‘Bondi of the west’ remains off-limits to Sydney residents despite heatwave warning

A massive swimming spot at the foot of the Blue Mountains, rivalling the size of Sydney Harbour, remains off-limits to the public.

A massive swimming spot at the foot of the Blue Mountains rivalling the size of Sydney Harbour remains off-limits to the public due to “ridiculous bureaucracy”, despite warnings of a sweltering summer ahead.

Western Sydney Lakes in Penrith, which developers plan to turn into the “Bondi of the west” after the former quarrying site adjacent to the Nepean River was revitalised, could be the solution to the region’s heatwave.

The water at Western Sydney Lakes — formerly known as Penrith Lakes — has been deemed safe for swimming, but the state government has been accused of dragging its feet.

“Let us in,” Penrith mayor Tricia Hitchens told 7News on Sunday.

“There’s no reason why we can’t come in. This belongs to the people of Penrith. They were promised that after all the mining was finished this would come back to them.”

Western Sydney Lakes in Penrith remains off-limits. Picture: 7News

Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue founder Chris Brown noted that Penrith “a couple of years ago [was] the hottest place on earth” at 48.9 degrees Celsius.

“We’re headed for a stinker of a summer,” he told the broadcaster. “This has been the subject of such an amount of ridiculous bureaucracy.”

The lobby group on Friday warned that the forecast mini-heatwave was an early sign of what residents of Western Sydney could expect this summer, as it reiterated calls for greater access to recreational water in the region.

Temperatures in Penrith, Smithfield and Blacktown are expected to top 35 degrees this week ahead of a hot, dry summer fuelled by an El Nino weather system.

Western Sydney is “among the most affected regions of Australia when it comes to extreme heat,” the Australia Institute said in a report last year, HeatWatch: Extreme Heat in Western Sydney.

“Its inland position at the foothills of the Blue Mountains prevents the cooling impact of a coastal breeze and works to trap heat,” the report said.

“Human influence compounds this through the removal of heat-reducing green spaces, replacing them with materials such as concrete and asphalt. As a result, some suburbs of western Sydney are already experiencing temperatures between 8 degrees and 10.5 degrees hotter than eastern Sydney.”

Developers plan to turn Penrith Lakes into the ‘Bondi of the west’. Picture: Supplied

Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue chief executive Adam Leto said urban sprawl, a lack of recreational swimming spots and the prohibitive cost of cooling meant residents would continue to suffer.

“Western Sydney residents have to travel an hour to reach the beaches of the east because they can’t beat the heat in the west,” Mr Leto said in a statement.

“There is a council-managed pool for every 17,000 people in Randwick, but in Penrith there is one for every 108,000 people. We should be looking for opportunities to open the waterways of the west to recreational swimming in places like Penrith Lakes and Prospect Reservoir, as well as targeted investment in regeneration and ongoing maintenance of our urban river system, led by Sydney Water, so it’s clean and safe for people to have a dip.”

Western Sydney Lakes, a 2000-hectare development with ambitious plans for a business park, film studios, golf course, beaches and luxury waterfront dining, is owned by Penrith Lakes Development Corporation, a joint venture between Boral, Hanson Australia and Holcim Australia.

The three companies formerly operated quarries in the area and joined together in the 1980s to rehabilitate the land for recreational use.

Sydney Water has identified the water quality as suitable for swimming. Picture: Supplied

Penrith Lakes Development Corporation chief executive Jacqueline Vozzo has previously criticised the state government for taking too long to make decisions on planning approvals.

Last month, Ms Vozzo slammed an announcement that the NSW government would fast-track a feasibility study into opening Prospect Reservoir, 34 kilometres away, up for public swimming while Western Sydney Lakes “sits idle”.

“Prospect Reservoir is one of the backup water supplies for Sydney,” Ms Vozzo said in a blog post.

“While there are already dams across the state that are utilised for both drinking water and recreation, Western Sydney Lakes, a pristine freshwater waterway at the foot of the Blue Mountains is being given little consideration as an alternate swimming spot in Sydney.”

Ms Vozzo said Western Sydney was “calling out for more swimming spots, particularly as we move into what is expected to be one of our hottest summers in years”.

She said early investigations by Sydney Water had identified the water quality at Western Sydney Lakes as “primary contact”, or suitable for swimming.

“The Lakes are a purpose-built pristine series of freshwater waterways, set against the backdrop of the beautiful Blue Mountains,” she said.

“Prospect Reservoir, by comparison, requires much more work to make it appropriate for community swimming, let alone delivering picturesque surroundings.”

NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully has been contacted for comment.

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