One week, a reader asked, “What is an SDY pool?” A sand-dune-side pool, commonly referred to as an SDY, is one of Sydney’s most charming features – nearly every beach offers one for protection when southerly winds blow or tides are turbulent; often tranquil at low tide yet turbulent at high tide – they serve as original infinity pools!
The Sydney Pools were constructed as Australia emerged from Depression, just two years before Sydney hosted the 1938 Commonwealth Games. These pools served both as a symbol of Sydney’s confidence and as an alternative to swimming in the surf due to its rocks and strong currents; as well as training grounds for future champions like 10-year-old Bondi boy Murray Rose who would go on to set an incredible 86 world records!
Today the Sydney pools are under threat. Mired in council infighting and allegations of pork-barrelling, heritage concerns and critique from health organizations, this project has run over budget by more than $100m and the opening date has been put back until 2025. “This project is an example of how not to do an infrastructure project,” according to North Sydney councillor, independent federal MP and former minister for women Kylea Tink who contends it unraveled quickly from its conception after adding in a $10 million grant aimed at regional and remote women’s sports into its plan and complicated what would have been an easy renovation job on an historic asset.
Tink and North Sydney Mayor Zoe Baker both agree on the urgent need for a solution, yet have opposing views as to why something has gone wrong with the project. Baker blames Covid pandemic and La Nina as two culprits that consumed construction days; Tink blames pre-election distribution of $10m windfall money that changed focus away from regional women’s sports fund funding to inner city areas at the expense of funding it in its original purpose.
The story of Sdy pools is as intricate as their geography and it remains unclear how to best save them. But over time they could once more become places where families gather to swim and play together – just log in or register with us to save articles for later or add them as favourites and return anytime – or visit us on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter.