A pool can be an incredible backyard feature and add tremendous value to your home, as well as provide relaxation, fun, quality time with family and friends, staying fit and healthy! There are various kinds of pools available but selecting one suitable for your home needs is essential – here are some tips that may help.

An ocean pool is an iconic treasure of New South Wales, with 100 pools located from Ballina to Eden along its coastline and one third in Sydney alone. From Manly’s triangular Fairy Bower to Coogee’s historic Wylie’s Baths in Coogee – they provide sanctuary for those who prefer salt water swimming over braving larger waves.

At first, these swimming spots were intended to meet the needs of men’s and women’s recreational and competitive swimming clubs that wanted a spot where they could swim laps without fearing strong waves or shark attacks. But as populations expanded and temperatures heated up, more people took to using them because of their cool waters and breathtaking coastal locations.

Some are now more than 100 years old, while some such as Bondi Icebergs continue to operate year after year. Others have been lost to erosion; yet others continue their lives through private rentals or community efforts like Swimply which connects pool owners who want extra income with Sydneysiders looking for a swim – an impressive service with 130 private pools listed since launching in 2019 at $30-$90 an hour for renters to use their pools!

However, many believe it to be unsustainable to charge so much to use local pools. Greens councillor Rochelle Flood and independent councillor Kathy Bryla are pushing for a review of discounted pricing models, citing Snowy Valleys trial where free entry led to 23% more pool visits and 241% increase in income generated around them (via cafe sales, swimming lessons or other activities).

North Sydney Pool representatives say that rather than simply reopening after its renovations are complete, the facility may start charging to host fashion shows, production companies and private parties that fall outside its usual scope in order to cover the $80 million cost of a full renovation.

As such, some city councils are considering making pools free. Melbourne and Brisbane have already implemented this practice and found it financially sustainable; in Sydney however, this remains an ideological battleground.