle, with doors. It has been that way for several months. It's been described by council as a typo but it's worth thinking about.

Would it please people? I'm not so sure.

The open changeroom has been a fact of life for years. I'm the father of two boys, also one of four sons of a father who was one of three sons, and the beach, the surf club, the pool were favourite places.

So there's never been any shortage of males getting dressed or undressed, towelled and showered, with other males around. And my sons - while shy sometimes - have realised this is perfectly normal.

We've seen it all. From Thirroul to Beaton Park, Corrimal to Coledale to Curl Curl, from Austinmer to the North Sydney pool, we've changed among strangers large and small, buffed and bulbous, hirsute and hairless.

They've seen that the male human comes in all shapes and sizes, and he changes as he gets older, and some things vary greatly. Nudity can be the great leveller. No-one cares for your wealth, your good looks, your sexuality, your skin colour.

It's not sexual or for show. It's simply: shower, use your manners, get changed, respect others' space, and then off you go. No-one will try anything dodgy because others will spot them.

It's democratic, diverse and educational - and occasionally funny. The looks on the boys' faces, eyes agog. But that's good learning too: people are people, diversity is normal, and don't stare.

I can't speak for what happens in the women's rooms, but I suspect that in an age of teenagers posting bikini pics on Instagram hoping to get heaps of "so hottt" comments, familiarity with realistic body shapes can't be a bad thing.

Late on Thursday Wollongong City Council, in response to questions, said the closed-in showers were a typo. The information said "with doors" when it should have said "without doors", a spokeswoman said.

But council plans as far back as 2017 clearly show the design to include cubicles with doors.

The newer plans have open cubicles, and council's website was yesterday amended to say "without doors". But it's clear the closed off option has been seriously considered.

Why would that be necessary? I don't recall an epidemic of dodgy behaviour by strangers in changerooms. The closest was a council employee peeping on women at Helensburgh pool.

Couldn't any issues be solved by having one closed shower if absolutely necessary, for the very shy, and the rest of the place is open?

How does the saying go? That's right ... abuse thrives behind closed doors.