Fun May Dry Up At Swimming Hole

Newcastle Herald

Friday December 16, 2005

By FRANCES THOMPSON Upper Hunter Reporter

GENERATIONS of children have cooled off in the Hunter River where a dead-end road in Aberdeen connects with the riverbank.

In the time-honoured way, ropes were attached to an old tree at the river's edge so swimmers could swing through the air and splash into the deep water.

It sounds idyllic, but for a nearby resident the reality is very different.

The bad behaviour of some swimmers and the fear of insurance claims for injury against the Upper Hunter Shire Council look set to close the swimming hole.

This week, council insurers and staff inspected the location and removed the ropes.

The council plans to restrict access to part of the dead-end Saint Heliers Street, with the aim of moving swimmers on.

The resident, who did not want to be named, said the closure was the last thing he wanted but his attempts to talk to parents and police about the behaviour problems were unsuccessful.

The problems include bad language, rubbish, unruly dogs, fires, rock-throwing and "hoons" in cars.

Mayor Barry Rose said it was likely the road would be leased to the resident, and it would be up to the lessee to secure the area.

Any objections to this would be considered.

Deputy Mayor Nat Doonan said there had been a history of accidents at the site and the council had to be responsible.

"People congregate there at weekends and at night and council has an obligation to deal with that," Mr Doonan said.

Cr John Scriven said the swimming hole had been a favourite spot for Aberdeen residents since at least his father's youth.

When The Herald visited the site this week, the lack of ropes had not deterred swimmers.

They were jumping from the tree into the river, where they said they could not touch the bottom.

In November, Singleton Council tests revealed that only two of its eight Hunter River monitoring spots were safe for swimming.

Faecal matter is the most common pollutant.

© 2005 Newcastle Herald

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