Community feedback drives Newcastle Ocean Baths upgrade

The City of Newcastle Council has advised of the progress of its plans for the final stage redevelopment of the Newcastle Ocean Baths following feedback from the community.

The Council says a comprehensive engagement campaign conducted between 17th June and 5th August last year generated significant interest, with the community engaging with project information almost half a million times.

Following a recent workshop to bring newly elected Councillors up to speed on this priority project, Council has published the outcomes of these community engagement activities on its website.

Acknowledged the importance of the Ocean Baths, City of Newcastle Chief Executive, Jeremy Bath, advised today “the Baths are a much-loved heritage icon for our city, with so many memories created and celebrated by both residents and visitors, making community engagement on the site integral to its upgrade.”

The concept plans incorporate the revitalisation of the pavilion buildings including the Art Deco façade, while also enhancing the upper promenade and surrounding areas.

Council Executive Director City Infrastructure, Clint Thomson, reflected on the value of the feedback provided by a broad cross section of the local community, adding “the community feedback we received included a broad range of views on the proposed design, with themes of interest including provision of seating and shade, the layout of change rooms, and calls for both changes to and support of the proposed roof design.

“The detailed design phase will explore the results of this consultation in combination with technical studies, to inform how, what, and where refinements and enhancements can be facilitated.

“Our team is exploring a north - south split within changerooms in the northern pavilion building following feedback from the community about the proposed east - west layout, as well as ways to incorporate natural lighting and ventilation through the roof space of the changerooms.”

Prepared by Principal Design Consultant, Tonkin Zulaikha Greer, the Council says the design continues to be informed by community engagement and feedback as well as industry leading heritage expertise, with input from environment, engineering and architecture professionals.

The baths site is protected as a heritage item of local significance by the Newcastle Local Environmental Plan 2012 in accordance with the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979.

The Council says that the design for both stages of the upgrade takes this, and the requirements of a possible State Heritage Listing, into account.

Following revisions to the design based on the engagement campaign, Council will seek planning approval through a development application process, which includes Heritage NSW. This will be followed by detailed design for Stage Two, with the aim of having the project tendered and construction commenced within the current Council term.

Thomson went on to say “it’s been just over a year since the pool re-opened for swimming following the Stage One upgrade, and since the peak holiday period has passed, it’s now time to take a closer look at the pool to see how it has fared in its first year.

“On Monday 24 February our team will close and drain the Baths, and use machinery to move large volumes of sand that has built up to enable inspection of the pool floor and walls.

“While we are there, we will also take the opportunity to complete a deep clean of the Baths to maintain water quality for swimmers in the months ahead.”

The Baths are expected to be closed for up to a week, depending on weather conditions.

Click here to view the Engagement Report. 

Main image courtesy of Brendan Somerville/Shutterstock. Other images show concepts for the final stage redevelopment of the Newcastle Ocean Baths. Criedit: City of Newcastle.