“Swimming in the harbour is no pipe dream. Cities around the world are turning to their natural harbour assets rather than building more infrastructure,” she said. “Copenhagen spent 15 years transforming its harbour from a highly polluted waterway to a swimmer’s paradise where wildlife is thriving.”
The council commissioned an architect to examine options for a “swimmable harbour”,making ambitious proposals for waterside pools and other upgrades at locations including Pirrama Park in Pyrmont,Elizabeth Bay’s Beare Park,Barangaroo,Rushcutters Bay and the Glebe foreshore.
Some,like the proposal for Beare Park,would require minor changes such as netting,platforms and swimming lanes. But at Glebe the plan would include multiple swimming pools on a man-made island,connected to the foreshore by a foot bridge.
“For years we have included water access in our harbourside renewal projects,such as at the Glebe foreshore,Pirrama Park in Pyrmont and Beare Park in Elizabeth Bay. Swimming opportunities could be easily realised when the water is clean and safe,” Cr Moore said.
“The addition of a swimming pool at Pirrama Park in Pyrmont for example would only require minimal infrastructure along the existing harbour edge to allow for swimming.”
Cr Moore said managing pollution levels would be a bigger challenge than upgrading the harbour-side infrastructure,with the council working with Sydney Water to improve water quality.