Yarranabbe Park or McKell Park contenders for new Sydney Harbour Swimming spot

Two parks have emerged as the ideal locations for a new Sydney Harbour swimming spot in Sydney. Find out where.

Sydney’s newest swimming spot could soon be the Harbour waters beside a park in the eastern suburbs.

Woollahra Council is exploring the idea of creating swimming areas at either Yarranabbe Park or McKell Park in Darling Point.

After testing the waters around its Harbour shoreline in recent months the two parks have emerged as prime candidates for a dip in the ­future.

The testing – undertaken late last year by Sydney Water through the Urban Plunge Program – looked at various measures including microbial quality, bacteria, algae, temperature and turbidity with the two parks found to have the best water quality.

Siblings Chloe and Zach Forster are big fans of harbour swimming. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Council will now engage a consultant to undertake further feasibility studies – which will take into account any physical hazards and ecological issues – and develop some concept designs and costings.

If plans go ahead it would be a throwback to more than 120 years ago when early settlers splashed around in Rushcutters Bay. Eventually demolished in 1974, the old “Farmers Baths” or “Rushcutters Bay Baths” were an icon of the east.

What a new swimming location will look like is still unclear but could include a netted off area, pontoons, staircases, decks and walkways to access the water.

Rushcutters Bay Baths were demolished in 1974.

McKell Park in Darling Point could be the home of a new Sydney harbour swimming pool. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Keen swimmer and Woollahra Councillor Mary-Lou Jarvis would be one of the first to take a dip. After all, her grandmother protested at the old baths to allow women to swim there.

“We’re always looking at new places to swim because we have the best beaches in our area,” Ms Jarvis said.

Part of the huge interest for a new swimming spot is the long-term closure of Nielsen Park after 5000 tonnes of asbestos were found in its sea wall.

The popular spot for locals has been closed for two summers in a row, and they among tourists have been hunting for a new secret place for a dip.

“On a hot day people are lined up like sardines to get onto the beach,” Ms Jarvis said.

Marrickville resident Zach Forester has recently discovered the delights of Redleaf Pool and the beach at nearby Double Bay, so much so he took his sister Chloe, visiting from Melbourne, there on ­Friday.

“I love this beach because of the atmosphere, it’s really peaceful. It’s a beautiful spot,” he said.

“It’s definitely safe, I’m not ­concerned about sharks because of the safety net around the beach.”

Chloe said: “It’s a great atmosphere. The pontoons in the middle are really fun, the jetty’s cool and you can jump off it.”

The siblings welcomed the idea of more designated swimming spots in the harbour.

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Originally published as Yarranabbe Park or McKell Park contenders for new Sydney Harbour Swimming spot