Mayor welcomes the opening of outdoor pools

Monday 20 September 2021

Inner West Mayor Rochelle Porteous has welcomed the news that the NSW Government will allow all outdoor pools to reopen.

At last week’s Council Meeting, Councillors had unanimously resolved to write to the NSW Premier and Health Minister requesting the Public Health Order be urgently amended to allow for all outdoor pools to re-open.

Yesterday, Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced that outdoor pools across the state will be able to open again from 12.01am on Monday September 27.

“Inner West Council residents are luckier than many other Sydneysiders in that we already did have a pool open – Dawn Fraser Baths in Balmain,” said Mayor Porteous.

DFB was reopened in early September after successful lobbying from Inner West Council.

“But we actually have five aquatics centres, and four of those have outdoor pools,” said Mayor Porteous.

“Opening these to our community will significantly improve wellbeing and services can be managed in a safe and professional way.

“I thank the NSW Premier and Health Minister for amending the Public Health Order to allow for all outdoor pools to re-open,” Mayor Porteous said.

Council’s outdoor pools at Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre and Ashfield Aquatic Centre will reopen as soon as possible in line with the Public Health Order, Monday 27 September.

“Ashfield Aquatic Centre currently is in use by NSW Health but there shouldn’t be any impediment to reopening Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre outdoor pool,” said Mayor Porteous.

Opening dates and all other information will be on Council’s website innerwest.nsw.gov.au and Aquatics page innerwest.nsw.gov.au/Aquatics.

Fanny Durack Aquatic Centre will reopen for the summer season as usual on 1 October.

Annette Kellerman Aquatic Centre does not have an outdoor pool.

For media enquiries, contact Elizabeth Heath, Media and Communications Coordinator, 9392 5334 or Elizabeth.Heath@innerwest.nsw.gov.au