THE Lieutenant King Olympic Pool on The Bluff will remain closed throughout the festive season, to the deep disappointment of many residents who have long considered it a summer staple. Ward 66 councillor Zoë Solomon confirmed the news, saying she is just as upset to be breaking the news.

Also read: Lieutenant King pool remains closed

“The damage is too far gone. We need a lot more budget to fix it completely and properly, and no quick fix for the meantime is worth the money spent now,” said Solomon.

New assessments show that the pool has deteriorated far beyond what temporary repairs can resolve. Chlorine exposure has made the marble plaster porous and deeply weathered over the years. Structural cracks have appeared throughout the floor and walls of the pool, leading to significant water loss. Expansion joints have become delaminated while the lane and border tiles show chips, cracks and are well beyond their lifespan.

Extensive repairs needed:

The required remedial work is extensive and involves several specialist subcontractors. The plan for the repair will include:

• Removing all the existing tiles and preparing the surface for new tiling.
• Repairing structural cracks, with input from a structural engineer.
• Mechanically stripping the marble plaster back to the original gunite substrate.
• Application of a new 10mm marble plaster layer over the entire pool.
• Repairing and resealing all expansion joints.
• Replacing rusted surface drain covers and frames.

Solomon said quotes are currently being submitted, and the repairs will only move forward once adequate budget is allocated.

“We spent a lot of money on motors and pumps and piping infrastructure in 2025, so the pool is ready to work perfectly once it is filled again. I have had several site visits and gone to great lengths to try to make the fix quicker and better, but the reality is that no short cuts will work,” said Solomon.

Alternative pools:

Despite the closure of the Olympic pool, residents can make use of the nearby pools including:

• Tesserie pool in Umbilo
• Montclair pool
• Austerville pool

The closure marks the first summer since the 1970s that the community will be without its beloved “Olympic,” a blow felt especially deeply by long-time residents and families who frequent the facility during the holidays.

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