Learn to swim this summer

new activities THIS SUMMER

Tai Chi Saturday 10am starts 5th January for 5 weeks (excluding 26th)

Boot Camp Monday & Friday 5.30pm-6.30pm starts 1st February

...and Aquarobics is back  - starts Wednesday 5.15pm 30th January

TO BOOK call The Pool (02) 4787 8018

THREE DAYS to go :)

OPENING DAY 

entry 

FREE of CHARGE

WIN a *Blackheath Pool SEASON PASS*

 

 WIN a *Blackheath Pool SEASON PASS* (Free entry, valid all summer) drawn 01-December-12

Pop an entry form into two competition boxes currently at:
a) BANC reception counter;
b) BOOSH After School & Vacation Care sign-in counter
c) Watsons Hardware
d) Blackheath 5-STAR SUPERMARKET, Govetts Leap Rd

Over the next three weeks we plan to move the boxes around town to allow as many people as possible a chance to enter :)


Others located around town TBA :)

Blackheath Major Snow Fall Event Summary - 12 Oct 2012

Thanx to MasterNASA1's channel

Stronger Families Alliance

Happy, healthy children and families are the backbone of our communities.

The Stronger Families Alliance is a ground-breaking network of government, non-profit and voluntary organisations working together to bring friendship, fun and professional support to families across the Blue Mountains.

http://www.strongerfamilies.co/index.html

For information about the different ways to become involved in the Stronger Families Alliance main group, sub-groups or activities contact the Stronger Families Alliance Collaboration Convener. 

Ward 1 results

NSW Electoral Commission has Robert Stock (Ind) clearly in the lead for the first of three spots representing Ward 1 on the new Blue Mountains City Council.  At this time it looks like Liberal Michael Begg is also elected; and third place will go to either Don McGregor (Lab) or Brent Hoare (Grn) dependent on preferences, pre-poll votes & postal votes.
For a full breakdown of results see the electoral Commission website http://www.votensw.info/blue-mountains-city-council/first-ward

The Pool & BMCC election

Thank you to all involved in this momentous outcome - ALL candidates on public record supporting Blackheath Pool!

contrary to rumour Blackheath Pool is well used

@Tip of the iceberg: a note on Pool patronage - contrary to rumour Blackheath Pool is well used. See our many blog posts on the matter, for example “crowds flock to Pool for OzDay” http://ow.ly/ciS5v and “New Years Day attendance topped 600” http://ow.ly/ciSib
This is text of a comment posted by Friendsof Blackheath Pool & Memorial Park, 18/07/2012 4:53:22 AM, on Blue Mountains Gazette website

water's warmer than you think

It's NOT COLD. 

It's always warmer than Bondi surf in summer.

This is an unexpected consequence of the new smaller half-Olympic lap pool - which replaced the former, much bigger full Olympic – it’s shorter by half & shallower.

Smaller body of water warms faster & retains warmth.

Blackheath Pool: summer swimming since 1931: temps

in the UK press

"My other favourite destination is the Blue Mountains. In colonial times, Sydney’s wealthier citizens flocked to mountains to escape the summer heat. Their grand Edwardian hotels and dinky Home Counties-style cottages can still be seen in Katoomba, Blackheath and Leura." Mark Chipperfield, The Telegraph 4:56PM BST 17 May 2012

Drainage works begin

BMCC has begun work on the very wet lawns above the swimming pool. It will look a mess for a little while, but be worth it in long-run.  

Thanks to Daniel Long, BMCC Program Leader, Operations for organising work. He notes "Whilst doing the works we encountered a phenomenal amount of groundwater and in order to try and drain the water into an open channel have created a series of trenches.  We intend to run drainage lines in these trenches before backfilling with a suitable material."

Final day of the season

Final day of the season

Blackheath Pool Sunday 01-Apr-2012

thanx to both model & phographer

see her online Blipfoto collection at

http://www.blipfoto.com/entry/1872059 

water & air both 20°C++ at 2:30PM :) 

end of season Celebration Brunch on Sunday 1st April

Join us for Blackheath Pool end of season Celebration Brunch 
from 11AM on Sunday 01-April-2012.  

Please bring a plate to share, friends & family, togs, Sunday papers for a relaxed morning by The Pool, brunch & a swim. 

It may not have been a great summer, but our Pool is a venerable 80 years old, so let’s celebrate! (Pool Pavilion will be available if wet)

Pool hours 9:30AM to 6:30PM every day, up to & including Sunday 1 April 2012.

