The public swimming pool is Australia’s main summer attraction, a popular sanctuary and a cheap way to exercise.

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Audio: What are the rules for swimwear in public swimming pools? (ABC News)
Whether you are a serious cycling sprinter or a parent who plays in the splash pool, swimmers of all ages and abilities can enjoy the venue.

However, should the public swimming pool have a loading requirement?

The problem was raised after a woman said she was refused entry into a public swimming pool in northern Queensland because she intended to wear single shorts instead of swimwear.

The pool’s board of directors defended the decision, saying customers who might wear dirty clothes would affect the water quality of the pool.
Bringing her grandson to the Bowen public swimming pool in North Queensland is a special treat for Brenda Hines.

Retired retail workers suffer from chronic emphysema, and she can enjoy very little activity.

Ms. Hynes said: “I tried to take them to fishing, it was too hot, I could not breathe.”

“I can’t go too far so I took my kids to the pool. I was sitting in the pool, they just went to have fun. Besides taking them to take pictures, this is the only basic thing I can do.

“I just watched them by the edge of the pool and they had a good time.”

Ms. Hynes usually enters the pool wearing a single line and shorts because she feels more comfortable and less conscious than wearing a swimsuit.

“When my lungs failed, they gave me the needle to breathe properly, so I took a lot of weight, so I only wear these shorts and a single line,” she said.

But recently, Ms. Hines was denied access to the Bowen pool because she often wore “street clothing”.

“I wear a pair of normal black cotton shorts and a one-piece shirt,” she said.

“We went to the counter and I started signing the book. The lady said, ‘Where is the swimmer?’ I said, ‘This is what we swim.’

“She said, ‘Unless you have a swimmer, you won’t pass the gate.’