Sydneysiders are keen swimmers, even in winter
Every year we have around 562,000 visits to our pools across the cooler months.
We heat most of our pools every day of the year to keep our swimmers comfortable. This requires a significant amount of energy use.
To reduce running costs and cut greenhouse gas emissions, we’re swapping out old gas technology in all our facilities with new, more efficient electric alternatives.
Victoria Park Pool – the first inground swimming pool built in Sydney – was the first of our 6 pools to get overhauled.
Nestled within the leafy 9-hectare park on the corner of Parramatta Road and City Road in Camperdown, Victoria Park Pool has been a much-loved community space since its opening in 1953.
What the swimmers say
We chatted to a couple of the Victoria Park Pool regulars about what they've noticed since the upgrade. Here's what they had to say.
"It's much better. It's more consistent. The temperature is more even," Barbara Hunt said, who's been swimming at the pool for more than 25 years.
"It's fantastic. It's the consistency of the temperature which I love. You know what it's going to be. It just makes a real difference to your head space," Sofia Townsend said, who swims at the pool every day.
Electrification explained
Electrification involves replacing gas-based heating systems with modern, electric heat pumps.
Unlike traditional methods that burn gas, these heat pumps extract warmth from the surrounding air and transfer it to the pool water. This makes them up to 4 times more efficient than older systems.
Here’s what the upgrade involved:
- Pool water heating: we removed a gas boiler and 3 outdated heat pumps and replaced them with 3 new state-of-the-art electric heat pumps and associated infrastructure.
- Shower water heating: we swapped the individual instant gas hot water units for 2 heat pumps in the plant room and hot water storage tanks.
- Smarter controls: we added a building management system to monitor and modify the system for optimal performance. It allows for real-time adjustments.
Timing the shift to electric
For years, gas was a favoured energy source in Australia—abundant, cheap, and considered cleaner than coal-fired electricity.
But times have changed. With the rise of wind and solar power, along with soaring gas prices, electricity is now a cleaner and more economical choice.
The shift to electric technology brings several important benefits:
- Lower running costs: electric heat pumps significantly cut energy bills due to their superior efficiency.
- Less downtime, discomfort and maintenance costs: the building management system allows remote monitoring. Issues are identified and resolved faster. This means less down-time and discomfort (chilly showers) for our swimmers and reduced maintenance costs.
- Climate action: electrifying our facilities slashes greenhouse gas emissions and helps us achieve our sustainability goals for our local area.
Meeting the maintenance challenge
An important part of the project was ensuring the new technology was not only efficient but easy to maintain.
This involved extensive collaboration with maintenance providers, contracted to manage our pools.
Allowing these partners the opportunity to raise concerns was invaluable. The team of 26 — including consultants, plumbers, electricians and refrigeration experts — worked together to ensure the system could be maintained well for decades.
Take a fly through visit to Victoria Park Pool. Film courtesy of Image Air.
Next up
We’re now working on upgrading Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool, the iconic saltwater gem on the edge of the harbour at Woolloomooloo Bay near the Royal Botanic Garden.
Get support for your projects
If your team is considering similar sustainability projects – purchasing renewable electricity, electrifying buildings, or improving energy efficiency – get in touch. We’d like to help.
Contact us at renewableenergy@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
Published 26 June 2025
