Letter to Aquatic Services Manager 8th Nov 2024

I write to you not only as President of Friends of Newcastle Ocean Baths Incorporated (FONOB Inc.) but from my personal experience. Many early morning swimmers are expressing to me their concerns about the absence of lighting at Newcastle Ocean Baths early morning. Last week there were social media posts expressing the frustration about the total absence of lighting, not only were there no lights on the upper promenade there was no lighting on the pool.

I swam at 0450 yesterday morning in a very dark pool. The pool lights never came on. There was no moonlight and I found the swim confronting as there were at least 20 people in the pool and the risk of colliding with someone and suffering injury was a real possibility.

Further to this, a regular swimmer went for as walk around the pool lower promenade only to be confronted with lots of broken glass behind the lap pool starting blocks on the ocean side. I witnessed the pool attendant using his torch and the swimmer holding another torch so the hazardous mass of broken glass could be removed.

The pool lights were not on again this morning.

Rumour has it that a local resident or residents have complained about the pool lighting and therefore the lights will not be switched on at the usual time of 0330 hours. Is there any truth in this rumour? Surely security and safety of the public should override such complaints.

Vandalism is a going issue at Newcastle Ocean Baths. I can attest to this having been an early morning swimmer for at least 27 years. Broken glass from revellers is not uncommon especially as the season warms. I have, like all others depended on adequate lighting to enter the pool area safely without sustaining injury.

The early morning swimmer who helped clean up the broken glass related to me a situation he was confronted with a few weeks ago. He described about a dozen young ones aged from about 11 to 14, boys and girls outside the old lifesavers’ observation room, drinking alcohol, smashing the bottles and vomiting on the upper promenade. When challenged they proceeded down to the Newcastle Beach area.

It is well documented in the newspaper that vandalism and antisocial behaviour is not uncommon in Newcastle. In the case of Newcastle Ocean Baths surely, we expect to have adequate lighting to ensure the safety of early morning swimmers to prevent injury from stepping on broken glass.

I would appreciate for you to advise me of the current City of Newcastle policy in regards to providing adequate lighting to ensure the safety of early morning swimmers. Currently they are in danger of injury from broken glass both on the upper and lower promenades and also at risk of injury in the pool due to no lighting.

I also wish to say that Paul the early morning attendant works his backside off trying to keep us safe.

Yours faithfully

Peter Wickham

President FONOB Inc.