Sydney Harbour: Source of pollution unclear as City of Sydney works towards ‘swimmable city’
The source of sewerage continuing to stream into the city’s harbour remains a clouded issue. Here’s the latest on investigations as authorities work towards a “swimmable city” by 2050.
Central Sydney
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Authorities are investigating how sewerage is streaming into the city’s harbour, however the source of the pollution remains a murky issue.
At a recent meeting, Lord Mayor Clover Moore said Sydney Water had worked hard to find out which 19th-century buildings are seeping sewerage into the harbour.
She said identifying the source had been almost impossible, with the current state of the water “disappointing” and “dangerous” for swimmers.
“We’ve got the most beautiful harbour in the world and it’s polluted,” she said.
It comes as the City of Sydney council recommits to working towards a “swimmable city” by 2050, 25 years from now.
A Sydney Water spokesperson told this masthead it had implemented programs to improve the harbour’s wastewater network monitoring.
These include the Wet Weather Overflow Abatement (WWOA) program and Aquatic Monitoring (SWAM) program.
The SWAM program identifies long-term trends in water quality and waterway health to help understand how wastewater interacts with the environment. The WWOA program reduces the frequency and volume of these wet weather overflows at prioritised locations.
The Sydney Water spokesperson discouraged the public from swimming in the Harbour for up to three days after it rains.
Councillor Matthew Thompson said the community had an “appetite” to swim in the harbour during the warmer months.
“As the summers get hotter and longer and our cities grow denser, we will need more accessible free places to take a dip to cool down,” he said.
He said all levels of government needed to have their hands on deck to make this achievable.
Councillor Jess Miller said it was a “real shame” swimmers could not enjoy the majority of the harbour, including the Glebe and Pirrama Park foreshores.
However Ms Miller acknowledged council had a duty of care to prevent the community from swimming in potentially harmful water.
“Hopefully over time Sydney Water continue to address some of the issues, particularly the pollution and sewerage issues so we can encourage people to swim in the harbour,” she said.
The Sydney Water spokesperson added they have been preventing blockages in the system by using CCTV, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and specialist laboratory techniques.
They have also developed a long-term capital and operating plan which will see more than $30 billion invested within the next decade to upgrade and expand their water and wastewater networks.
Sydney’s beaches are also going through similar challenges after experiencing rainfall, with recent data revealing Foreshores Beach and Botany Bay had an “enterococci reading” 350 times over the safe level of faecal matter for swimming.
Top harbour swimming spots include:
Marrinawi Cove
The enclosed swimming spot, lined by sandstone, is located at the northern end of Barangaroo. It has shark nets to keep unwanted visitors away and features views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, making it a very popular spot.
Little Manly Beach
This swimming spot is situated on the northern Shore of Sydney Harbour, within Little Manly Cove. It has prime views of Mosman and the eastern suburbs, it’s calm waves it commonly attracts swimmers looking for an easy paddle.
Camp Cove
The sandy swimming hole can be found near South Head and has views of the city skyline, with a kiosk nearby. There is a boating exclusive zone in place to protect swimmers.
Shark Beach
Despite it’s not so temping name, Shark Beach at Vaucluse is a highly frequented swimming spot located in Nielsen Park. A shady spot is not hard to come by under the nearby fig trees.
Clifton Gardens Reserve
This enclosed swimming area is located on Chowder Bay. It’s close to picnic tables, a basketball court and is walking distance from cafes.
Fairlight Rockpool
This tidal pool can be found at Fairlight Beach on the Sydney Harbour. There are plenty of spots close by to relax after a dip and it has accessible washrooms and showers.
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