Sydney’s upcoming harbour pool set to debut this summer
Sydney’s latest harbour swimming pool, situated on the Callan Park banks in Lilyfield, is slated to open to swimmers this summer, according to the state government, with construction now well underway.
This new tidal facility on the Iron Cove foreshore, positioned along the popular Bay Run and near prominent sports venues such as Leichhardt Oval and King George Park, is anticipated to draw thousands to the southern shores of the Parramatta River.
Demolition efforts have also commenced on nine decaying structures within Callan Park, which the Minns government described on Monday as buildings “neglected for so long that they have become not only an eyesore but a safety hazard”.
“The removal of these long cordoned off buildings will reclaim central areas of Callan Park, returning the equivalent of two football fields of open green space for free community use,” the government stated.
The facility will feature a shark net, a fixed jetty, a pontoon, and an accessible pathway equipped with a ramp leading into the water.
Constructed over an anticipated six-month period, the tidal baths are expected to open for summer 2026, with the demolition of the unsafe Callan Park buildings also scheduled for completion by year’s end.
Commonwealth Games swimming record for Australian sprint ace
Cam McEvoy dominated the men’s 50m freestyle final in Glasgow, breaking the Commonwealth Games recordAAP reports.
McEvoy, who set a world record in March, was the sole finalist to break the 21-second barrier as he led an Australian medal sweep.
The 32-year-old swimmer clocked an exceptional 20.97 seconds to defeat Flynn Southam, who finished in 21.44, while Jamie Jack claimed the bronze medal in 21.47.
It marks McEvoy’s first individual Commonwealth Games gold medal.
Updated at 16.58 EDT
Two additional bird flu cases confirmed in South Australia
Two local birds in South Australia that initially raised concerns about severe avian influenza—greater crested terns discovered in Robe and Semaphore—have been confirmed positive for the H5N1 virus by CSIRO.
This brings the total number of confirmed or presumed positive H5 detections nationwide to 20, as stated in a Sunday communiqué by Australia’s acting chief veterinary officer, Dr Sam Hamilton.
double quotation markAll of these have been individual wild seabirds found in coastal locations.
There remains no evidence of any mass mortality events and there are no detections in poultry or in our agricultural production system.
The risk to human health remains low.
NSW planning minister advocates for bill enabling commercial activity near new pool
Planning and public services minister Paul Scully declared that the Callan Park upgrades marked a “new era”.
“The new tidal baths and the restoration of 1.6 hectares—equivalent to 4,000 large picnic blankets of green open space—to the community will allow more residents to enjoy this magnificent parkland,” he stated on Monday.
Scully asserted that Callan Park would benefit further from the Parklands bill, which passed the state’s lower house in May and is currently under review by the Legislative Council. Existing legislation prohibits commercial activity within Callan Park.
“For the park to host its next favorite cafe and reach its full potential, we need the … bill to successfully pass through parliament,” Scully said.
Upon opening, the Callan Park baths will join Sydney’s expanding roster of new and revitalized public swimming spots. Marrinawi Cove at Barangaroo was celebrated as Sydney’s first city beach in half a century when it debuted in 2023.
Bayview Park on the Parramatta River welcomed swimmers again in 2022 after remaining closed for over fifty years. The river also features Chiswick baths and Cabarita beach, while “Pondi” – Penrith beach – opened in Castlereagh in 2024.
Sydney harbour tidal baths to open this summer
Sydney’s newest harbour swimming pool, located on the Callan Park waterfront in Lilyfield, is expected to open to the public this summer, the state government announced as construction is now underway.
situated on the Iron Cove foreshore along the well-traveled Bay Run and adjacent to sports grounds such as Leichhardt Oval and King George Park, the facility is projected to attract thousands to the Parramatta River’s southern banks.
Demolition operations have also begun targeting nine structurally unsafe buildings in Callan Park, which the Minns government labeled on Monday as structures “neglected for so long that they have become not only an eyesore but a safety hazard”.
“Removing these long cordoned off buildings will unlock vital central sections of Callan Park, effectively returning the space equivalent to two football fields of green open space for free community use,” the government noted.
The new baths will be equipped with a shark net, a fixed jetty, a pontoon, and an accessible pathway alongside a ramp into the water.
The six-month construction timeline for the tidal baths means they are projected to open for summer 2026. The demolition of the Callan Park buildings is also expected to be finalized by the end of this year.
Good morning
Stephanie Convery will be with you shortly to walk through today unfolding national news.
At 2pm AEST today, the majority of phones across the country will emit an emergency siren during the inaugural nationwide test of the new AusAlert warning system. Individuals who may possess private “safe phones” hidden for personal safety reasons are advised to consider powering down their devices for up to 24 hours following the test, and drivers have been cautioned against using their phones while the alert sounds.
The Royal Commission on Anti-semitism and Social Cohesion continues its sessions in Sydney.
Additionally, Ed Husic is scheduled to appear on ABC Radio soon to address the political fallout from the national Labor conference.
