Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has defended the upcoming 16-month closure of the popular Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool, saying those who think it’s a simple job to upgrade “should not be trusted” with its ongoing maintenance.
Popular among Sydney’s gay community, the pool will close in May while upgrades are undertaken. It’s not expected to re-open until construction is complete in September 2025.
The pool closes every winter – typically from May until the first weekend of September. However, critical maintenance work is required this year that will see it closed for longer, including the next summer.
Moore took to Instagram on Wednesday to defend the work needed after The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper first revealed the length of time the upgrade would take.
“Anyone who tells you this is a simple job that can or should happen more quickly should not be trusted with the ongoing maintenance of the City’s world-class facilities,” Moore said.
“We need to replace the waterproof membrane on both the main 50m pool and the smaller 20m program pool.
“We’re installing a new lift and decking.
“And yes, we’re also retiling.”
One of the other big tasks is to replace the gas heating system with electric heat pumps. This is a key part of the city’s goal to reach net zero emissions by 2035.
“All of our operations are powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity and transitioning away from polluting fossil fuels will be crucial to reducing emissions in the City’s operations,” Moore said.
But there are concerns from one of Moore’s rivals in council that this work could drag out longer than 16 months, as has happened to the trouble-plagued North Sydney Olympic Pool. That pool is maintained by North Sydney Council, a separate council to the City of Sydney.
North Sydney Olympic Pool initially closed in February 2021 for a rebuild that was meant to be completed by November 2022.
However, it is still closed today, making it more than 1000 days since it was last opened. The latest timeline for a re-opening is July this year.
Liberal City of Sydney councillor Lyndon Gannon told The Sydney Morning Herald: “I can feel it in my waters that this will turn into another North Sydney Pool fiasco”.
In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Clover Moore-aligned Councillor Adam Worling, a member of Sydney’s queer community, seemingly took a dig at Gannon.
“As a councillor, I take advice from the professionally trained city staff who advise on the duration that these works will take and not … others who alarm the public by questioning these times or comparing them to ongoing projects at other councils,” he said.
“Anyone who has renovated a kitchen or a bathroom knows it takes time if you want to do it right.”
While the ABC pool is closed, there are a number of other options that are an easy commute for the queer community.
Prince Alfred Park, next to Central Station, hosts another of the city’s aquatic fitness centres and will remain open as normal all year round.
There is also the popular Redleaf Beach, which is accessible by either bus or train from Surry Hills and Kings Cross.
In October 2021, Moore floated the idea to develop an outdoor swimming area at Beare Park in Elizabeth Bay and on the Glebe Foreshore.
But there is no word yet on when, if ever, work may begin on those projects.
“These are not firm plans, scoped and ready to go – they’re a visual representation of what’s possible, over time, if we can improve the Harbour water quality,” Moore said then, referring to an artist’s impression of them.
Gay Sydney News reporter