The Parramatta River Catchment Group (PRCG) was excited to attend the announcement by Federal Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek of a proposed new swim site on Cockatoo Island.
A former shipyard slipway will be transformed into a public swimming area and launch site for kayaks and small boats. The project is part of a broader masterplan to revitalise the island, including relocating the campground to create a waterfront park and converting a dock for light shows celebrating the island’s industrial past.
Minister Plibersek highlighted the improving water quality in the Parramatta River and Sydney Harbour, reflected in increasing marine biodiversity, and emphasised the importance of creating more free, public swim sites.
PRCG Chair Cr Penny Pedersen reaffirmed the group’s commitment to restoring the river’s health and working closely with the Harbour Trust to support the new swim site.
Known to Sydney’s First Nations people as Wareamah, Cockatoo Island sits where the Parramatta and Lane Cove Rivers meet and has a rich history, including its time as a convict penal settlement.
From left: Nadia Young (PRCG Senior Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Officer), Cr Penny Pedersen (PRCG Chair), Alexi Gilchrist (PRCG Coordinator), Tanya Plibersek (Minister for the Environment and Water), Cr Kerrie Fergusson (PRCG Vice Chair).
