Wednesday 1 July 2009

Theme Day - Empty

Empty ... but full of promise


The public swimming pool in Prince Alfred Park - adjacent to Central Railway Station - is very sad and decrepit. Although not totally empty - it is home to rancid rainwater, weeds, seagulls, pigeons and ibis - it is empty of its original purpose. However, all this is about to change: the council has a PLAN!!

I remain sceptical but our Mayor, Clover, has surprised me before. The refurbishment includes a new pool plus other community buildings and playing areas. If it is anything like the excellent facilities for children over at Sydney Park in St Peters, it will be a wonderful addition to the inner city.


The commencement date for the pool upgrade is subject to a Council decision to introduce a cogeneration plant to be decided by Council at its August 2009 meeting. Huh says I: what is this modern mumbo-jumbo?

Apparently, facilities with cogeneration systems use them to produce their own electricity, and use the unused (waste) heat to process steam, hot water heating and space heating. They may also use excess process heat to produce steam for electricity production. So this council is endeavouring to live up to its promise to be clean and green. That's a worry ...

Go Clover ...


Read how other members of the CDPB community have interpreted the Theme for July: Empty. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

32 comments:

Lois said...

I hope they go through with their plan and you get the new facility. Around here that pool would be a breeding ground for mosquitoes! I do like the birds though.

Ineke said...

I am very curious to see how everyone interprets empty today. Like your ones! especially the shallow water one

Gerald (SK14) said...

hope it all works out

brattcat said...

Julie, such an interesting take on 'empty'...yours is the first I've seen...of course it won't be July 1st here for another seven hours...but even your 'empty' is a container that is half-full.

Jim said...

Excellent choice for theme day Julie. Good to know about those plans too.
Sydney - City and Suburbs

Lowell said...

I understand your cynicism - so often bureaucrats are fully of empty promises.

Great photo!

Sally said...

You can imagine how passionate I feel about this! I was about to post pics on my Swimmign blog....but if I may, would you like to be my guest blogger over there? ie can I pinch your pics and commentary - with all attribution of course!

This pool is walking distance from work, and I keep meaning in the summe rto go up there for a lunchtime swim. Actually, Cook+Philip is about the same distance, and I have been there, but it gets really crowded at lunchtime.

Sydney City Council actually has an excellent track record on swimming pools - there's Vic Park, Cook+Philip, and the brand new Thorpe pool at Ultimo. At one stage this one WAS mooted for closure, when it was stilll under the control of South Sydney Council. One good thing the amalgamation of SS and S councils has meant is that this came under Clover's control, and she has promised it will be retained.

It's the pool used by the poorer communitites of redfern and South Sydney, and there's a really strong equity argument about it which I think Clover agrees with. The other SSCounciol pools are really in gentrified/yuppie areas.

So, I hope it does survive!

Julie said...

No problems with any of this, Sal. Glad to work with you. I have just replied on your EMPTY post for today.

Ann said...

Its a real shame to see it like that. I hope it is refurbished.

I didn't forget, I couldn't find anything in the archives that fit the theme. Didn't have time to go and look for anything specific and couldn't think of any ideas anyway.

DelBoy said...

Had to laugh when I saw Brattcat's comment about "half-full". Was he/she talking about the pool or the pollies?

Great shot for the theme.

bitingmidge said...

Empty pool, shallow promises, hollow victories, goodness I could go on!

I've just wasted 10,000 k's in search of seabirds when all I had to do was pay you a visit!

Jilly said...

I thought I was at Sally's swimming pool blog! My goodness, this is going to one very dirty pool. Great choice for today. I hope this pool makes it.

tapirgal said...

The ibis seems so exotic, as we don't have them here. I'm glad it was in the photo! But nice pic with or without the ibis.

Joan Elizabeth said...

I love the way the birds have taken over the pool. I really like its link with the theme too. Here the pools are empty at this time of year anyway, too cold to swim in the winter.

VP said...

Sad view of an empty pool. I hope your Council will decide soon to upgrade the pool, cogeneration or not.

Buenos Aires Photoblog said...

I really like your interpretation of the July theme day. The pictures have its own beauty although the current situation must be infuriating.

B SQUARED said...

I like the interpretation.

Dave-CostaRicaDailyPhoto.com said...

Good luck solving your swimming pool situation. In a little while, it looks like this pool would be a suitable habitat for the wild crocodile whose empty mouth I showed on my Daily Site today. (Thank you for your comment.) This pool could be breeding grounds for mosquitos.

Denton said...

Bravo for the council .. a plan is always the first step toward success .. also bravo for the cogeneration system .. keep us posted on the progress .. happy theme day.

That is the chicken said...

Wonderful shots. I used to spend many days of every childhood summer at an open-air pool like this...which ended up very much the same way as this one and was eventually closed and bulldozed...a huge loss. So I hope this pool is revived by your council!
I like the black-faced ibis(?) wading solemnly in with all the gulls!

Petrea Burchard said...

Well, at least for now it's being well used.

Mo said...

At least the birds get to use it in the meantime

Coskunca said...

Hi julie,
It is not possible to take a picture ''Empty''
Thanks for sharing photos pool and birds.

Tussy said...

bureaucrats are fully of empty promises? It is very true.

Kate said...

The old area does look very desolate, and it would be wonderful if the plans were actually completed!

Greg said...

Nice choice for the theme day. Definitely empty of its original purpose!

As for council plans, believe it when it happens!

Carraol said...

Great choice for today theme, looks empty but full of life!

Álvaro said...

I have just come across your blog. Thank you for showing this beautiful city with this great photos.
Greetings from Spain.

Unknown said...

Love the 1st shot, Julie! I presume ibis are common there, but seing one at an urban zone is something I consider really cool! :-)

Julie said...

Jose, not only are ibis common here in Australa, they are also becoming an urban nuisance. They scavange in garbage and make a real nuisance.

And they are off-putting to shoo away because they look aggressive whereas the poor seagull and pigeon are just sweet!

lachezar said...

Sad, but one may say commonplace story of public facilities. On the brighter side however are your images and the Ibis that I love!
Thanks for visiting!

Fiona said...

I'll keep my fingers crossed. Still, great interpretation of the theme. I'll stop spamming you with comments now!