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Over the past few years, Western Sydney’s swimming game has been on the up – with Penrith Beach (aka Pondi), Parramatta River and Bedlam Bay leading the charge. And in good news for people who prefer to swim in a lovely neat lane, there’s more on the way. The long-awaited Canterbury Leisure and Aquatic Centre has hit a major milestone this week, with construction officially entering its most satisfying phase yet: filling up the pool.
Earlier this week, in a moment of splashy ceremony, Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Bilal El-Hayek turned on the hose to begin filling the centre’s 50-metre Olympic-sized outdoor pool. It’s no quick job, either – the pool will take 1.7 million litres of water and around a week to completely fill.
“This is a huge step in the construction of this multi-million-dollar, state-of-the-art facility,” said Mayor El-Hayek. And honestly, he’s not exaggerating. The project has been billed as a once-in-a-generation investment for the area, and it’s starting to look the part.
Once complete, the outdoor pool won’t just be for serious swimmers chasing PBs. It’s been designed with accessibility front of mind, featuring a pool hoist and bariatric chair to ensure people of all ages and abilities can get in on the action. There’s also a clever swim wall, meaning the 50-metre pool can be split into two 25-metre sections – perfect for everything from casual summer dips to competitive training.
According to the council, the pool is just the beginning. The centre is shaping up to be a full-blown wellness hub, not just a place to cool off when Sydney turns up the heat. Recent progress updates reveal the indoor warm-water program pool has already been completed and filled, while a zero-depth children’s water play area (read: splash zone heaven) has also been installed. Elsewhere, you’ll find a 25-metre heated indoor pool, a fully equipped gym, two fitness studios and – because balance is everything – a sauna for post-workout unwinding.
If all goes to plan, locals won’t have to wait too long to dive in. The Mayor has his sights set on opening the doors before summer, which means this could very well be your new go-to spot when the sweaty season rolls around. For now, you can track the progress as the pool slowly (but surely) fills up over here.
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