We exhibited a proposal to decommission and remove the tidal pool at Pickering Point, Seaforth due to safety concerns and other challenges. The pool has been closed for some time because the boardwalk and supporting structure pose a risk to public safety.

In addition to safety concerns, we considered the following factors:

• Limited access and parking – The pool is difficult to reach, with very few parking options.
• Stormwater issues – A stormwater outflow runs directly through the middle of the pool.
• Shallow water at low tide – The pool becomes too shallow for swimming at low tide. Extending it further into the harbor for deeper water would obstruct access to the nearby wharf.
• Changing community needs – The pool was built when private swimming pools were rare, but now many homes in the area have them.
• Other tidal pools nearby – There are larger and more accessible tidal pools available in the area.

We asked for your feedback on the proposal between 12 September and 12 October 2025, and received 44 responses.

Feedback indicated overall support for decommissioning and removing the tidal pool. Many respondents agreed that the pool is in serious disrepair, poses safety risks and is not cost-effective to maintain. Many comments also indicated a desire for funds to be redirected to broader community infrastructure and for the foreshore to be restored to a natural state.

Further detail, including a copy of all comments received, is available in the Community Engagement Report.

We will decommission and remove the pool in 2026, outside the seahorse breeding season.