A few months ago a reader asked: “What’s the deal with all those ocean pools along Sydney beaches?” It’s a question that resonates elsewhere. Ocean pools are found all over Australia, with New South Wales alone boasting more than 100 of them. Many are privately run by clubs that charge a fee for swimmers to use them. Others are open to the public. Some are carved out of rocky headlands and filled with seawater that floods over their sides. Others, such as the iconic Bondi Icebergs Pool at the southern end of Bondi Beach, are sculpted and painted with colourful art and decorated by aboriginal-inspired mosaics.

Originally, pools were viewed as a healthier alternative to the rocky shore. They could be cleaned more easily at predictable times and were less susceptible to tides than the beach. They also provided a safe, controlled environment for people of all ages and abilities to swim. And, in Australia, which has a very temperate climate, a pool could also be heated.

But as people became more focused on protecting and conserving their local coastal environment, and roadblocks such as environmental permits and increased liability slowed or stopped development of pools, they began to lose their appeal.

This shift in attitude to ocean pools may have been partly fueled by the growing concern over water quality, and also a changing perception of the value of an intact natural coastline. It could also have been prompted by government policy changes, such as rate capping that limits how much councils can increase their rates each year.

In the wake of these developments, it’s clear that a lot has changed in just a few decades. In the past, pools were a council’s single most expensive asset and were often the envy of other local authorities. Today, some councils are struggling to keep their pools running. Others are shuttering them altogether. And many are having trouble finding money to replace the ones that they do have.

The fate of the North Sydney Olympic pool exemplifies this trend. Opened in 1936, the modern pool was hailed as “the wonder pool of Australasia” and was frequently used for international competitions and national championships. Framed by the Harbour Bridge and the grinning face of Luna Park, the pool’s concrete grandstands are festooned with shells and the seagull-like white birds that look like they’re wearing the banded wings of the Egyptian bird god Horus. Eighty-six world records have been broken at the pool over the years.

But the North Sydney pool has been beset by infighting, allegations of pork-barrelling and a lack of transparency among council members. The budget has blown out to $100 million, heritage concerns have flared and health organisations have criticised the project’s design. Its opening has now been pushed back to 2025. And with the government’s sporting grants budget shrinking by the day, its future looks bleak. That’s why it’s so important to get your community involved and voice their concerns to their local MPs.