Callan Park Tidal Baths

 

Sydney’s Inner West Council has announced the completed design for a new swimming site along the city’s iconic Bay Run, estimated to open for the summer of 2026.

 

Callan Park Tidal Baths is the new swimming site planned for the shores of Sydney’s Inner West, set to open at the Iron Cove foreshore of Callan Park in Lilyfield.

The design of the baths includes an accessible pathway, a fixed jetty, an accessible pontoon, a play pontoon, an accessible ramp, and a shark net.

The new swim spot will be along the Bay Run, a 7km circuit around Drummoyne and Five Dock, one of Sydney’s most popular destinations for walkers, runners, and cyclists.

‘The Callan Park Tidal Baths will be a spectacular addition to the Bay Run, which is already one of the best used recreation facilities in Sydney’, said Inner West Council Mayor Darcy Byrne. ‘This swim site is the next step in the incredible rehabilitation of the Parramatta River and will attract swimmers and families from all over the Inner West to take a dip in Callan Park.’

The project forms part of the Parramatta River Masterplan, which includes the reopening and creation of several new swimming locations, including Bayview Park Baths and most recently, Putney Beach. Marrinawi Cove in Barrangaroo Reserve also opened in 2023.

Will it be safe to swim at Callan Park Tidal Baths?

In a council meeting in June 2024 involving community consultation, Inner West community members expressed concerns about safety and water quality, but were mostly supportive of the project.

As part of the approval process for the site, the Inner West Council conducted two years of extensive testing, including environmental impact research, river depth, and floor quality testing.

Water quality testing has also been carried out since 2018 in partnership with Sydney Water, NSW Government’s Beachwatch, and the Parramatta River Catchment Group. Monitoring equipment on-site will allow for real-time reporting on water quality once the site opens.

When will Callan Park Tidal Baths open?

The swim spot is expected to open in the summer of 2026, subject to approval.

To find out more and stay up to date on the development of the site, visit the Inner West Council website.

 

Feature photo: an artist’s impression of the approved design for Callan Park Tidal Baths, courtesy of Inner West Council Facebook

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