BY BELLA MIDDLETON
Two Newcastle councilors have teamed up to push for the iconic Newcastle Ocean Baths to be added to the state heritage register.
Greens councilor John Mackenzie and Independent John Church have filed a notice of motion to nominate the Baths as a heritage sight, alongside pausing the planned stage two renovations and upgrades to the facilities until after the listing is approved.
"(The Newcastle Ocean Baths) are more than a hundred years old and they're iconic. It's such an important part of our beach and surf culture and it's a much loved venue for people over many years who love to go and swim there or do some walking or some relaxation," said Councilor John Church.
"It has some real heritage character that I think we need to protect, and a state heritage listing would do that."
The motion is controversial, though, as Council has warned a heritage listing could place the pavilion and façade at "significant risk of critical deterioration" due to the time needed to process the application and proposed pause of renovations.
"The time needed to complete the assessment will vary and depends on several factors such as the number of stakeholders involved in consultation, and the complexity of the nomination, as well as a previous refusal in 2004 of the Newcastle Ocean Baths when last nominated for the State heritage Register," said a response to the motion from the Newcastle Council's executive director city infrastructure.
The baths and connecting pavilion are currently listed as a heritage item of local significance in the Newcastle Local Environmental Plan 2012 and are protected under the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
