Lapping up Swim Season 20/21

We’re fine-tuning our summer pools booking system.

We’ve taken onboard feedback from our regular early-morning swimmers and have introduced one-hour sessions for 6am, 7am and 8am sessions for weekdays and weekends. This is in addition to the two-hour locks that are bookable from 9am, seven days a week.

“I’d like to thank all our dedicated regular swimmers who have understood the need for a pools booking system, and have offered their feedback on ways we can streamline and improve it. This will be an ongoing process over the summer period and we will tweak and refine it to best meet the needs of our pool users and in consideration of public safety’’ Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said.

“COVID-19 has presented us with many challenges this year and our focus has been on supporting and caring for our staff and their families, and our community.

“We introduced the “Bookmyswim” initiative as a way to support equitable access to our popular pools for summer, and the introduction of one-hour slots in the morning will facilitate the use of our pools by lap swimmers.’’

The preferred and easiest way to book a swim is to visit www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/bookmyswim. You’ll need to provide your contact details, in line with NSW Health requirements. Alternatively, you can call our customer service team during business hours on 4227 7111. On weekends a limited service is available by calling 0447 789 493 for assistance with making or cancelling a booking.

Bookings will become available for the upcoming week every Monday, with no booking fees for any reservation. Pool fees will still be in place at Corrimal and Dapto Heated Pool, with no changes to free entry for our remaining pools.

“It’s important to remember to cancel bookings if you’re not able to make it to the pool,’’ Cr Bradbery said.

“As we don’t want people repeatedly making bookings and not attending – and stopping others’ from having a swim – we have put a plan in place to block those who make reservations and don’t attend.’’

Cr Bradbery said family and group reservations can be made as long as there are sufficient spaces available in the timeslot you want to visit, and all group members enter the pool together and comply with any public health order requirements around gatherings.

Spectators who may only be supervising swimmers are welcome at our pools and are also required to book as they count towards a facility’s total capacity.

Pool users are required to leave the pool 15 minutes before the end of their booking to allow for cleaning to take place before the next session begins.