Altona locals have welcomed the restoration of popular swimming spot Flemings Pool after a community outcry.
Hobsons Bay council has dumped 100 cubic metres of quarried sand over an area of about 1600 square metres at the site, where Millers Road meets Altona Beach.
That’s enough sand to fill four 20-foot shipping containers.
The pool is named after the Fleming family that, in 1915, removed rocks to create a swimming hole.
Last year, after undertaking drainage works at the site, the council placed rocks over the site and left it without sand, much to the anger of locals.
Cheryl Gardner, a granddaughter of one of the pool’s creators, Lawrence Fleming, was concerned enough to contact the council.
In December, former lifesaver Melissa Wiseby was injured on the rocks and emergency talks to improve beach safety were held between councillors, traders and residents.
Local ward councillors Tony Briffa and Sandra Wilson said the council had responded to community concerns with sand replenishment and would closely monitor and maintain the site.
“Flemings Pool is a priceless gem in our local area and has been much loved by local residents for generations,” Cr Briffa said.
Historian Peter Weaver, who grew up 100 metres from Flemings Pool, praised the council for listening to residents.
“The sand’s all settled down and you can walk on the beach,” he said. “For a few months there, you couldn’t walk on the beach because of all the small stones and everything else. For a lot of locals, it’s their little swimming hole. Everyone’s passionate about it and the way it was left after council works just wasn’t acceptable.
“But full marks to the council – they listened. When they realised there was a problem, they got on to it.”
