COTTESLOE OCEAN POOL

Proposal for Initial Assessment 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPTION 2

Rev B 

 

 

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COTTESLOE OCEAN POOL 1.0 INTRODUCTION : In January 2017, Saleeba Adams Architects proposed a concept for an ocean pool to be constructed on the South side of the existing groyne at Cottesloe beach. This proposal consisted of a dedicated 50m pool plus a large kids pool and followed an earlier, similar proposal first presented privately by us to Council in 2014. We went public with the 2017 proposal and attracted enormous interest from the local press, the West Australian and also local television who all saw in it an exciting beach attraction and facility for Cottesloe. Extensive presentations were also made to the Town of Cottesloe with the expectation that the idea would form part of the long muted Cottesloe Foreshore Upgrade. Unfortunately this has not been the case initially, however the purpose of this proposal is to bring the idea back to centre stage as a primary goal in the beachside attractions which Cottesloe can offer. We see the clarification and definition of the technical aspects and consequent project design refinement as this next critical phase in advancing this idea. Other beach pools (Leighton and North Cottesloe) have been proposed, on sand beaches and on coastal dunes without any understanding of the necessity of coastal structures to be founded on geologically solid formations. This is the only location which fulfils this fundamental criteria as well as being ideally located on a popular and accessible metropolitan beach. We believe that once these project fundamentals are fully understood further support will grow and the project can then advance into the inevitable approval and funding stages.

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Icebergs at Bondi is an iconic and highly popular ocean pool facility and is used in all promotions for Sydney as a tourist destination.

Screen shot Tourism Australia Website This Cottesloe pool has the potential to easily match and frankly exceed this appeal for Perth's coastal image and tourism promotion.

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2.0 WHY AN OCEAN POOL ? : The great attraction of a true ocean pool is that it is complimentary to the ocean environment and yet offers a safe and readily accessible ocean experience for toddlers, kids and adults alike. Unlike the Scarborough concept - an enclosed chlorine pool, located near to but in competition with the beach - this proposal allows an ocean water swimming experience, directly adjacent to and open to the waves, the sound and the open ocean aspect which is the essence of the beach experience. 2.1 Sharks : People still love the beach experience but the unfortunate reality of sharks has had a profound impact on the swimming culture. People rarely venture too far into the water and parents are constantly concerned for their children. A shark alarm was once a rarity in disturbing a carefree day at the beach, but the steady increase in shark numbers has resulted in almost daily sightings and alarms at local beaches as is shown on the SharkSmart WA website for the 30 days to 14 November 2017.

An alarm means everyone out of the water, nippers cancelled, people leave the beach as there is no safe alternative. This is not the type of beach experience we want for our children. Even worse would be another fatality without some action to provide a safe alternative.

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Obviously an ocean pool experience as proposed has enormous appeal as a safe, salt water swimming environment where kids can play and adults can train free from any such concerns. Similarly this appeal resonates strongly with visitors and tourists who are well aware of W.A.'s reputation regarding sharks. 2.2 Therapeutic Swimming : Salt water bathing has for millennia been credited with therapeutic benefit and one should not underestimate the number of people who swim for health and fitness. From early morning swimmers, through water aerobics and maternity swimming, to disabled swimmers the benefits are great and the ocean pool is a perfect facility to encourage and provide for these uses. 2.2 Swimming Lessons : Cottesloe's attraction as location for swimming classes has dramatically waned over the years. An ocean pool offers a perfect facility to see kids and organised school lessons blossom. 2.3 Training : Many people swim for fitness and / or train for special events. A 50m ocean pool offers an ideal facility in complete safety for this use. 2.4 Surf Club : The Cottesloe Surf Lifesaving Club is located in very close proximity to this pool location and will find many uses to compliment their 'nipper' and other surf club programs. The Club has already endorsed and supports the idea of an ocean pool. 2.5 Sports : Water Polo and other aquatic sports would develop with the right ocean pool facilities. As well as providing a venue for such activity these sports attract spectators adding to the vitality of the beach.

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2.6 Tourists : As is proven at Bondi visitors love the concept of an ocean pool as a safe beachfront swimming environment.

As well as providing a popular aquatic facility a pool in this location will be hugely photogenic and become an iconic beachfront image for Cottesloe and W.A. As with Iceberg's in Sydney this pool will inevitably become a feature of W.A. tourism promotions. 2.7 All Season and All Day : A pool environment offers a safe and calm aquatic experience even when waves are 'up' or when the sea breeze blows. This 'chop' free environment can profoundly extend the usable day or season for beach users. Another idea is to use the underground geothermal capacity in this location for pool heating which could significantly extend the use. This would be the subject of a later study.

