Changes to swimming booking system at local pools

AFTER feedback from early morning swimmers, Wollongong City Council has ‘fine-tuned’ its summer pools booking system.

Swimmers at the three northern suburbs’ patrolled pools at Helensburgh, Thirroul and Corrimal have had to take a ticket under new rules imposed in October to manage the challenges of the Covid pandemic and to help support social distancing, meet NSW Health guidelines and provide fair access across the busy summer period.

After feedback from regular early-morning swimmers the Council has introduced one-hour sessions for 6am, 7am and 8am during weekdays and weekends. This is in addition to the two-hour blocks that are bookable from 9am, seven days a week.

Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery has thanked the regular swimmers who have offered feedback on ways the booking system could be streamlined and improved.

“This will be an ongoing process over the summer period and we will tweak and refine it to best meet the needs of our pool users and in consideration of public safety’’ he said.

“COVID-19 has presented us with many challenges this year and our focus has been on supporting and caring for our staff and their families, and our community.”

Cr Bradbery said the introduction of the ‘Bookmyswim’ initiative as a way to support equitable access to popular pools for summer, and the introduction of one-hour slots in the morning will facilitate the use of pools by lap swimmers.

The preferred and easiest way to book a swim is to visit www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/bookmyswim. You’ll need to provide your contact details, in line with NSW Health requirements. Alternatively, you can call our customer service team during business hours on 4227 7111. On weekends a limited service is available by calling 0447 789 493 for assistance with making or cancelling a booking.

Bookings will become available for the upcoming week every Monday, with no booking fees for any reservation. Pool fees will still be in place at Corrimal and Dapto Heated Pool, with no changes to free entry for the remaining pools.

“It’s important to remember to cancel bookings if you’re not able to make it to the pool,’’ Cr Bradbery said.

“As we don’t want people repeatedly making bookings and not attending – and stopping others’ from having a swim – we have put a plan in place to block those who make reservations and don’t attend.’’

Cr Bradbery said family and group reservations can be made as long as there are sufficient spaces available in the timeslot you want to visit, and all group members enter the pool together and comply with any public health order requirements around gatherings.

Spectators who may only be supervising swimmers are welcome at our pools and are also required to book as they count towards a facility’s total capacity.

Pool users are required to leave the pool 15 minutes before the end of their booking to allow for cleaning to take place before the next session begins.

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