When most people think of Sydney, they think of the opera house and the bridge. But the city’s lesser-known claim to fame is its ocean pools – it has more than any other city in the world, with 35 of them. But is the collection in danger of fading away?

We contacted some locals to get their thoughts about these venerable swimming spots. They overwhelmingly supported their preservation. But a few had reservations, ranging from the practical to the ethical. The most common concern is the cost. In a city where home ownership is the norm, it’s difficult to justify spending public funds on a pool that will not be used for the majority of the year.

Despite the low-key nature of their use, the pools are popular with residents and visitors. “They have a lot of heart and soul,” said Chris Bowden, 39, a television graphic designer. “The kids love them, and it’s a nice way to spend the day.” The pool is a short walk from his family’s home in the heart of Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

But he worries about the long-term future of the pools, especially given the rising costs of maintaining them. And he doesn’t want to see them lose their “old-school charm.” The most comprehensive online resource on the pools seems to be a dissertation by a university student that covers their environmental and cultural history, along with a Flickr account. But neither has been updated in some time.

Another lingering issue is the question of whether to allow women and children into the men-only pools. While the majority of swimmers are male, there is an increasing presence of Muslim women in scarves and elderly females. “The pools are a symbol of a past era and it’s a shame that they can’t be kept for the future,” said one woman, who wished to remain anonymous.

The village of Jackson Center is still unsure whether it will open the pool this summer because of a staffing shortage. A meeting to discuss the matter is scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m. at the JC Village Hall. The village has offered to pay lifeguards $300 or more to get their certification, but only a few have applied so far. The village is also considering other options to fill the gap, including paying lifeguards for the time they are not working at the pool and offering them free swim lessons at a local YMCA.