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3.0 WHY THIS

OCEAN POOL PROPOSAL :

This proposal provides the full range of required facilities in a convenient location directly adjacent to the most popular area of Cottesloe beach Proposed facilities include:

• 50m x 8 lane lap pool • Widened area for adult recreational / therapeutic swimming (with possible

infinity edge) • large dedicated kids pool. (approx 21 x 10.5m) • Tiered seating • Control building (access control, lifesaving, kiosk, lockers, toilets) • Disabled access at grade directly off the path

No other proposal offers this comprehensive range of facilities.

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Being located on the natural rock shelf to the south of the groyne (and upon which the groyne itself is built) ensures a geologically stable formation and ensures the access level is directly at grade with the existing pathway. This location also ensures no loss of existing beach and no restriction to existing groyne access. It will also ensure disability access directly from the path as well as service access via this road / path when required. There is no impact on board surfing or popular swimming areas of the beach, but the pools location adjacent to the most popular part of the beach will ensure its popularity and complimentary use. Other consideration in developing this proposal include: 3.1 Safety

A dedicated and centrally located control building will offer a perfect base for life saving and control personnel. 3.2 Coastal and Marine Impacts

The location on a natural rock shelf and adjoining the groyne is a fundamentally sound coastal location which will not impact on the existing beach or induce any littoral drift or other negative coastal impact. The structure is also designed well in from the outer edge of the rock shelf thus ensuring that major swells are first impacted on the natural rock edge with the wall taking secondary impact. The drop off on the existing rock shelf will also ensure minimal sand impact and will allow pool water intake in deeper clean water free from sand which would otherwise increase maintenance issues. Longer term impact of possible sea level rise is considered and design level will be established to cater for such impact. It is perhaps not appreciated that such impact is best addressed with a built structure as open beaches are estimated to be impacted approx 10 meters horizontally for every 100mm rise is sea level. Also whilst all of Cottesloe coastline is subject to inclusion in a Marine Park this area of limestone reef is large enough to allow us to confine construction to the level shelf (which has minimal marine growth) whilst preserving the shelf edge which is the more important marine habitate.

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Similarly this proposed location is attached to the existing main groyne which is already built on this section of reef thus limiting impact on the whole southern reef system.

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3.3 Fencing

Out of use and night security requirement is a requirement for pools safety and this facility can be fenced as shown without any impact on the beach, groyne or pedestrian access. This is an important consideration which is not possible at other locations.

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3.4 Mudurup Rocks Heritage

As is shown on the accompanying extract from the State Heritage Office, Mudurup Rocks has no statutory Heritage Listing but is listed on the Municipal Inventory as a Category 4 site with 'integrity compromised.' This classification does not preclude further development (groyne, sundial, surf club have been built on the site) but nevertheless this pool proposal has been developed adjoining the groyne and with minimal impact on the natural cliff face which forms part of the Mudurup Rocks site. This design approach is thus respectful of the Mudurup heritage site.

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3.5 Access Apart from ideal pedestrian access for beach users and at grade disability access this proposed location also has existing road access for construction and servicing requirements thus allowing good access for deliveries, emergency vehicles and disabled access directly to the pool area. 3.6 Complimentary to Existing Beach This location is directly accessible from & complimentary to the main & busiest part of Cottesloe beach. Similarly activity in this location is complimentary to the existing primary commercial zone, transport & infrastructure of the main Cottesloe beachfront strip

3.7 Minimal Operating Cost Ocean pools circulate fresh ocean water thus avoiding major treatment plant , chemical and ongoing costs. The only cost associate with water treatment is power cost for any intake pumping. By virtue of its location these pumping costs will be minimal with very little associated 'head' to lift the water. Contrast this with other pool proposals which are elevated substantially above sea level - requiring much larger pressure pumps, 'head' pressure on equipment & significant power costs. Compare this with Icebergs at Bondi which utilises tides to supplement draining and filling the pool so at to minimize pumping costs - this pool is in a similar relationship with the sea and similarly able to minimize such operating cost. 3.8 Technical This proposal is entirely feasible from a marine engineering perspective & the location is subject to less extremes than the Bondi location of Icebergs which was built in 1887. M.P. Rogers & Associates Pty Ltd a world class consulting coastal engineering firm have been retained to provide advice on all oceanographic issues such as ideal levels for sea level rise, wave overtopping, sea wall design etc.

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3.9 A True Ocean Pool Of the other mooted proposals, this is the only true ocean pool - one which allows an ocean water swimming experience, directly adjacent to and open to the waves, the sound and the open ocean aspect which is the essence of the beach experience. Compare this with the North Cottesloe proposal which is divorced from the ocean and fenced from the beach. Similarly the north of the groyne proposal, whilst in the ocean, wraps a rock groyne right around so as equate to swimming in a dam or quarry, completely divorced from the open aspect and ocean horizon. We believe these above reasons are compelling in establishing this proposal as the obvious and superior ocean pool proposal.

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