Poolside e-news

Welcome to this summer’s ‘Poolside e-news’ – the first in a (very) occasional series – alerting you to what’s hot at Blackheath Pool.

• Today’s water: Lap pool=22.1C  Freeform=21.8C  Toddlers=20.8C (air=26.3C) – free daily temp updates on Twitter http://twitter.com/Blackheath_Pool  
• Lifeguards Jake & Reece have the facility looking neat as a new pin
• Sixty-odd patrons across day to 3PM, more arriving as this correspondent was leaving
• Regular lap swimmers have been at Pool every morning
• Three new shade umbrellas have attracted favourable comment (they’re positioned near lap pool)
• Tables have been relocated to eastern perimeter fence, leaving central bricked deck area free of obstacles
• Pop-up shade may be used on bricked area until lawn is revived
• Turf settling in well, but may be another month before the lawn can be opened for use
• Sundial has a new brick surround (previously mud & struggling grass)
• Mens change room has been repainted (perhaps my colleagues can advise on conditions in Ladies?)
• brand new BMCC Pools website launched today http://www.bmleisurecentres.com.au/
• Lap pool water temperatures stayed above 18.3 throughout last week despite our 3.0C start on Monday last!!!
• Merry Xmas

**** Please this pass on potential pool users ****

Night swimming (almost)...

NB 5-7PM at Blackheath Pool

...not quite R.E.M's "Nightswimming",

but you could hum it while you're in the Pool. ;)

brand new BMCC Pools website launches today

http://www.bmleisurecentres.com.au/

"Blue Mountains City Council has five dedicated leisure centres throughout the Blue Mountains all offering different facilities.  There are two Leisure centres open year round, one at Katoomba and one at Springwood each with a range of competitive and recreational pools and programs as well as Fitness centres and group fitness available.  The three outdoor pool facilities at Glenbrook, Lawson and Blackheath each have a range of competitive and recreational pools and are open seasonally."

OPENING DAY tomorrow

 

Pool opens tomorrow Saturday 18 December

Open every weekday 7AM-7PM, 8AM-7PM weekends & public holidays, through to end of March.

On Wednesday the water temperatures were:

lap-pool 24.5C, free-form pool 25C, toddlers pool 23C 
(NB it’s 20.5C at Bondi)

For daily temperature updates follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Blackheath_Pool    

Blackheath Pool holiday passes available – an ideal Xmas gift!

Use EVERY DAY from Boxing Day to end of January 

Adult $49 / Kids & concessions $35 / Family $114 

contact Blackheath Pool for more info: 4787 8018

Kids Free Swim Lesson

Uncle Tobys is offering kids free Royal Life Saving Swim and Survive lessons.  

Collect 4 tokens from participating Uncle Tobys packs at Woolworths to claim your free swim lesson.

http://www.swimkids.com.au  

Free Swim Lesson

This summer, Uncle Tobys is doing our bit for Aussie kids by offering free Royal Life Saving Swim and Survive lessons.  Simply collect 4 tokens from participating Uncle Tobys packs at Woolworths to claim your free swim lesson.

http://www.swimkids.com.au/

"Swim & Survive" Uncle Tobys & Royal Life Saving Society

What is Swim and Survive?

Swim and Survive is a comprehensive swimming and water safety initiative of Royal Life Saving that seeks to increase the swimming and water safety skills of all Australian children in order to prevent drowning and increase participation in safe aquatic activity.

Swim & Survive will be offered at Blackheath Pool - more info http://www.royallifesaving.com.au/www/html/453-what-is-swim-and-survive.asp

Adults Learn to Swim

Now that summer is here there'll be crowds at the pool and the beach. But what if you can't swim?  Parents are encouraged to teach their children to swim but an increasing number of adults can't swim and don't have water safety skills.  Lifesaver Rob Bradley, swimming teacher Tracey Ayton and Jan Park, an adult learner, discuss the barriers to adults learning to swim and the need for a national focus on survival skills.
Listen to discussion on ABC Radio National's Life Matters 16-Dec-10.

