Penrith Beach Set to Make a Splash Out West
The opening of Western Sydney’s Penrith Beach is set to make a splash with Western Sydney locals this Summer, says the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue, as residents brace for another season of scorching temperatures.
With the mercury soaring out West today, Dialogue CEO Adam Leto said the long-awaited opening of the site was a watershed moment for the region.
“This is a historic day. After many years of advocacy and battles with bureaucracy, this pristine watering hole is finally open to the public – hopefully it’s just the start of things to come,” Mr Leto said.
“Already affectionately dubbed ‘Pondi’ by locals, this transformational project will provide much-needed access to safe, clean and cooling recreation, and is truly a win for the West.
“What’s even more impressive are the activation opportunities – imagine how much better the beach could be if it were surrounded by restaurants, retail options and walking tracks – you’re only limited by your imagination.
“The Dialogue has long championed the rights of Western Sydney’s communities to have access to clean and swimmable waterways, especially during scorching summers when Penrith has officially been the hottest place on earth.
“We congratulate the Penrith Lakes Development Corporation and CEO Jacqueline Vozzo for their work with the NSW Government, local councils, businesses and organisation like ours to see this vision come to life.
“But it’s crucial that this first dip into creating safe swimming locations is not just a one-off for Summer. The people of Western Sydney deserve to enjoy access to this site all year-round.
“The government needs to dive in and offer more cool and green destinations for residents, provide local communities with better water recreation access and support local businesses with new opportunities.
The Lakes Scheme is a giant site – imagine how much better the beach will be if the surrounding areas were activated with retail, fine dining and community facilities.”
Situated on the banks of the Nepean River at the foot of the Blue Mountains, the Penrith Lakes waterways precinct is part of a 2,000-hectare site that was once the largest sand and gravel quarry in the Southern Hemisphere.
Now pristine waterways, parklands and rejuvenated natural habitats, the area is five times the size of Sydney’s Centennial Parklands and holds more water than Sydney Harbour.
“This can become one of many iconic destinations in Western Sydney, a place for people to come together and enjoy the West’s unique natural beauty, one which can also help drive sustainable economic growth,” Mr Leto added.
