As Penrith swelters, Premier won’t say when ‘Pondi’ beach will open

Premier Chris Minns has poured cold water on telling locals when their beach will open for the summer, as Western Sydney residents sweat through a heatwave with “Pondi” closed to them.

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As western Sydneysiders sweat through a spring heatwave, they’re probably best taking the mayor’s advice to cool off at the library: NSW Premier Chris Minns has poured cold water on revealing when Penrith’s beach will open for summer.

The Premier says “Pondi” beach will be back bigger and better than last year, but on Wednesday refused to say when the Penrith swimming spot will open for the season.

He said the government has a “target date” for when the remediated quarry will open to swimmers, but won’t share it because the area is still a construction site.

However, the beach will be open earlier in the summer than it was last year, when it opened on December 19.

“We have a target date that we hope to have it opened by. I can’t reveal that today, and the reason is, I don’t want to disappoint people if we don’t quite meet it,” he said.

Chris Minns refused to say when Pondi would open. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

“We’re making it better and bigger than last year, but we are in the middle of getting it ready for summer now,” he said.

His comments come as temperatures soar and red tape continues amid a standoff with the beach’s owners. The local mayor on Tuesday told residents to instead cool off at the library.

Touted as a “gamechanger” for residents, Penrith Beach was formally opened by NSW officials last year as a place to cool off and relax on the sand without driving an hour to the nearest beach.

Despite record-breaking heat this week with Penrith hitting 39C yesterday and again today, and summer around the corner, the popular beach is currently off limits to the public until at least the start of the school holidays in mid-December.

Unlike scores of beaches across the state, open to anyone at any time, Penrith Beach is on private property, requiring the state government to negotiate on a year-to-year basis with landowners Western Sydney Lakes over its future.

Despite record-breaking temperatures, Penrith Beach remained closed. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Last year, access to the beach required revellers to hold a voucher, with the site closed and swimming prohibited unless lifeguards were present.

STANDOFF

It is understood decades-long negotiations between the Minns government and Western Sydney

Lakes over the long-term future of the site are still without resolution, with the owners pushing for approval for a multi-use lakeside precinct to replace the beach, which the government is yet to approve.

Board Director Jacqueline Vozzo was contacted for comment, but said on the proposal in June: “Penrith Beach has been an important step forward, but the people of Western Sydney deserve more, and we have the vision to deliver that with the support of the NSW government.”

Meanwhile, the Penrith City Council has been left in the dark over when residents can hit the water this summer, with Mayor Todd Carney telling The Daily Telegraph he had not been told when the beach will be back in business.

Mr Carney said he didn’t know why the beach wasn’t open, but “wished it was”.

“The sooner we can get it open, the better,” he told the Telegraph.

Mr Carney urged locals to stay indoors amid a record breaking spring heatwave, recommending residents make use of the local libraries.

No date has been sent for the reopening of the popular beach. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“They need to stay indoors, we have our libraries open in St Marys and Penrith … if you need respite please stop in and cool yourself off,” he said on ABC Radio.

It is understood Penrith City Council has been asking the government for opening date, following repeated inquiries from locals, however no date has been set.

Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue CEO Adam Leto renewed calls to make the popular beach permanent.

“Last summer, locals got a small taste of the potential of Penrith Beach, which attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors. Today, as Penrith is set to swelter, locals cannot access the waterway,” Mr Leto said.

“It’s time to make Pondi permanent and look to transform the former 2000ha quarry into a recreational destination for generations of Western Sydney residents to enjoy.”

“Heat kills more people in Australia than any other natural disaster, and Western Sydney is hit hardest by the severe impacts of extreme heat,” Mr Leto said.

“Access to recreational water is an Australian birthright, and the people of Western Sydney deserve their own beach. But it needs to be more than part-time access to some sand and water,” he said.

On Tuesday, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully, said the government committed $2.5 million to reopen the beach for the 24/25 summer and “will continue to work with the landowner” on Pondi’s future.

Meanwhile, on the other side of Sydney, sun seekers at Bondi Beach were enjoying the water. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“Upgrades and maintenance to the amenities and beach facilities are being finalised to keep beachgoers safe this summer.

Business Western Sydney executive director David Borger called for more “Pondis” across Sydney to help locals cool-off during heatwaves.

“The first heatwave of the season is a reminder that it gets hot in Western Sydney first,” he said.

“We need to extend the opening time for Pondi and we need to have more Pondis opened along our rivers.”

Local resident Simone Cassandra said it was frustrating she and her kids are unable to use the beach during such a hot period.

“I don’t know why it isn’t open; it’s there, we should be able to use it,” said resident Simone Cassandra.

“It’s not really doable for me to go to the city to the beach with four kids, having a beach down the road made us able to go to the water. It gives us the ability,” she said.

Penrith residents took to Facebook to vent their anger.

“What’s the point of it existing if it’s not open on a day like today?”, said one.