Overview
Our goal is to create at least three new swimming spots by 2025. To achieve this, we have worked with foreshore Councils and the community to identify potential sites, then prioritise them according to their feasibility, vulnerability and desirability.
City of Canada Bay, Hunter’s Hill, City of Ryde, and Inner West Councils are working towards opening new swim sites along the river. We are monitoring water and sediment quality to ensure these sites are suitable for recreation.
Recommendation
Establish three new swimming sites on the Parramatta River by 2025.
Timeframe
From now to 2025.
Lead Agencies
Swim site land managers.
Current Measure
To establish three new swimming sites on the Parramatta River by 2025.
Status Update
Bayview Park Baths was opened to the public in November 2022, followed by Putney Beach in January 2025. Bedlam Bay is scheduled to open in late 2025. Further investigations are also underway into potential swim sites at Callan Park and Mort Bay.
| Site |
Expected completion date |
Construction |
Design |
Approvals |
Chemical assessment |
Water
Quality monitoring |
| Bedlam Bay |
March 2025 |
Proposed for Jan – Mar 2025 |
Detailed design completed October 2024 |
DA completed |
Completed |
Ongoing – establishment monitoring complete |
| Callan Park |
2027 |
To be advised |
Concept design completed August 2024 |
To be advised |
Completed |
Beachwatch monitored site |
| McIllwaine Park |
October 2023 |
Completed |
Detailed design completed March 2022 |
DA completed |
Completed |
Ongoing – establishment monitoring as a secondary contact site complete |
| Mort Bay |
To be advised |
To be advised |
To be advised |
To be advised |
To be advised |
Riverwatch monitored site |
| Putney Park |
December 2024 |
Completed |
Detailed design completed March 2023 |
DA completed |
Completed |
Ongoing – establishment monitoring complete |
Bedlam Bay
Bedlam Bay is located on the northern side of the river near Gladesville Hospital. Bordered by the Parramatta River Regional Park, this popular site attracts many residents with activities such as walking, boating and weekend sports.
Planning has commenced on the development of a swim site located off the sandy beach at the eastern end of the bay. Hunter’s Hill Council was successful in securing funding through the NSW Government Places to Swim program. Facilities will include an enclosed swim area, boardwalk and deck. For more information, visit Hunter’s Hill Council’s Bedlam Bay website page.
Callan Park
Callan Park is located on Iron Cove in Lilyfield. The site is home to the former Rozelle Hospital, which features extensive parkland and the popular ‘Bay Run’ that runs along the river foreshore.
Inner West Council is currently progressing plans to establish a swim site on the western side of Callan Point. The proposal includes a 50-metre pool incorporating swimming lanes, an extensive jetty and two moored pontoons. The west Callan Point seawall will also undergo an ecological restoration.
Greater Sydney Parklands manages Callan Park with a focus on revitalising the foreshore and providing amenities to support the proposed Council swim site.
Mort Bay
Inner West Council is exploring the development of a swim site at Mort Bay, Birchgrove, with potential features including a netted swimming enclosure, improved access, and community facilities. The design is shaped by consultations with stakeholders such as local residents, health authorities, and waterway users. The site aims to provide recreational opportunities while preserving the environment and supporting the harbour’s use for boating and other activities.
Progress Timeline
March 2025 to May 2025
- Bedlam Bay – Swim site construction is completed with the opening to be held in late 2025.
- Callan Park – Pre-DA advice has been received from the Heritage Office, and the DA is currently in preparation. Consultation regarding governance with Greater Sydney Parklands (GSP) is ongoing.
- Mort Bay – Sydney Water and Inner West Council will be exploring and monitoring two sites at Mort Bay, with one site selected for activation.
- Cockatoo Island – Tanya Plibersek MP announced $10.2M funding for the Cockatoo Island proposed swim site on 12 April, which the PRCG attended. We will resume talks with the Harbour Trust about membership and support for delivery.
|
December 2024 to February 2025
- Bedlam Bay – Works scheduled to begin in January 2025, with completion planned for March.
- Callan Park – Planning is ongoing.
- Mort Bay – Planning is ongoing.
- Putney Park – Swim site grand opening held on 22 January.
|
September 2024 to November 2024
- Bedlam Bay – The construction certificate has been issued, with works scheduled to begin in January 2025 and completion planned for March.
- Callan Park – Planning is ongoing.
- Mort Bay – A Project Control Group was formed on 24 October and meets monthly. Procurement is underway for a water testing service to assess feasibility.
