Newcastle's Bogey Hole pool was cut into ocean rocks by convict labour in 1819 and now serves as a major tourist drawcard.
Could a Bondi Beach-style ocean swimming pool be the answer to Point Lonsdale’s disappearing front beach woes?
Consultants tasked with investigating erosion of the popular tourist beach, BMT WBM, have also been asked to consider whether a pool, supported by rock walls, could help in preventing the loss of sand.
The idea has been spoken about for many years and was put forward as a tourism proposal during recent foreshore revitalisation deliberations. But it has gained renewed momentum with the fresh community focus on beach erosion.
"To my knowledge there's never been a proper study done and this is a great opportunity to look at it," said long time supporter Lester Hunt.
"Why go to the expense and effort of just building groynes when you can at the same time do something that is going to be an absolute tourist drawcard.
"I've had discussions with lots of residents over the past years and many people think it's a sensational idea. "We definitely need two more groynes and in between them we can incorporate a great tourist attraction and the point below the playground is the perfect spot.
"It would be the first one in Victoria and given everybody has access to wetsuits it would be used all year round," Mr Hunt said.
Save Point Lonsdale Front Beach campaign spokesman James Cotton supported the idea, but said it was important to focus on finding an initial solution to erosion problems.
“I thought it was a great idea… and the consultants are going to consider it but I think for the local government to get their head around that would be a huge process that they would have to go through,” he said. “So let’s just get the solution in place, which really isn’t that hard, let’s just get the groynes in place and then we can go again and try to get a pool.”
There are about 100 ocean pools or baths in New South wales, mainly scattered along rocky stretches where waves can wash into the enclosures.
“It would cost a lot more money, a lot more time, it may not ever get approved for whatever reasons, it’s controversial potentially, so lets put some groynes put in first. “
Consultants tasked with investigating erosion of the popular tourist beach, BMT WBM, have also been asked to consider whether a pool, supported by rock walls, could help in preventing the loss of sand.
The idea has been spoken about for many years and was put forward as a tourism proposal during recent foreshore revitalisation deliberations. But it has gained renewed momentum with the fresh community focus on beach erosion.
"To my knowledge there's never been a proper study done and this is a great opportunity to look at it," said long time supporter Lester Hunt.
"Why go to the expense and effort of just building groynes when you can at the same time do something that is going to be an absolute tourist drawcard.
"I've had discussions with lots of residents over the past years and many people think it's a sensational idea. "We definitely need two more groynes and in between them we can incorporate a great tourist attraction and the point below the playground is the perfect spot.
"It would be the first one in Victoria and given everybody has access to wetsuits it would be used all year round," Mr Hunt said.
Save Point Lonsdale Front Beach campaign spokesman James Cotton supported the idea, but said it was important to focus on finding an initial solution to erosion problems.
“I thought it was a great idea… and the consultants are going to consider it but I think for the local government to get their head around that would be a huge process that they would have to go through,” he said. “So let’s just get the solution in place, which really isn’t that hard, let’s just get the groynes in place and then we can go again and try to get a pool.”
There are about 100 ocean pools or baths in New South wales, mainly scattered along rocky stretches where waves can wash into the enclosures.
“It would cost a lot more money, a lot more time, it may not ever get approved for whatever reasons, it’s controversial potentially, so lets put some groynes put in first. “