WATER deee-licious & dee-lightful :)

Three days to opening. TEMPS - lap-pool 24.5C, free-form pool 25C, toddlers pool 23C - deee-licious & dee-lightful :)

HOLIDAY Pass = Xmas Gift suggestion

Blackheath Pool has holiday passes available for sale from opening day, for use EVERY DAY from Boxing Day to end of January - an ideal Xmas gift!

Adult $49 / Kids & concessions $35 / Family $114
contact Blackheath Pool for more info: 4787 8018

FIVE days to opening

Just five more sleeps until opening day Saturday 18th, and weather predications promising... see Blackheath Weather site Local Weather News http://www.blackheathweather.com/localobs.html

SEVEN DAYS to opening

It's just SEVEN DAYS to opening day Saturday 18 December

• THREE new umbrellas to be installed adjacent to north end of lap pool - these join the five installed last season
• two picnic tables to be relocated perpendicular to eastern fence      
• Jake’s organised a banner at Blackheath Station on opening day, and there’s a poster on each side of the station platform
• Brickwork paving over balance tank is being completed today
• Lawn topsoil is being laid today, awaiting some drainage of waterlogged lawn area before laying turf
• Ttell folks to check their Uncle Tobys cereal boxes for the free kids Learn to Swim passes
• All Pools are now filled & circulation system is running – water is 23°C today ;)

New entry signage

The Outdoor Swimming Society Festive Dip, Parliament Hill Lido, London, Dec 2009

"Outdoor swimming is the most intimate relationship you can have with the natural world, it's only by jumping in... that you can get inside nature..."
poet Owen Sheers, Outdoor Swimming Society, London Dec 2009



... and we think our water's not warm enough ;)

Poor Attendance Myth

[letter to BM Gazette, printed 17-Nov-2010]

Dear Sir/Ms,

We seek to correct the misconception about poor attendance levels at Blackheath Pool (BMG p.1 10-Nov-10).

The Pool has frequently been CLOSED half of the day!

Since re-opening in February 2006, at no time has The Pool been open consistently.

We have had split-shifts, late opening, early closing – a different set of hours each season.

FoBP&MP has worked hard with BM Leisure Centres staff to ensure this season will be different. 

There are to be no mixed messages about opening times.

This season The Pool will be OPEN FULL TIME.

We know consistency is critical - we hear the complaints from visitors & locals alike.

Full-time opening hours and a concerted promotional push is expected to significantly increase both community and tourist patronage. 

There’s extraordinary community goodwill for Blackheath Pool, we want to make it a successful & financially viable season. 

As soon as it opens, come on down everyone & enjoy a swim - all day, every day til 7PM.

Regards,

Simon Hare, Jennifer Kelly, Lyn York,
convenors, Friends of Blackheath Pool & Memorial Park

Sadly 18 DECEMBER is firming as opening day

Wet winter weather slowed BMCC work on balance tank, so sadly 18 DECEMBER is firming as opening day.  There's a slim chance of earlier opening, but it'll require a small miracle - an incredible change to warm, dry weather i.e. La Nina's brother making a sudden return!

However, when it does open, it's all day, every day til 7PM.

A Report due at Council 23-November-2010 states:

"It is unavoidable that rainfall has delayed works on the Blackheath Pool balance tank. Based on the works outstanding and the future weather forecast works are expected to be completed in mid December. There are no realistic options for accelerating the remaining works in order to open the pool by 27th November."

Full report in BMCC Business Paper 'Looking After People' p.74-75 - Item 21: Blackheath Pool Delayed Opening 2010-2011 Season.

slab poured

Concrete slab photographed drying in yesterday's warm morning sun, Sunday 14-Nov-10...

...sadly the weather has broken today - to rain - but initial drying has occurred, so can only be good news.  Note pallets of bricks & pile of sand - clear evidence that pour was a success.

balance tank progress

Our new Centre Suprevisor Jake Burton is doing a great job pulling out all stops to achieve a Blackheath Pool opening as close to 27 November as possible. 

Though we still need a run of dry weather to dry concrete balance tank cover, December 18 is worst case scenario.