- Putney Park – swim site construction completed, with the swim site launch expected in early 2025.
|
June 2024 to August 2024
- Bedlam Bay – Contract signing was delayed due to wet weather, pushing construction to start after 1 August 2024, with the swim site launch expected in November 2024.
- Callan Park – Currently formalising the governance structure with Greater Sydney Parklands and finalising the concept design in collaboration with Greater Sydney Parklands (GSP), Transport for NSW (TfNSW Maritime), and the Swim Site Activation Technical Working Group (SSATWG).
- Putney Park – Construction and Operation Deed is being finalised with TfNSW, while Council is collaborating with the project team to coordinate the delivery of the swimming site and seawall upgrade. A summer opening is still proposed.
|
March 2024 to May 2024
- Bedlam Bay – Construction has been scheduled, with the launch expected in October 2024.
- Callan Park – Project is in the design phase with community consultation completed in April; construction is expected to start in 2024 (TBC), and the swim site is planned to open in summer 2025.
- Putney Park – Development Application (DA) has been approved by the Planning Panel, and Council aims to complete the swim site this year with an official opening before summer.
|
December 2023 to February 2024
- Bedlam Bay – DA complete. Aiming to open Bedlam Bay swim site end of March 2024
- Callan Park – Council has approached market for detailed design services to inform REF. Consultation/negotiation with Greater Sydney Parklands (Callan Park authority) ongoing.
- McIlwaine Park – Foreshore upgrade complete. Official site opening 18 November.
- Putney Park – Going out to tender for construction works. Community engagement complete. Stage 1 of swim site to launch in 2024.
|
September to November 2023
- Bedlam Bay – Proceeding with a DA. Aiming to open Bedlam Bay swim site end of February 2024.
- Callan Park – Council has approached market for detailed design services to inform REF (Review Environmental Factors). Consultation/negotiation with Greater Sydney Parklands (Callan Park authority) ongoing.
- Putney Park – Going out to tender for construction works. Community engagement complete. Council attended Royal Life Saving symposium. Stage 1 of swim site to launch in late 2023.
- PRCG and Inner West Council supported first-year students in the UNSW Landscape Architecture Program on a project to develop concept designs for the reactivation of urban river swimming sites such as Callan Point.
|
June to August 2023
- SSATWG continuing to meet regularly to progress swim site opening.
- McIlwaine Park – construction underway. Site completion expected late 2023.
- Bedlam Bay – launch planned for February 2024.
- Putney Park – finalising assessments.
- Callan Park – REF (Review Environmental Factors).
|
March – May 2023
- Bedlam Bay – waiting on planning advice about whether to proceed with the DA. Proposed launch date revised to February 2024, subject to approvals, environmental assessments, and grant extension.
- Callan Park – Council has approached market for detailed design services to inform REF (Review of Environmental Factors). Consultation/negotiation with Greater Sydney Parklands (Callan Park Authority) ongoing.
- McIlwaine Park – project reached a significant milestone with the removal of the temporary sheet pile coffer dam, enabling the new seawall to be constructed in a dry workspace. The seawall is now 90% complete and the rockpool habitat area is finished. The new seawall incorporates Living Seawall tiles to attract and support different types of sea creatures and aquatic plants.
- Putney Park – undertaking and finalising all assessments identified through project grant scoping to satisfy DA requirements for submission. Investigation and finalisation of design for seawall upgrade at the site.
|
December 2022 – February 2023
- Swim Site Activation Technical Working Group (SSATWG) met in March to progress swim site opening.
- Bedlam Bay – community consultation completed. Tender for construction will be finalised by 27 March. Plan to begin construction in April. Proposed launch date is late 2023.
- Callan Park – consultant engaged to develop concept designs. Council was unsuccessful in applying for a Places to Swim grant.
- McIlwaine Park – construction underway with changed scope. Timeframe for completion is late 2023.
- Putney Park – carrying out assessments as identified through project grant scoping to satisfy DA. Investigation into a new revetment seawall. Stage 1 of swim site to launch in late 2023. Council to investigate future concept works for the park that will include ‘all abilities access’ and potential watercraft launching.
|
September – November 2022
- Swim Site Activation Technical Working Group (SSATWG) continuing to meet regularly to progress swim site opening.
- Bayview Park launched in November 2022.
- McIlwaine Park – construction underway but progress delayed; site completion expected end 2023.
- Bedlam Bay – community consultation underway; construction to commence 2023.
- Putney Park – consultant engaged to commence works.
