Ocean pools are making a comeback.
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That's the opinion of chair of All Into Ocean Pools group, Marie-Louise McDermott, who says they provide a fabulous sense of place.
Ms McDermott, who is based in West Australia and has completed a PhD on the topic, says we are now seeing a realisation ocean pools can fill a void left by chlorinated indoor and outdoor pool centres.
"Ocean pools come with very special views and they have a fabulous sense of place," she said.
"They are a convivial place where you have to also learn to share the pool with other ocean life.
"An ocean pool is a great way to learn about the sea and the rocky shoreline.
"As well, they are a great place to learn to swim because of the constant movement of the water as opposed to the controlled environment of a swimming pool or indoor aquatic centre."
In December, the state government announced a $50,000 grant to the Tidal Pool for Port Macquarie group to undertake a feasibility study into possibly building a tidal pool in one of three preferred places – Town Beach, Flynns Beach or Shelly Beach.
This is despite a May decision by councillors to put on the record that a tidal pool was not a priority for the council.
Some 18,000 people signed a petition calling for a tidal pool to be built in Port Macquarie.
Ms McDernott said increasing coastal populations also meant more people were potentially vulnerable to the dangerous surf conditions.
"The NSW coastline is unprotected from dangerous seas unlike the protected Queensland coastline where the Great Barrier Reef provides some protection," she said.
The NSW coastline is unprotected from dangerous seas unlike the protected Queensland coastline where the Great Barrier Reef provides some protection.
- Marie-Louise McDermott
"You are exposed to that full force of water hitting our surf beaches.
"For people lacking surf skills this can be a very dangerous place."
She said ocean pools provide a safer water experience and environment and were more appealing than being crowded between the flags at a beach.
Ms McDermott completed her thesis on ocean pools in Australia in 2012 and, realising that ocean pools were under-acknowledged, All Into Ocean Pools was formed three years later.
"I wanted to change the perception about ocean pools," she added.
Ocean pools or baths were common place in Australia from the early 1900s. While some were segregated, the growth in interest in ocean swimming saw changes made to rules about bathing.
The introduction of daylight savings, the emergence of the surf life saving movement and interest in surfing, all helped push us out of the pool and into the surf, Ms McDermott said.
"There was also a shift in thinking toward combined swimming areas. As well, there was the introduction of more streamlined swimming costumes," she added.
With the onset of the depression, government spending on infrastructure projects, including ocean baths, took hold with many coastal communities banding together to create long-wanted ocean pools.
During the 1960s with more consistent water supply availability, in-ground chlorinated pools began to prosper. Indoor aquatic centres would arrive some 10 years later.
Ms McDermott said during the 1970s and 80s, tighter government controls - including environmental considerations - were introduced.
"The whole process became more bureaucratic," she said.
There is now a resurgence in interest in ocean pools, she said.
Ms McDermott said ocean pools provide a secure environment for the swimmer, along with more convenient times to swim - because you can use the facility unsupervised - along with providing a focus for the community.
"Ocean pools are still very important as a community centre," she said.
The ocean pool supporter says she has been in contact with the Tidal Pool for Port Macquarie group and applauds their efforts.
"They are doing a fabulous job but it is a long campaign and there are a lot of barriers," she said.
"It is quite a long process to create a new pool but I believe there is a lot of hope.
"Ocean pools are good for our health; they are a special form of blue space because they are part of the ocean, not separate from it, while still providing a safe environment.
"Ocean pools have a long term effect on people even if they are not down there everyday."
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