Outline as follows:

• tomorrow the concrete slab over the balance tank lid is due to be poured; 
• drying of the concrete is of course weather dependent and best estimate is that it will take a week to dry (to 17 Nov));
• BMCC tradesmen are clear that Pool is high priority;
• sealing, plumbing and tiling works will follow; brick work paving will be completed & lawns rejuvented at same time;
• once paving in place, three new white shade umbrellas & picnic tables will be positioned in consulation with FoBP∓
• final filling  of three pools & two tanks (balance tank & plant tank) will follow;
• two p/t Aquatic Supervisor positions have been appointed – they are Reece Boothroyd & Rebecca Pike – training & familiariseation with Jake next week;
• posters are in distribution – locations include: schools, community noticeboard, station, pubs, libraries, more to follow - you’ll see them around town & further afield;
• inserts have been placed in school newsletters;
• entry wall display-case due to be installed tomorrow;
• change room floors to be re-done under 10-year warranty by original installers;
• new first-aid facility to be insatlled in Ambulance Station;
• in addtuion to season passes, passes to be sold for period 26 dec to 30 Jan $49/adult, $35/child & concession; 10-visit passes also avaliable;
• Twilghlight Family Passes - every Saturday night 5-7PM throughout season $10;
• Aquarobics classes available in four-week blocks – once/week x 45mins, enough have expressed interest for these to be run;
• Learn to swim intensives will be offered dependent on need;
• weed clearance at Pool is being done with environemntally sensetive weedkiller, non-toxic to wildlife;

Thanks to Jake for his commitment & hard work.

LID is on!

Yesterday a crane put in place concrete elements of the balance tank lid.
A very good sign.
There remain some works outstanding, they include:
- A concrete slab laid on top of the lid, weather dependent
- Tiling of the pool at both ends
- Connection of the pipe work and some minor plumbing works
- Restoration of the paving
- Restoration of the grounds

Two views of the lid taken this afternoon:

delay to opening

Final repair work on the balance tank may mean a postponement of proposed opening date.
We are working with BMCC staff & Councillors towards a resolution that sees the Pool open as close to planned 27th November date as possible.


Wet weather may indeed force the delay to 18th December, but this is worst case scenario.

5 weeks to go

new Blackheath Pool poster out soon

Centre Supervisor (Blackheath) announced

Our new full time pool manager begins work at Blackheath Pool on Monday, getting The Pool ready for opening day.

regular monthly meeting

Thursday 14 October 2010, 18:00 - 19:30

Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre (BANC) Gardiner Crescent Blackheath, Australia

Pls RSVP friendsofblackheathpool@gmail.com & we'll email you an agenda.

Aquatic Supervisors (Blackheath x 2)

http://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/yourcouncil/careers/vacancies/aquaticsupervisorblackheath
These positions are temporary, part-time from 26 November 2010 to 3 April 2011. One position is for 21.75 hours per week and the other is for 26.5 hours per week. Both positions are located at the Blackheath Pool.


These positions are responsible for the safe supervision of a shift including the organization of staff and resources and managing programs, customer service.

These positions require a high level of expertise in aquatic operations, staff leadership and customer service skill. Applicants will be required to hold a current Lifeguard Award, First aid certificate and hold or be undertaking Certificate III Aquatic Operations and Supervision

Salary: $21.57 gross per hour.
For further information contact: Briston Toft on (02) 4780 5152.
Closing date: 24 September 2010.

congrats to GetUp!

Election Report Back - GetUp! - a qucik video summary of some very significant pre-election achievements ;) http://t.co/ik1mRpF via @youtube
Thanx GetUP!

CONTINUOUS OPENING HOURS 2010/11 season

POOL OPENING HOURS: daily 7AM-7PM weekdays & 8AM-7PM weekends

• anticipating a successful 2010/11 season,
with new Blackheath POOL SUPERVISOR in charge

• three more white SHADE umbrellas to be installed

• free LEARN TO SWIM lessons, courtesy Uncle Tobys

• Pool water is WARMER than you think!
See www.twitter.com/Blackheath_Pool for daily temperature updates, or call Blackheath Pool (02) 4787-8018.

FREE Community OPEN DAY Saturday 27 November

See you ‘down the Pool’

Blackheath Memorial Park Plan of Management (PoM)

The Blackheath Memorial Park Plan of Management (PoM) is available online.

This PoM was adopted by Blue Mountains City Council in December 2009.

