What is the draft Strategy for the Future of Our Pools?

    The draft Strategy will guide how we plan, deliver and manage our nine supervised  public swimming pools and nine tidal rock pool across the Wollongong local government area over the next 10 years.


    Why do we need a draft Strategy for the Future of Our Pools?

    Council is committed to addressing the Wollongong 2022 Community Goal ‘We are a healthy community in a liveable city’.

    Our current pool provision is based upon approaches which were common throughout the 1950s-60s. This historic approach focused on 50m or 25m outdoor swimming pools catering mostly for recreational and lap swimming.

    We want to see that our pools are used as best they can be, and are appealing places for all community members to enjoy.

    A recent survey shows that 63 per cent of our population had not visited a tidal rock pool in the previous 12 months and patronage at our supervised pools has declined by 17 per cent since 2007-2008.

    We understand that the community’s aquatic recreational needs have evolved over time beyond lap swimming and this draft Strategy has been developed to ensure that our future provision of pools and the services offered within our aquatic facilities continues to meet the demands for recreation and lap swimmers but also meets the current and future unmet aquatic recreational needs.

    We know that great contemporary pools offer the community a place for socialising; they offer a range of activities that attract young families, teens wanting excitement and play, young adults, lap swimmers, and seniors looking for low impact exercise. So improving our existing aquatic leisure facilities may offer different experiences than our swimming pools currently provide.


    How was the draft Strategy for the Future of Our Pools developed?

    The draft Strategy has been developed with lots of help and feedback from our community over the past two years.

    This includes the input provided through the development of the Community Strategic Plan, Wollongong 2022(External link), the 2012 Community Survey, Council’s Securing Our Future(External link) Project and community engagement activities undertaken on the supervised swimming pools by consultants from Strategic Leisure Group in 2013.

    We’d like to thank everyone who has provided input so far.

    Are our tidal rock pools considered in the draft Strategy for the Future of Our Pools?

    Feedback received during Council’s recent Securing Our Future(External link) Financial Sustainability Review identified strong community sentiment towards our tidal rock pools.

    The draft Strategy includes future directions for our city’s iconic tidal rock pools. 

    Where are our supervised public swimming pools located?

    We currently have nine supervised swimming pools throughout the city. 

    These are located at Helensburgh, Thirroul, Corrimal, Wollongong (Continental pool), Gwynneville (Beaton Park pool), Port Kembla, Unanderra (Western Suburbs pool), Berkeley and Dapto. 

    For more details, please see the Public Pools page(External link) of our website.

    Where are our tidal rock pools located?

    Our tidal rock pools are located at Coalcliff, Wombarra, Coledale, Austinmer, Bulli, Woonona, Bellambi, Towradgi, and North Wollongong.

    This Google map(External link) shows the location of all of our rock pools and patrolled beaches.


    What is the next step for the draft Strategy for the Future of Our Pools?

    The draft strategy is on public exhibition until 30 April 2014. We will then review the feedback received during the exhibition period and amend the draft strategy as required.

    It is anticipated that the community feedback and any proposed changes to the draft Strategy will be outlined in a report back to Council in late May – early June with the recommendation for Council to adopt a final Strategy (at this meeting). 

    How can I have my say on the draft Strategy for the Future of Our Pools?

    We’re now encouraging everyone to help us make Wollongong a better place to play by giving feedback on this draft strategy.

    To have your say, fill in the short survey on this site, email engagement@wollongong.nsw.gov.au or call us on (02) 4227 7060.