Callan Park Tidal Baths Expected To Open By Summer 2026

Residents around Iron Cove should have a new way of cooling off before next summer, with the New South Wales Government and the Inner West Council agreeing to jointly fund the proposed Callan Park Tidal Baths.

The Council has long advocated for their construction, reaching a funding agreement with the Minns Government which was announced on Thursday 14 August. A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed, to outline how the two parties will co-operate on the project.

Pending development approval, the baths are to be constructed off Callan Point, near Waterfront Oval, King George Park, Leichhardt Oval and the Bay Run. A jetty and pontoon will also be built, and shark nets will be installed. Construction is expected to take six months.

The area is popular with locals for exercise, sport and leisure.

Baths will be a “spectacular” addition

Inner West Council mayor Darcy Byrne said that 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.”

“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.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said the Memorandum of Understanding “plunges us to the next stage of the project.”

“The iconic Bay Run and surrounding parklands are already a community hub for family fun, sport, relaxation and exercise, so adding a swim spot where people can cool off in summer will be the perfect addition to an already thriving public space.”

Scully said that the Government’s $2 million commitment was “in addition” to its $4.8 million funding for the rejuvenation of nearby parkland.

Baths will enhance foreshore

Greater Sydney Parklands is developing the Callan Park Foreshore Master Plan, which will guide the integration of the baths into the waterfront. The public will be invited to give feedback in the coming months.

The body’s chief executive Joshua French said that heritage-listed Callan Park “holds a special place in the hearts of the community, who want to see the park reach its full potential.”

He said that the construction of the baths “will continue our foreshore improvement program, and will be a place for families and visitors to enjoy the waterside location and relax on the beautiful foreshore.”

Local group supports further investigation

The Friends of Callan Park, a local advocacy group, told City Hub that they support further investigation of the proposal.

“We are pleased that our concerns about the interference with the long-established rowing activities in Iron Cove have been responded to and the pool’s location moved, although that does not solve the other problems,” they wrote to the Council in early August.

“While sharing the universal support for the idea of Harbour swimming, the Friends’ concerns in this instance focus firstly on the suitability of the location at Callan Park, and then on the timing of any Harbour tidal pool given the water contamination problems and the serious threats to human health that this poses.”

The group expressed concerns about safety due to the lack of lifeguards and the site’s distance from occupied areas, with particular concern about security after dark. They also opposed the removal of nearby parking, proposed separately by Greater Sydney Parklands.

Other concerns were the loss of foreshore area and the need to protect nearby Aboriginal heritage sites on the eastern side of Callan Point.