- Callan Park – design consultant engaged.
|
June – August 2022
- Swim Site Activation Technical Working Group (SSATWG) continuing to meet regularly to progress swim site opening.
- Bayview Park construction commenced; site opening expected early November.
- McIlwaine Park – construction underway but progress delayed, site completion expected early 2023.
- Bedlam Bay – shortlisted contractors to design and construct infrastructure, community consultation expected latter half of year.
|
March – May 2022
- Swim Site Activation Technical Working Group (SSATWG) meeting regularly to progress site opening.
- Bayview Park construction expected between April and August 2022
- McIlwaine Park – site works delayed
- Bedlam Bay – awaiting outcome of grant funding for construction of site infrastructure and finalisation of Human Health Risk Assessments (HHRA).
- Putney Park – awaiting outcome of grant funding for construction of site infrastructure and finalisation of HHRA.
- Callan Park – Inner West Council has met with GSP to progress opening this site.
|
September 2021 – February 2022
- SSATWG meeting regularly to progress site opening.
- Bayview Park construction expected between April and August 2022
- McIlwaine Park – site works delayed expect construction complete in June/July 2022.
- Bedlam Bay – awaiting outcome of grant funding for construction of site infrastructure and finalisation of HHRA.
- Putney Park – awaiting outcome of grant funding for construction of site infrastructure and finalisation of HHRA.
|
June – August 2021
- Bayview Park – at DA stage with site works expected to be completed by April 2022.
- McIlwaine Park – site works delayed due to COVID restrictions.
- Bedlam Bay – still in investigative phase.
- Putney Park – construction of steps completed. Awaiting results of further investigations.
|
March – May 2021
- EnRisk engaged by Ryde and Hunter’s Hill Councils to undertake chemical sampling and develop Human Health Risk Assessments (HHRA).
- Bayview Park anticipated to open in the 2021/22 swim season.
- McIlwaine Park anticipated to open in the 2021/22 swim season.
- Bedlam Bay opening planned for late 2021/22 swim season.
- Putney Park – construction of steps ongoing due to contractor delays.
|
December 2020 – February 2021
- EnRisk engaged by other priority swim site councils (except City of Ryde) to undertake chemical sampling and develop HHRA.
- Bayview Park timeline for opening has been delayed as a Development Application (DA) is required.
|
September – November 2020
- Bayview Park – community consultation finalised.
- Putney Park – construction of steps expected to be completed in early 2021. Internal bid currently underway to fund additional site infrastructure such as netting.
- Bedlam Bay – engaged to begin Human Health Risk Assessments, assessing funding opportunities for netting and other site infrastructure.
|
June – August 2020
- Bayview Park – community consultation was put on hold due to COVID-19. City of Canada Bay is planning to conduct online community engagement for the site in September with construction estimated to rak place between January-April 2021.
- McIlwaine Park – preparing tender documents to be released in late August. A six-month construction period is expected with completion by late 2021.
- Putney Park site steps expected to be completed by October 2020. City of Ryde to confirm if the site will be launched as a swim site.
|
March – May 2020
- Quotes have been received to develop the Human Health Risk Assessments at each of the three sites.
- Bayview Park – community consultation has been put on hold due to COVID-19. We are still anticipating to progress with the concept design when restrictions have eased.
- McIlwaine Park – draft construction plans currently under review. Council is hoping to go to tender in June 2020.
|
December 2019 – February 2020
- Received Callan Park Environmental Health Risk Assessment report from UNSW, which has been referred to NSW Health, the EPA, and DPIE.
|
September – November 2019
- City of Ryde and City of Canada Bay progressed design and construction plans for activation of swimming sites.
- Sanitary inspections completed for Putney Park, McIlwaine Park and Bayview Park.
|
July – September 2019
- City of Canada Bay held community consultation event at McIlwaine Park.
- City of Ryde and City of Canada Bay progressed design and construction plans for activation of swimming sites.
|
April – June 2019
- City of Ryde and City of Canada Bay progressed design and construction plans for activation of swimming sites.
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Useful Links
Callan Park is located on Iron Cove in Lilyfield. The site is home to the former Rozelle Hospital, which features extensive parkland and the popular ‘Bay Run’ that runs along the river foreshore.
Inner West Council is exploring the development of a swim site at Mort Bay, Birchgrove, with potential features including a netted swimming enclosure, improved access, and community facilities. The design is shaped by consultations with stakeholders such as local residents, health authorities, and waterway users. The site aims to provide recreational opportunities while preserving the environment and supporting the harbour’s use for boating and other activities.