Ian hopes for another 30 years of swimming after tidal pool reopens
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Ian Jones, the unofficial guardian of Forty Baskets Tidal Pool in Balgowlah, is planning on another 30 years of daily laps in the recently reopened tidal pool.
Ian was officially the first swimmer after the major refurbishment, slipping in as the contractor removed the fences.
“I swim up and back 12 times every day of the year,” said 69-year-old Ian from his home in Balgowlah.
“It’s been my daily routine for 30 years and I hope I can do it for at least another 30. I don’t let a bit of cold weather get in the way of a swim, I just wear my cap and my budgie smugglers.”
Ian started his daily habit at 41 years of age, when a doctor diagnosed him as being only four years away from a heart attack. At the time he was a busy accountant and workaholic and the news of his bad health changed his life. Now working from a home office, he is close to his beloved pool and has a very healthy heart.
Ian is the Treasurer of the North Harbour Community Group, the group behind the community-led push to refurbish the ageing pool.
The Community Group has praised Council staff for the professionalism of the build team and contractors and have noted that the community and visitors have nothing but praise for the new pool.
Designed with the past and future in mind, the new pool is built with materials of a heritage appearance that are also low maintenance and durable.
The popular tidal pool was originally constructed in 1962 for Manly Council at a cost of £5976. It was damaged and repaired in 1974 after the huge storm, Sygna, that destroyed the pools and recreation area adjoining Manly Wharf. It was last refurbished in 1993-94.
Protection of the environment and endangered marine vegetation and sea life, including sea horses, sea dragons, pipe horses, ghost pipe fish and sea moths, were central to the new design and rebuild.
Together, the community who shared it’s feedback on the rebuild, Council who managed the projects, and Transport for NSW who provided grant funding, we were able to:
Replace timber piles with more durable materialsReplace timber rails framing the pool with suitable materials that maintain the heritage aestheticReplace timber access stairs and tidal stepsReplace shark bars with a polyfibre sea net to enclose the poolThe Tidal Pool Renewal Project work was carried out under strict environmental control, including seagrass mapping, sea horse relocation and protection of other marine life, and in accordance with the conditions set by state agencies.