Penrith Beach, Pondi has been upgraded with shaded seating and outdoor showers, open 7am-7pm

Hitting the beach for a swim on a hot summer day is about to get easier for Western Sydney families, with the opening hours of a popular spot extended, and flash new facilities installed.

Pondi has been upgraded with new shaded seating areas and outdoor showers, and will be open from 7am to 7pm. Picture: Jonathan Ng

A trip to the beach is about to get a whole lot easier for Western Sydney residents, with the opening hours at “Pondi” to be extended when the city’s favourite inland swimming spot reopens for summer on Sunday.

Officially known as Penrith Beach, Pondi has been upgraded with new shaded seating areas and outdoor showers, and will be open from 7am to 7pm, offering locals a sun-soaked chance to make a splash without the long drive to the coast.

Lifesavers will be there to keep watch, while patrols are also set to ramp up in the east on some of Sydney’s most iconic stretches of sand throughout summer, starting today.

Planning and Public Spaces Minister Paul Scully said Pondi was “set to be better than ever this season”.

“Penrith Beach will have extended hours, daily lifeguard patrols, more shade and new outdoor showers, so families can make the most of what is becoming an iconic summer destination,” he said.

Penrith Beach opened on Sunday. Lifeguards Ben Brink (left) and Luke White setting up before swimmers hit the water. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Since opening in December 2023, Pondi has attracted more than 330,000 visitors – a figure acting Western Sydney Minister Courtney Houssos said showed the region had embraced its own summer playground.

“We recognised Western Sydney families were in need for high-quality open spaces and that’s why we’ve opened Penrith Beach after the former Liberal National government kept it locked up for over a decade,” she said.

Mr Weir cautioned swimmers to stay alert and swim between the flags this summer. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Surf Life Saving Australia chief executive Adam Weir said whether people were visiting Pondi or venturing to a coastal spot like its famous eastern suburbs cousin Bondi, swimmers should always swim between the flags.

“No drownings occurred at patrolled locations last year,” he pointed out.

While Western Sydney may have to wait until Sunday to take a dip at Pondi, in the city’s east yesterday Lynn Vaessen, Kikki Beijnon, Amy Beck and Nicole Orostegui were able to cool off at Bondi and Bronte beaches.

“This is what we live here for ,” Ms Beck said. “Just being up early and enjoying summer from the moment you wake up until even you go to bed.

“It feels like summer when you let the day revolve around the water.”

While Pondi has certainly provided some relief on hot days for those in the west, the beach has been plagued with issues since it opened.

On Boxing Day in 2023, Seti Tuaopepe died at Penrith Beach.

Mr Tauopepe’s last selfless act was to hold his children he was paddleboarding with above water until another rescuer arrived, but ultimately he was unable to save himself.

In January 2024, the beach had to close to poor water quality. The state government closed the beach as a “precautionary measure”.

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Originally published as Penrith Beach, Pondi has been upgraded with shaded seating and outdoor showers, open 7am-7pm