Call for Treasurer Dominic Perrottet to invest in western Sydney swimming spots

A leading advocacy group is calling for the people of Sydney’s west to have the “same right to swim in clean recreational waterways as residents of Balmoral, Balmain and Bondi”.

A significant chunk of the new $5 billion investment fund destined for western Sydney must be used to make the area’s river systems and waterways swimmable again.

In a letter to Treasurer Dominic Perrottet, the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue is calling on Sydney Water to become the lead agency in making the Parramatta, Cooks, Hawkesbury-Nepean and Georges Rivers more attractive to Sydneysiders looking to cool off.

The advocacy group has been frustrated with the glacial pace of progress, with pollution and a lack of both state government oversight and co-ordination between councils the main culprits.

An aerial photo of Prospect Reservoir.

They are calling for some of the WestInvest money – proceeds from the $11.1 billion sale of WestConnex announced earlier this week – to be dedicated to getting swimming projects off the ground.

“Being able to enjoy a dip outside is every Australian’s birthright, and the communities of western Sydney are no different,” dialogue executive director Adam Leto said.

“The people of Parramatta, Penrith and Punchbowl have the same right to swim in clean recreational waterways as the residents of Balmoral, Balmain and Bondi.

“The current lockdown has exposed the inequality that the region’s residents face when it comes to being able to access swimmable water, and that shouldn’t be the case, because western Sydney is home to such an extensive river network.”

Swimming spot along the Parramatta River.

Bayview Park along the Parramatta River at Concord was supposed to have a swimming facility by April this year.

But Canada Bay Council blamed Covid-19 for delays on the project, which is yet to obtain approval from either the local planning panel or Transport for NSW.

The council now “hope” to have the project completed by April 2022.

Penrith Lakes, located 2.5km north west of the Penrith CBD, has also been named as a prime location for swimming, yet that remains subject to state government approval.

“Consultation with local communities will play an important part in prioritising projects with particular emphasis on those we can get moving as quickly as possible to help boost jobs and the city’s recovery,” Mr Perrottet said.

“We’re always open to new ideas that will support communities and will provide more details of the consultation and selection process for project funding very soon.”

Water Minister Melinda Pavey said she has tasked Sydney Water with investigating strategies around access to areas such as Prospect Reservoir.

“Over $200 million is committed for the period 2020 to 2024 to improve water quality in local swimming areas,” she said.

“This involves work to improve the Cooks River at Wolli Creek and the Parramatta River, in response to community calls to return swimming to these waterways.”

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