A PDF version is available - it is a 5MB+ file / 90 page document - & this link is direct to the download - so do consider your bandwidth ahead of clicking link :
http://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/download.cfm?f=B98FD6CB-423B-CE58-A11AB2399CDA6D6A


-

Blackheath Pool Centre Supervisor advertised

One upshot of our campaign for a full-time swimming season this summer has been the creation of a full-time BMCC job managing the Pool. This is something we believe is vital to the success of this coming season (& the future).

Consequently, the Blackheath Pool Centre Supervisor job was recently advertised on the Council website, on http://www.sportspeople.com.au/ / http://tinyurl.com/2eaz644 and in the Blue Mountains Gazette 4 & 11 August.

The closing date is 20 August 2010.
The successful applicant will take up the position in November.

Needless to say this is a very positive outcome for the viability of our Pool.

regular monthly meeting

Thursday 12 August 2010, 18:00 - 19:30
Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre (BANC) Gardiner Crescent Blackheath, Australia

Pls RSVP friendsofblackheathpool@gmail.com & we'll email you an agenda.

Blackheath Pool Foundation

We are seeking a pro-bono financial/legal whizz to help set-up a Blackheath Pool Foundation – any ideas?

balance tank fix continues...

7-7 x 7 next season!

Last night Council voted - Blackheath Pool WILL open 7AM to 7PM every day next season, apart from 8AM opening on weekend & public holidays in line with other Blue Mountains pools!

Thank you Councillors.

Middle of day closure - NEXT season 2010-2011

Middle of day closure at Blackheath Pool was a cost-saving experiment that is clearly a false-economy, as it prevents patronage!

It causes confusion amongst patrons. Middle of day closure places Blackheath Pool at a lower level of service delivery than other BM outdoor pools. Blackhesth Pool is an unheated pool, so in the cooler months the warmest, middle part of day is best for swimming! These are the kinds of comments made to us. Blackheath & District Chamber of Commerce & Community supports this call for continuous opening on the grounds that “the split-shift during school terms has a clear negative impact on local businesses & tourism operators.”

The Pool should open continuously throughout the day.

In parallel with continuous opening we feel it’s critical to build patronage – particularly getting kids back to the Pool, building a solid client-base, as they’re the patrons of the future. So in the coming season we propose a range of promotional strategies to increase kids patronage.

Blackheath Pool has a unique character as a principally recreational facility, distinctively different from other mountains pools, but provided for all mountains residents, and as a ‘destination’ for tourists.

This concept anchors our call for a promotional push re-branding of the Pool as “...our mountains beach”.

Reconstruction work in progress...

• ...view thruogh south gate of temporary access pathway across lawn to construction site

• removed turf stacked near western fenceline...

• ...construction site: picnic tables & bricked surface removed in preparation for works

• bricks stacked on palettes adjacent to lap-pool near weatern fenceline...

balance tank FIX begins...

Well sadly the summer season is over for another year.

BUT the work on the new balance tank has begun - with the brick surface above the balance tank being removed in preparation for reconstruction work.

Great news : funding to fix Blackheath Pool balance tank is secure

Great news from Deputy Mayor Janet Mays - it seems funding to fix Blackheath Pool balance tank is secure.

NINE of the twelve Councillors are in favour of reallocating required funds.

Many thanx to Crs Gibbs & Mays who have worked strenuously behind the scences to achieve this outcome. We wish Cr. Hamilton a speedy recovery from surgery.

email from Cr. Mays 11-March-2010:
"Good news re the $ for the pool. We just need to formalise the reallocations and ensure the majority of Councillors are on board. So far Searle, Mays, Hamilton, Van Der Kley, Luchetti, McCallum, Creed and Greenhill have indicated their support for the sourcing/reallocation of the needed funds. I expect most others to follow suit in the next day or so."

balance tank 'plot' rumour quashed

Initially Friends of Blackheath Pool & Memorial Park were most concerned to hear a decision on repairing Blackheath Pool’s damaged balance tank was deferred at Council (see previuos post below). 

However, following discussions with Councillors we understand the deferral motion was made on sound financial management grounds. BMCC is in the midst of annual budget planning, so deferral allows time to find money to fix the balance tank.

