#weloveBlackheathPool

POOL OPENS RHODO DAY :)

POOL season will extend if weather's hot in March

As many will recall, last summer the Pool closed in the midst of a heat wave!!!  The closure was as planned & scheduled, but it seemed illogical at the time.
There was understandable uproar from the local community.

BMCC has decided to allow the option for season extension in hot weather.
We were represented at the Council meeting of 13-Dec-2016 by FoBP&MP's convener Jennifer Kelly.

This report courtesy of local newspaper the Blue Mountains Gazette:

[Jennifer Kelly] told the council meeting of December 13 that residents were in an “uproar” when the pool shut on the first weekend in March as scheduled, as temperatures soared into the high twenties.

“In February this year, it was very hot and it was so hot that all of Blackheath was down at Blackheath pool,” she said.

“The weather continued into March but the pool didn’t and the uproar was enormous with people unable to understand why you would close a pool when it was so hot,” Ms Kelly added.

Historically, March has very low attendance at the pool, which is why the decision was made to bring the season forward in 2016. As well, staff employment contracts finished so it was not just a matter of continuing for a few more weeks or opening on hot days.

Councillors agreed to the potential extension at the only unheated pool in the Mountains.

Ward 1 Cr Kerry Brown said it was a good decision “for the comfort of Blackheatheans ...the pool is a great asset and the more we are able to have it open, the greater the possibility is to increase the use.”

Blue Mountains Gazette story in full here 

OPENING DAY 2016 FREE ENTRY

The Pool opens on Rhodo Parade Day Saturday 05 Nov 2016, with free entry 


Thereafter...
Weekday opening: 7:00am to 6:30pm 
Weekend opening: 9:30am to 6:30pm



More info - https://www.facebook.com/events/346820402336708

solar @ Blackheath Pool

Friends of Blackheath Pool & Memorial Park has recently applied to the 2016 of SUEZ Community Grants for initial funding to begin a project to bring solar energy to Blackheath Pool.
SUEZ grants byline is "creating a sustainable future".

Our end goal is to render Blackheath Pool complex completely energy self-sufficient.

Our application seeks to fund a preliminary feasibility study.

With recent advances in solar technology, both increasing efficiency of energy conversion, and reduction in cost & size of solar collectors, we hope to be able to find a suitable solution. 

We made mention not only of heating of Pool swimming water, but also the electrical power used by the filtration plant & circulation system.  The second being by far the greatest cost barrier to keeping The Pool open for longer seasons.

Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre (BANC) kindly agreed to auspice our application, which made the whole process much smoother.

We also received a very supportive letter from Member for Blue Mountains Trish Doyle.

BMCC's Blue Mountains Leisure Centres management - who run all our pools - have also been very supportive when the topic has been discussed.  And the incoming Rhododendron Festival Committee has also expressed support.

We'll keep you posted on developments.

#PAD2016, our third annual community clean-up day in Blackheath Soldiers Memorial Park

https://www.flickr.com/photos/trisharooni/sets/72157664816757529/with/24916110134/

BANC Spring newsletter

Rhodo Festival brochure 2015

missing bins

Late last week the bins were removed from The Park!  We're looking into it...

FREE ENTRY THIS SATURDAY

Blackheath Pool celebrates the start of the 2013/14 swimming season with FREE ENTRY for Opening Day
10:00am - 2:00pm Saturday 30th November

With the HOT DAY predicted today (Thursday) the water will get nice & warm, and will retain its warmth until Saturday, but yes, weather not looking so promising for Opening Day. But it's free entry from 10AM so pop down & check it out. 

Regular hours: 9:30AM to 6:30PM every day (except Xmas Day)

http://www.bmleisurecentres.com.au/centres-/blackheath-pool

POOL PARK ACTION DAY

your RSVP appreciated for planning purposes to either: ParkCareTeam@gmail.com OR Facebook http://ow.ly/qlsVo

Sunday 17th November 9 to Noon
meet at DuckPond BBQ area
BYO gardening tools & drinks for lunch
wear your gardening gear
followed by FREE LUNCH!!

we go ahead rain, hail, flood, fire or tsunami ;)

-a Blackheath Community Alliance event-
Supporting the ParkCare Team: volunteers caring for Blackheath Memorial Park. 

Alliance members include: Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre (BANC); Blackheath Chamber of Commerce & Community; Blackheath Community Centre Committee; Blackheath Croquet Club; Blackheath & District Horticultural Society; Blackheath Highway Action Group (BAG); Blackheath Public School Council; Blackheath & Mt Victoria Rural Fire Service; Blackheath Quota; Blackheath Scouts; Blackheath RSL; Blackheath Streetscape Group; Blue Mountains Rhododendron Society; Friends of Blackheath Pool & Memorial Park; Medlow Bath Residents Association; Phoenix Choir; Popes Glen Bushcare Group; Rhododendron Festival Committee; Rotary Blackheath; Rotary Upper Blue Mountains Sunrise.

Memorial Park HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE

Blackheath Memorial Park listing on Australian Heritage Council database http://www.ahc.gov.au/cgi-bin/register/site.pl?102234 

Blackheath Memorial Park listing on NSW Office of Environment & Heritage register http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=1172041

CHALLENGE: MAKE IT 10,000 SUMMER VISITS

Here’s a challenge folks... we’re nigh on 10,000 individual visits to Blackheath Pool this summer – we need just another 300 visits across the final days of the season to reach the target!

C’mon everyone bring your friends, bring your family... the weather’s ideal - enjoy Easter at the Pool & we can reach the target :)
Pool’s open until 6PM Sunday 07 April.

Swim Now!

aerial view "swimming basin" c.1926

aerial view of Memorial Park & "swimming basin", 1926. Looking north-east from 'Frog Hollow' - C. A. Wadson collection

[scanned 2010 from original 1970s Rotary Blackheath history book, held in collection of Blackheath branch library]

Swimming pools - Shoalhaven City Council

If you're down the South Coast over the holidays you might like to checkout 
Swimming pools - Shoalhaven City Council