Sydney Harbour: plans for Hayes Street, Wollstonecraft swimming enclosures

Two north shore sites have been narrowed down as part of plans for a new Sydney Harbour swimming enclosure – but not everyone is happy with the idea.

Kayakers have questioned the merits of creating a new netted swimming enclosure in Sydney Harbour as the ambitious plan gains traction on the north shore.

Hayes St Beach in Neutral Bay and Berry Island Reserve in Wollstonecraft have been narrowed down as favoured sites in plans by North Sydney Council for a new safe swimming spot in the region.

The proposal has been prompted by the redevelopment of the North Sydney Olympic Pool, which has left users looking for alternative swimming spots, along with an increase in residents avoiding indoor pools in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Loretta Moy, second from right, has questioned the proposal.

The enclosure would be located alongside Neutral Bay wharf.

Councillor Kathy Brodie, who has spearheaded the proposal, said a new enclosure would encourage residents to exercise outdoors and also give peace of mind to swimmers afraid of sharks lurking in the depths.

A report to next week’s council meeting has recommended carrying out a human heath risk assessment on the Neutral Bay and Wollstonecraft sites that will scope potential impacts including exposure with contaminants.

The council said it would prioritise Hayes Street Beach for screenings due to its existing use for informal swimming and recreation.

Loretta Moy, president of the Kayak Share Club based at Hayes Street Beach, has questioned the feasibility of the proposal.

“We have 170 people in the club – it’s not a big beach and I can’t see how it would work without impacting the current users,” she said.

“People already swim at the beach without needing an enclosure and putting netting in would stop anyone who wants to swim freely. People also swim out to boats and the kayaks come in there in all shapes and sizes

“I can’t see that for such a small beach why there’d need to be an enclosure. It just wouldn’t work.”

The council said the Neutral Bay and Wollstonecraft sites had “positive and negative aspects” and assessments would need to address skin contact with sediments, along with pollution.

Cr Brodie said the netted enclosures could include signs warning residents not to swim after storm events due to spikes in pollution from run-off into the harbour.

Berry Reserve in Wollstonecraft is being considered.

North Sydney Council has estimated a new enclosure will involve a nine to 12 month assessment and application process that would cost up $300,000.

The plan will also require approval from Transport for NSW (Maritime).

A Transport for NSW spokesman said swimmers already have established alternatives to swim on the north shore including at Maccallum Seawater Pool, Cremorne Point, and netted harbour pools in Balmoral, Chowder Bay, Greenwich, Longueville and Northbridge Baths.

“For any proposal for a North Sydney Harbour netted swimming area, North Sydney Council would be required to liaise with Transport for NSW regarding any navigational impacts, including on vessel moorings in the area,” the spokeswoman said.

The council had also considered Quibaree Park at Lavender Bay and the Quarantine Depot at Berrys Bay as potential sites but failed to get support from Transport for NSW due to potential impacts from contamination, moorings, impacts on ferry services and future infrastructure restrictions.

Ms Moy believes the council should rethink the idea and instead investigate the potential for creating a pool on the pontoon of Sub Base Platypus.

“It wouldn’t block access to anyone and would bring people to the area – if Berlin and Helsinki can have one why can’t Sydney?” she said.