Key points:
- Works have included painting of the deck and signage, repairs and repainting of the pool shell, and concourse and fencing repairs.
- Works to improve the reliability of the pool's intake pipes remains ongoing.
- The Pool will continue to be closed on Mondays as part of its regular winter cleaning schedule before shifting to Wednesdays when the summer season begins.
It's fresh off a makeover and back in action this week, but some of the major improvements to Wollongong's Continental Pool have gone on beneath the surface – literally.
While there's typically no off-season for the 'Conti', the gates have been closed for the month of August to allow essential maintenance works to be carried out before the warmer months roll around. It's included painting of the deck and signage, repairs and repainting of the pool shell, and concourse and fencing repairs.
Works completed will allow the Conti to re-open this week ahead of another looming summer season that will again see plenty of visitors and residents alike head down to the foreshore to enjoy one of the jewels in Wollongong's crown.
Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown says it's essential that these maintenance works are carried out during the cooler months to allow people to enjoy our much-loved, but ageing community pools.
"We know how highly our community values our may different pools, particularly the Continental Pool that operates all year round," Cr Brown said.
"The fact we're nearing its centenary in 2028 illustrates just how long it has served our community, but that age also presents maintenance challenges that we need to address in the immediate and long-term.
"It does require short-term closures from time to time, and we appreciate the patience of our residents as we carry out essential work. We take all the steps we can to minimise disruption and the cooler months allow us to do that, not just at the Conti, but at our other pools around the city.
"From safety upgrades to structural repairs and refreshed amenities, and touch-up painting, we have staff and contractors working hard to ensure all our pools are in tip-top shape as the warmer months loom and we're all looking forward to another enjoyable summer season on the foreshore."
The maintenance gives the pool and decks a fresh look, but some of the most essential work has been completed well offshore, with specialist divers undertaking works to improve the reliability of the nearly one-hundred-year-old icon's intake pipes.
It has included maintenance works to the southern intake pipe while work has also begun to replace the broken northern intake pipe. While these works commenced in the winter season, they will remain ongoing given the need to manage and respond to challenging ocean conditions moving forward.
Following its re-opening, the Continental Pool will continue to be closed on Mondays as part of its regular winter cleaning schedule. Once the summer season begins (26 September) cleaning will shift to Wednesdays, with the first clean scheduled for 30 September.
The winter maintenance works program also includes Dapto, Corrimal, Berkeley, Helensburgh, Western Suburbs, Port Kembla and Thirroul Pools prior to all being open from 26 September 2026.
