Sydney's mayor unveils plan for a swimmable harbor

Clover Moore, Sydney's Lord Mayor, has revealed an ambitious vision to turn the city's famous harbor into a public swimming area.

"Swimming in the harbor is a realistic goal. Cities worldwide are leveraging their natural waterfronts instead of adding more infrastructure," Moore wrote in her proposal, which she presented at the Sydney Water Innovation Festival on October 18.

Moore’s office enlisted Australia’s Andrew Burges Architects (ABA) to reimagine Sydney Harbor, envisioning public swimming zones integrated into the area.

Her proposal highlights that climate change and population growth will reshape Sydney in the future, and with limited green space, cleaning up the harbor and making it swimmable offers a refreshing solution for residents.

ABA has identified Pirrama Park in Pyrmont and Beare Park in Elizabeth Bay as prime spots for public swimming.

"This vision depends on improving water quality," Moore emphasized. "Some parts of our harbor are severely polluted, and cleaning these waterways for recreational use and enhanced biodiversity will need collaboration at all levels of government."

The proposal draws inspiration from a similar initiative in Copenhagen, which focuses on cleaning up the city’s waterways and making them more accessible to the public.

The proposed Waterfront Cultural Centre, a 53,820-square-foot tribute to Copenhagen's harbor history, will feature both indoor and outdoor public pools. The project was awarded to Japanese firm Kengo Kuma & Associates, though no opening date has been set.

In 2019, Dinogo Travel recognized Copenhagen as the world's top city for urban swimming.

Moore has served as the Lord Mayor of Sydney, Australia's largest city, since 2004, and was the first woman to be elected to this position.

New South Wales, the state that encompasses Sydney, has set a goal to reduce its fossil fuel consumption by 50% by 2030.

Featured image: A concept rendering of a floating pool in Sydney Harbor. Credit: Andrew Burges Architects