FoBP&MP is convinced that rumours there’s a plot to close the Pool are absolutely untrue & are counterproductive.  We look forward to collaborating with Councillors & staff on achieving a balance tank fix in time for the start of the 2010/2011 season.

BALANCE TANK issue at BMCC Tues 23 Feb 2010

At Council on Tuesday night the BALANCE TANK matter was deferred by a majority vote of Councillors to allow time to find the estimated $200-250,000 fix money!
2010-02-23 Council Meeting: AGENDA

Background:
Prior to this season the Blackheath Pool balance tank failed & a temporary fix was made so the Pool could open on time.  During the renovation work 2003-2006 Blackheath Pool Advisory Group was assured the Balance Tank was sound & did NOT need replacement.

Business Paper of Tues 23 Feb 2010
A report to Council by BM City Services highlights:
“...that the new structure be piered to bedrock to prevent the additional mass on the existing floor causing settlement and subsequent cracking of the shell of the adjacent freeform pool.”

• As former BPAG advisors to Council during to the 2003-2006 remediation, FoBP&MP understood that the whole site was piered to bedrock during works. If this is the case some of the $200-250K costs may be defrayed;

• FoBP&MP finds it MOST disappointing that engineering assessment of the balance tank at the time of the remediation work led BPAG to believe the balance tank was secure for another decade.
Perhaps this offers Council some recourse to recoup monies on grounds of poor engineering advice?

“...work is expected to take six months to complete including the design phase.”

• Time is of the essence with an off-season of just eight months April to November 2010.
FoBP&MP is making a case for an early opening of The Pool in the 2010/11 Season – this would shorten the off-season to seven months. Blackheath Chamber of Commerce & Community support this proposal.


Most importantly FoBP&MP notes:

“...It is not considered an option to not proceed with this work, as this will ultimately result in the closure of the pool complex.”

• And CLOSURE OF THE POOL is clearly NOT an option for the Blackheath Community either!




excerpts from BMCC Business Paper

USING LAND FOR LIVING Item 21, Ordinary Meeting, 23.02.10
Item 21: Tender for Design and Construct Balance Tank at Blackheath Pool (4,019.9kb)
FILE NO: F05498 - 10/14451


Recommendations:
1. That the Council note that no tenders were received for the design and construction of a new balance tank at Blackheath Pool; and
2. That the Council resolve that the work be carried out by BM City Services in accordance with s178 of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2005.


Report by Acting Group Manager, BM City Services
Reason for report
This report is submitted in order to obtain the necessary resolution to proceed with the replacement of the balance tank at Blackheath Pool, as required under the Local Government (General) Regulation 2005 

Conclusion

As a result of the lack of tenders received and the latent risk associated with this work, it is recommended that BM City Services undertake the design and construction of a new balance tank at Blackheath Pool in order for the pool complex to be operating in time for the 2010/11 summer season.

FULL REPORT 2010-02-23 Council Meeting: Using Land for Living (NB this is a larger than 4.0MB Adobe Acrobat file)

plenty WARM in water still...

9AM this morning :-) ...

split weekday opening hours return

Be warned... from Monday 1st February Blackheath Pool weekday opening hours return to 'school term' hours: closed between 10AM & 3PM weekdays for remainder of the season.
However, weekend & Public Holiday hours remain unchanged - 8AM opening - 7PM closing.

.

Let BMCC know your thoughts about The Pool

BMCC has posted an online customer survey on it's Blackheath Pool webpage.  It's being conducted by an independent body.  You get a single opportunity to complete it.

"Please help assess the services of Blue Mountains Leisure Centres by filling in an online questionnaire. We would like your quick impressions, and it should take no more than 10 minutes to complete the questionnaire. Complete this questionnaire to reflect your opinions, not those of any child (under 15) or other person that may be in your care. Please note that the questionnaire cannot be completed at different time intervals unless the browser is kept open.
Your answers will be anonymous and confidential.

Click here to take survey

(or go to BMCC Blackheath Pool page here)

The survey is being conducted with the assistance of CERM PI®, University of South Australia.
Thank you in anticipation of your support."

