After the petition won strong community support, the former State Government handed over $35,000 funding for concept designs that now include options for a 50m pool or a 25m pool, both with an adjoining children’s wading pool.

The Marion Council also added a “no pool option” and is making it clear there are no funds budgeted for the pool.

Its ratepayers and interested community members can see the designs at the Boatshed Café in Hallet Cove on Saturday, July 29, and project team members will be on hand to answer questions.

“It’s important to note that this is an unfunded project and just concept designs at this stage,” Marion Mayor Kris Hanna said.

“Building a seaside pool is not in the City of Marion’s budget or our Four-Year Business Plan.

“A project like this would require funding from State and/or Federal Governments to go ahead.”

The three options have been costed (with contingencies and GST) at around $10.3 million for a 50m pool, $9 million for a 25m pool and up to $2.7 million for embankment protection.

Hallett Cove seaside pool option one. Photo: Marion Council

The council said initial estimates show annual maintenance costs would be $200,000, $180,000 and $55,000 respectively.

Earlier research ruled out the initial idea of a tidal pool like the world-renowned site at Bondi Beach, as the site’s topography makes that too difficult to construct.

But a seawater-filled outdoor pool extending above the waterline was suggested instead, with the early study saying it was estimated that between 100,000 and 150,000 people would visit the new Hallett Cove attraction each year.

The figures were based on data tying together the estimated 75,000 people who visit the Hallett Cove foreshore each year with data on use of other Australian sea pools.

This latest report showed that the 50m pool option is likely to increase parking demand at Hallett Cove by up to 30 car spaces with the 25m option increasing demand by up to 20 spaces.

But this can be accommodated by existing vacant car spaces within a 450m radius of the proposed pool.

Option one involves building a 50m seaside pool adjacent to Heron Way Reserve with concrete benches and beach access pathways, to prove embankment protection against coastal erosion. It includes a children’s wading pool with a natural rock floor.

Option two has the same lay out but with a 25m seaside pool, while option three has no pool but some works to protect against coastal erosion.

Comments can be made online until the end of August and the community’s feedback will be presented to the council in September.