FAQs

Bedlam Bay in the Parramatta River Regional Park lies within the traditional country of the Wallumedegal or Wallumattagal clan. During 1866, a bathing place at the small beach at the eastern end of the park was created for Gladesville Hospital patients. Known as the ‘bathing beach’, it included boardwalks, dressing sheds and timber pylons to support a shark net. The baths were demolished when the pool was built above the oval in 1956.

Hunter’s Hill Council is an active member of the Parramatta River Catchment Group (PRCG), an alliance of councils, state government agencies and community groups that are together working on the ‘Our Living River’ mission to make the Parramatta River swimmable again by 2025.

In 2018, the PRCG launched a ten-step Masterplan for the Parramatta River. The Bedlam Bay project aligns with Step 3 of the Masterplan to establish new swimming sites in the river. To determine if a site is suitable, the PRCG developed a Swim Site Activation Framework that evaluates the site’s feasibility, vulnerability and desirability. The PRCG also surveyed more than 1500 residents across the Parramatta River catchment, which identified the community’s desire to swim in the river.

There are already four natural swimming sites in the Parramatta River catchment: Cabarita Park beach, Chiswick Baths, and Dawn Fraser Baths (monitored by Beachwatch) and Lake Parramatta (monitored by City of Parramatta).

A new swim site at Bayview Park in Concord opened to the public in November 2022.

As well as Bedlam Bay, other sites planned for activation include McIlwaine Park (Rhodes) and Putney Park (Putney).

A critical part of activating Bedlam Bay as a potential swim site involves intensive water quality monitoring and sediment testing by Sydney Water through the Riverwatch Monitoring Program.

Results from microbial monitoring conducted at Bedlam Bay from October 2020 indicate that the site meets the National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC) guidelines for swimming during dry weather, most of the time. Further intensive monitoring was undertaken during the March 2021 rainfall event to improve our understanding of wet weather impacts and recovery times after significant rainfall. Microbial source tracking was also conducted for samples that exceeded the NHMRC guidelines for swimming.

Sediment (and suspended sediment in the water column) was also tested because of the river’s historical contamination due to previous industrial activities. This testing has determined that swimming and other water recreational activities are possible.

Additional sampling was undertaken in October 2022 and a draft Human Health Risk Assessment updated.

Initial feedback from the PRCG and Sydney Water is that the proposed Bedlam Bay swim site would be an ideal location for activation, and both organisations have provided written and verbal support for the project.

Hunter’s Hill Council manages the majority of the Parramatta River Regional Park, which is leased from National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). Following a review of the project submission, the NPWS has indicated their support for the project.