Armillary sphere

The armillary sphere donated to the Pool by the Horticultural Society of Blackheath has been replaced on its plinth.
More about Armillary spheres in Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armillary_sphere

'Perfect' STORM Saturday arvo 16th January 10

Worth noting... from Blackheath Weather at http://www.blackheathweather.com/localobs.html

“16-1-10, Saturday 6pm: From just after 1pm today Blackheath experienced one of its heaviest thunderstorms in the last decade or more. In the first hour we had 90.7mm, which is a very rare experience for us. Usually storms weaken a little as they move over the Oberon Plateau but not this one. From 1:10pm to 2:35pm I recorded 104mm in total, which is what the BoM reported on their severe weather page after I reported the storm to them earlier today. My house may have been directly under the storm core as Mt Boyce AWS didn't record as much rainfall as I did. There was also lots of lightning which resulted in a blackout for about two hours, starting at about 2pm. Please let me know how much rain you recorded as it would be interesting to know of the varying amounts under this storm. Be sure to check out the Bridal Veil Falls YouTube video I have set up on the photos page, its quite amazing. Has anyone got photos or videos of the falls being heavier than this?”

Any wonder the Memorial Park run-off dumped storm-water into Toddlers pool & across the Pool deck!

POOL TEMPERATURES

Sun 10/01/2010 11AM air=28.0C WATER=25.2C

Sat 09/01/2010 11AM air=24.3C WATER=24.0C
Fri 08/01/2010 air=13.0-24.0C WATER=25.9C
Thu 07/01/2010 air=13.9-18.4C WATER=24.0C
Wed 06/01/2010 air=15.6-26.3C WATER=25.3C
Tue 05/01/2010 air=13.2-28.1C
Mon 04/01/2010 air=11.7-19.0C

Sun 03/01/2010 air=13.5-16.8C
Sat 02/01/2010 air=16.2-24.9C WATER=22.9C
Fri 01/01/2010 New Years Day air=15.6-19.0C WATER=23.1C

Thu 31/12/2009 New Years Eve air=13.1-21.7C
Wed 30/12/2009 air=10.1-20.6C WATER=23.4C
Tue 29/12/2009 air=12.7-22.6C WATER=23.1C
Mon 28/12/2009 air=14.7-21.1C WATER=22.4C

Sun 27/12/2009 air=13.0-19.5C WATER=22.6C
Sat 26/12/2009 Boxing Day air=11.9-15.3C WATER=22.7C
Fri 25/12/2009 Xmas Day air=18.8-21.5C [Pool closed]
Wed 23/12/2009 air=17.0-29.9C WATER=25.5C
Thu 24/12/2009 air=17.7-30.2C WATER=25.1C
Tue 22/12/2009 air=15.0-27.8C WATER=24.7C
Mon 21/12/2009 air=11.8-25.7C WATER=24.5C

Sun 20/12/2009 air=11.0-19.3C WATER=23.3C
Sat 19/12/2009 air=9.2-26.2C WATER=25.3C
Fri 18/12/2009 air=14.1-18.5C WATER=24.5C
Thu 17/12/2009 air=19.1-33.2C WATER=26.9C
Wed 16/12/2009 air=13.3-30.9C WATER=25.9C
Tue 15-Dec-2009 air=13-21.0C WATER=22.0C
Mon 14-Dec-2009 air=13.0-18.9C WATER=23.3C

Sun 13-Dec-2009 air=12.6-28.5C
Sat 12-Dec-2009 air=8.4-25.1C
Fri 11-Dec-2009 air=9.0-20.3C
Thu 10-Dec-2009 air=11.8-27.1C
Wed 09-Dec-2009 air=9.8-23.1C
Tue 08-Dec-09 8:30am air=19.7C WATER=24.0C
Mon 07-Dec-09 9:00am air =20.0C WATER=23.0C

Sun 06-Dec-2009 air=10.6-25.0C
Sat 05-Dec-2009 air=9.8-24.5C
Fri 04-Dec-2009 air=13.9-27.0C
Thu 03-Dec-2009 air=6.5-24.9C
Wed 02-Dec-2009 air=5.6-16.7C
Tue 01-Dec-2009 air=4.7-15.6C


Mon 30-Nov-2009 air=8.8-14.7C
Sun 29-Nov-2009 air=12.6-20.2C
OPENING DAY Sat 28-Nov-09 1:00pm air=28.2 WATER=24.5