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With the volume of water changing eight times a day through continuous pumping of fresh ocean water, Shellharbour City Council’s Beverley Whitfield Ocean Pool also requires a weekly clean.

Scheduled every Tuesday at 1pm depending on the surf and weather conditions, the process involves the draining of seawater, washing of the inner walls, and refilling the pool for swimmers the following day.

Council’s cleaning staff are always alert, with the public’s safety always the priority. Some of the more surprising things they have seen have included lobsters and crabs that have washed into the pool. Recently, an unexpected cleaning was required after vandals smashed glass into the pool.

Shellharbour City Council Mayor Chris Homer said the cleaning of the pool was really important, noting “it’s quite a process, but a necessary one to ensure the water remains fresh for our swimmers.”

Council crew maintain the pool all year round, every week.

Depending on the tide, the water takes a few hours to go out. Once that happens, staff jump inside and start gurneying both the main and baby pools.

From there the pump is turned back on and the pool is refilled with fresh sea water. From the draining of water to the final refill, the total the process takes about 12 hours. The result is nice and refreshing water for swimmers after it’s cleaned.

The pool will soon to be given an accessible ramp after community feedback paved the way for Council to vote at December’s Council meeting. The external accessible ramp will not obstruct the existing swimming lanes.

Located at the southern end of Hockey Esplanade in Shellharbour Village, the pool is surrounded with BBQ facilities, picnic tables, public toilets, and a shaded children’s pool.

Caption: Council staff Jacob Duncan (Cemetery Labourer) and Simon Bartlett (Pavement Crew) are two reasons why Beverley Whitfield Ocean Pool is so pristine. Credit: Shellharbour City Council.

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