Bondi's famous ocean baths. Many older Queensland ocean baths have been replaced by chlorinated pools. The Gold Coast's Perry Cross, a quadriplegic since a rugby tackle in 1994, has raised the idea, and is encouraging the Gold Coast City Council and ultimately the Queensland Government will consider it. Mr Cross, founder of the Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation, launched his concept at Surfer's Paradise on the Gold Coast. "Firstly the Gold Coast attracts lot of overseas tourists who aren't always adept swimmers," Mr Cross said.

The ocean bath at Kings Beach at Caloundra. Credit:Sunshine Coast Council "And having ocean pools is a safe way of getting them to swim," he said. The Royal Lifesaving Association's 2016 report shows almost 10 per cent of the 280 people who drowned on Australian beaches or waterways were from overseas. Gold Coast man Perry Cross, right, pictured here with US actor Christopher Reeve, is calling for more ocean pools to be built in Queensland. Credit:Tony Moore "This year, 25 people who drowned were overseas tourists, predominantly from Asian (44 per cent) and European (36 per cent) countries. Overseas tourists commonly drowned at the beach (28 per cent) or ocean / harbour locations (24 per cent," their national drowning report shows.

Overall 66 people drowned in Queensland in 2016 and 96 in New South Wales. Mr Cross believes re-introducing ocean-fed pools on the Gold Coast has broad appeal. 'It's not just for tourists," he said. "It's for locals; for the elderly, for children, for people with disabilities. It's a safe way for people to enter the ocean." In the past the Gold Coast had ocean-fed pools at Burleigh Heads, Coolangatta and Snapper Rocks near Tweed Heads, but they have all gone.

Mr Cross points out how popular they remain in New South Wales; albeit where many of the ocean pools are very old. "I think it's time to start the conversation with Gold Coast City Council and the State Government and to look at the design," he said. "Because we need a coastal strip that is for everybody, not just for the able-bodied." Mr Cross said headlands like Burleigh, Miami and Nobby Beach, or areas like Narrowneck (north of Southport) where erosion was now a problem could be good sites. "These could be, for example, good ways to tackle erosion," he said.

The Queensland Government has control of land along the beach foreshore and needs to be involved in any changes, Mr Cross said. Mr Cross also suggested the large number of developers on the Gold Coast could be asked to contribute to ocean-pools, as legacy projects to offset the cost. Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said any changes need to be a Queensland Government decision. "This is a challenging project as the State Government has absolute final say on what can be constructed along the entire Queensland coastline," Cr Tate said on Thursday. "My view is we already have ocean accessible swimming areas for all residents and visitors, including those physically challenged," he said.

"Our netted ocean swimming areas in Tallebudgera, Paradise Point, South Stradbroke and the Broadwater allow access for all people. "Broadwater even has wheelchair matting to allow people to enjoy a saltwater swim." Cr Tate said these facilities were "similar" to ocean baths. "So in many ways, we have ocean baths right now, but not in the traditional sense like Bondi or at Yamba," he said. "As Mayor, I'm open to the idea of constructing a true ocean bath in a rocky headland area but it would need to be fully compliant for all users, so far as access.

"Ultimately, it would be a State Government decision." The Queensland Government supports the idea "in general terms." The planning issue falls under the portfolio of Local Government and Planning, managed by deputy premier Jackie Trad. "The Palaszczuk Government, in principle, supports ocean pools and would consider any proposal on its individual planning merits," a spokeswoman for Ms Trad said. "Councils have responsibility for public pools so at first instance, any proposal for an ocean pool at the Gold Coast would need the support of Gold Coast City Council before being considered by the State."