Established in 1887 and one of the main stops along the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk, Bronte Pool is a treasured destination in the Waverley LGA for residents and visitors alike and is one of Sydney’s most-loved ocean pools.

The Bronte Park and Beach Plan of Management, that was adopted by Council in July 2017, identified the vulnerability of the pool infrastructure to storm and extreme weather damage, along with safety issues for staff accessing the pumphouse. Part 6 of the PoM requires that facilities be well-maintained across Bronte Park and Beach. This necessitated a review of the pump location, as well as the overall operation of the system to reduce maintenance requirements and improve serviceability.

Council has undertaken a series of upgrades in recent years to the Bronte pool pump and pumphouse. In December 2021, an assessment and report by a specialist pump consultancy identified that these upgrades have significantly improved the operation of the pump and pool water quality. However, this assessment also identified that future upgrades and/or replacements would not address the long-term structural issues with the pumphouse; would not adequately improve pump performance (especially during low tides); and would not address the difficulties with long lead times and obtaining replacement parts for the current pump system.

At the 1 November 2022 meeting of the Finance, Operations and Community Services Committee, it was agreed to proceed with upgrading the pumphouse and replacing the pump.

Waverley Council is committed to keeping the community's assets in a safe and functional condition so they can be enjoyed currently and into the future.

There are several issues facing the long-term viability of Bronte Ocean Pool:

• The current pool lining is compromised and cannot be salvaged by spot fixing
• The pumphouse is at the end of its serviceable life
• The pump is not fit for purpose and has long lead times for replacement parts, resulting in pool closures
• The stairs leading to the pumphouse are unsafe

The Bronte Park and Beach Plan of Management, that was adopted by Council in July 2017, identified the vulnerability of the pool infrastructure to storm and extreme weather damage, along with safety issues for staff accessing the pumphouse. Part 6 of the PoM requires that facilities be well-maintained across Bronte Park and Beach.

There are two stages to the planned Bronte Ocean Pool Upgrades.

Stage 1

In regards to the pool lining, Council will be removing what is currently in place and grinding the original concrete lining to make it a smoother, non-slip surface. This work took place during Winter 2024, during which time the pool was closed.

Stage 2

To improve safety, pool water quality and avoid frequent and long pool closures, Council engaged an expert ocean pool consultancy to devise a new plan for the pool infrastructure, which includes:

• replacing the existing pumphouse (which is approaching the end of its serviceable life)
• installing a new, best-practice water pump with filters and strainers that prevent blockages from debris and seaweed
• rebuilding and re-positioning the stairs leading to and from the pumphouse

The pumphouse, pump and stair work will likely take place in Winter 2026, during which time the pool will be closed.