The return of the local

The return of the local: Two new[ish] books look at the places where social ecologies take root and flourish, writes Ian McShane in InsideStory (21 June 2011)
http://inside.org.au/the-return-of-the-local
Book review of The Australian Pub by Diane Kirkby, Tanja Luckins and Chris McConville UNSW Press | $49.95  and  Community: Building Modern Australia edited by Hannah Lewi and David Nichols UNSW Press | $59.95

after the Hailstorm in Katooomba

Katoomba Sports and Aquatic Centre has sustained significant damage in recent storms and is closed at the moment.  Certain areas of the Centre will reopen on Wednesday, 15 February 2012

Pool area will open as normal
Fitness Centre & Group Fitness will be open
Unfortunately there will be no child minding available
Kids Kingdom, Tumbling and Sports Courts are closed until further notice

Hailstorms pummel Blue Mountains
ABC Online
Residents of Katoomba and Blackheath in the Blue Mountains described it as a wild scene...

INCREASED ACCESS TO THE POOL

As many know there is a gently inclined ramp access at one end of the Leisure Pool. Now there is also an aquatic 'Platypus' wheelchair available at The Pool - just ask Lifeguards if you'd like to use it.

'Quiet Carriage'? Yes please!

"Quiet Carriage" on BM line - please bring it on ASAP!! Have already designed stickers in anticipation of guerilla campaign - CityRail welcome to them gratis :)
Established gmail account too - shame can't use it :(

Ministerial Press Release: http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/all-aboard-and-quiet-please

Spring 1963

...when The Pool was a mere 40 y.o. baby :)


Courtesy of Blue Mountains City Library Local Studies Collection

***BLACKHEATH POOL feedback: CUSTOMER SERVICE QUALITY SURVEY

Please help BM Leisure Centres assess your satisfaction with services provided at Blackheath Pool by filling in an on-line questionnaire.  BM Leisure Centres would like your quick impressions, and it should take no more than 10 minutes to complete the questionnaire.

Access the questionnaire here:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Bluemountainsoutdoorpools2012

The Survey is open from 06-Feb-12 until 24-Feb-12
Your answers will be anonymous and confidential.

Please encourage others to provide feedback too.

"Bubbles & a good lie down"

Blackheath in the news: "Bubbles & a good lie down" SMH Travel Sun 05-Feb-2012
"With a spa to soak in and chaise longue to fall asleep on, Natalie O'Brien and family find their perfect match.  It is the huge outdoor spa that really attracts my attention..."

Pool & Park brief mention on 'By Design'

Blackheath Pool & Memorial Park enjoyed(s) brief mention on Radio National's revamped BY DESIGN program with Fenella Kernebone... our comment on their first show last week AND comment by producer, writer & ideas curator Janne Ryan in yesterday's edition of the show.
Hitting the national stage!

Memorial Park - NSW Office of Environment & Heritage

Historical significance of Blackheath Memorial Park is documented on the NSW Office of Environment & Heritage database.

The database Statement of Significance is:
"Blackheath Memorial Park has a high degree of historic, social and aesthetic value and has been an important site in the development of the Blackheath township since the late 1860s. It has supported dams, essential in the establishment of the railway through the township, has been a golf course and since the early 1920s has provided the largest, most central and best designed reserve grounds for the local community."

Bh023 : Memorial Park listing
Bh184 : Blackheath Memorial Park War Memorial Steps listing
Bh185 : Blackheath Memorial Park Gates listing
Bh186 : Blackheath Memorial Park Pool Pavilion listing

Visitors Book

Look out for our new BLACKHEATH POOL VISTORS BOOK - hoping to collect memories of past times at The Pool, as well as current thoughts & suggestions...

We invite you to record your thoughts about The Pool, especially if you have memories of good times at The Pool, we would love you to record them.  All comments, suggestions & thoughts most welcome.

Yes, this is a hard-copy book! Will be housed at entry/reception area of The Ambulance Station at The Pool, for your hand-written pleasure :)

Five-Star Water Safety Rating

Congratulations to BM Leisure Centres for becoming five-star water safety partners last month. This is an important tick of approval for all five BM pools granted by Royal Life Saving Society.

Blue Mountains City Council centres at Katoomba, Lawson, Springwood, Glenbrook and Blackheath all earned the safety rating after the Royal Life Saving Society conducted safety audits of facilities. Centres passed with flying colours meeting compulsory and stringent safety benchmarks.

Great work management & staff.

once upon a time in America :)

don't forget your DAY PASS **available Blackheath ONLY**