Supporters of an ocean pool at Ballina have been encouraged to apply for NSW Crown Lands grants to bring their dream to reality.
Ballina Shire Council’s deputy mayor Jeff Johnson and the council’s chief engineer John Truman met with NSW Minister for Crown Lands Naill Blair, and other State Government representatives, on Tuesday to discuss grant options for the proposed Ocean Pool at Shelly Beach, and Shark Shields for local surfers.
The Ballina delegation was told no money would be forthcoming from the government’s $16 million shark mitigation strategy, but was urged to apply for Crown Lands grants for the project.
Cr Johnson told Echonetdaily it was disappointing that the minister did not see the nexus between the aims of the shark mitigation strategy, which is to protect swimmers and surfers, with an ocean pool.
But Cr Johnson said the minister was supportive of the ocean pool and suggested a number of other grants that could be available from his department.
‘We were hoping that funding for the engineering and design reports could be included in the Shark Mitigation Strategy given the ocean pool would be a great replacement for the failed shark barriers at Lennox Head and Lighthouse Beaches’, Cr Jeff Johnson said.
‘The Lennox enclosure was to protect swimmers so there is a clear nexus with the proposed ocean pool. The main difference between them is that ocean pools have stood the test of time and will be far less expensive.’
‘The rock shelf between Shelly and Lighthouse Beach has already been surveyed and inspected by a coastal processes expert, Professor Rob Brander from the UNSW and has been described as ‘ideal’ for an ocean pool.’
‘This really is a community driven project and the sooner it becomes a reality the better’.
Meanwhile, Lennox Head artist Mark Waller has created a painting of what an ocean pool at the proposed location would look like.
Cr Johnson said the ocean pool group would meet with government representatives in the next two weeks in order to begin the grant application.
‘We are asking for $100,000 to complete engineering reports and the planning documentation for approval,’ he said.
‘We’ve go the university’s marine ecology department committed to doing the environmental reports for free so it’s just the engineering reports we need.’
Cr Johnson said it was hoped that all funding applications would be approved by mid-next year, with construction of the pool the following year.
Meanwhile, shark nets are expected to be installed along some Ballina beaches before Christmas.
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