Daily Telegraph’s view: If bureaucracy were an Olympic sport ‘Pondi’ would win gold

If our paper-pushing class of government operatives can possibly delay a sensible outcome, they will do it every time. Right now a gold medal-winning performance is underway in Western Sydney

If bureaucracy is ever introduced as an Olympic sport, Australia would absolutely sweep the Games.

Our bureaucratic talents are unmatched. If Australia’s paper-pushing class of government and sub-government operatives can possible delay a sensible outcome, they will do it every time.

Right now a gold medal-winning performance is underway in Western Sydney.

Previously, as The Daily Telegraph has reported and supported, Western Sydney has been graced by the newly-completed Penrith Beach – dubbed “Pondi” by impressed locals.

With temperatures in our city’s west yesterday pushing up towards 40 degrees and further toasty days expected, now should be Pondi’s time to shine.

You could almost feel the anticipation rising with the temperature itself. Finally, Penrith and greater Western Sydney would have its own place for relaxing and cooling off on the sand without the pain of driving to a far-flung beach.

An empty and closed Penrith Beach, nicknamed ‘Pondi’ by locals. Picture: Jonathan Ng

But no. For an abundance of bureaucratic reasons – none of which seem insurmountable – there is no date set for Pondi’s gates to open.

As matters stand, the facility is currently off limits to the public until at least the start of the school holidays in mid-December.

A central issue is Penrith Beach’s status as a private property. Under its terms of ownership, the state government is required to negotiate yearly with landowners Western Sydney Lakes about current public access and the beach’s future.

Meanwhile, scorching weather and the beach’s unavailability combine to create hot tempers. As one Penrith resident put it online: “What’s the point of it existing if it’s not open on a day like today?”

That’s an excellent question.

And tempers would not have been calmed by Penrith City Council mayor Todd Carney’s well-meaning but perhaps awkwardly expressed advice to the overheated.

“We have our libraries open in St Marys and Penrith,” the mayor told ABC radio. “If you need respite, please stop in and cool yourself off.”

Libraries are great, in their way, but books ain’t beaches. Let’s get Pondi open as soon as possible.

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