Written by
28/08/2023
As part of the 2018 Greater Sydney Outdoor Survey, Sydneysiders would like to see more opportunities for swimming and water-based activities less than 30 minutes from their home.
More than half of the local residents in Western Sydney enjoy outdoor recreation involving water at least once a week. The largest barrier to accessibility is travel time.
In response to this, the NSW Government is in the midst of carrying out a feasibility study to identify the best way to increase recreational opportunities at Prospect Reservoir, while protecting drinking water quality, cultural values and the environment.
On the table at the moment is a concept plan to allow locals to swim in a set area of the reservoir, which will be marked out by a netted enclosure, a ‘Moses bridge’ or some other physical barrier. To ensure the drinking water is protected, it is likely that significant investment in additional water treatment will be required.
The government has confirmed that it will not consider swimming in the whole reservoir for obvious reasons.
Prospect Reservoir and Nature Reserve location map and key features
By way of context, Prospect Reservoir – a 520-hectare waterbody – and its surrounding land offers an opportunity to improve the local residents’ accessibility to water-based activities which are in substantial demand in Western Sydney.
Prospect Reservoir has three functions:
The reservoir and Nature Reserve are within the Western Sydney Parklands and encroach on parts of Blacktown and Fairfield LGAs. It has capacity for around 50 gigalitres of water and is surrounded by 325 hectares of Prospect Nature Reserve and 20 hectares of recreational area.
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Propertied Insider is a planning and development digital publication dedicated to the NSW Market.
