A popular swim spot in Western Sydney has officially opened for the season, as a severe heatwave continues to lash the city.
Penrith Beach or commonly named ‘Pondi’ opened on Saturday morning for its third year in a row, as temperatures are expected to soar past 39C in some parts of Sydney.
The beach has also extended their operating hours of 7am to 7pm for the peak of the 2025-26 summer season.
A junior eight-week lifesaving program from Surf Life Saving NSW will also be kicking off on Saturdays teaching swimming and water safety to local children aged 5-12.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said Penrith Beach has “opened with a bang, with more on offer than before”.
“Opening Penrith Beach early, extending hours and delivering water safety programs is exactly what fairness looks like for a community that cops some of the hottest temperatures on the planet,” he said.
“This season we have an incredible line-up of free programs, including junior lifesaving workshops, community water safety days and professional skin checks to help people stay safe and healthy while enjoying the water.”
The summer program is about making sure families in the west get the same opportunities and access to swim spots as the rest of Sydney, Acting Minister for Western Sydney Courtney Houssos said.
“Penrith earned the title of the hottest place on earth in 2020, and yet the former Liberal National government kept this local swimming spot locked up for over a decade,” she said.
Member for Penrith Karen McKeown added Penrith has “had to fight for its fair share for far too long”.
“I’m proud to be part of a government that backs our community and delivers the things we need,” she said.
“Seeing families enjoy the atmosphere at the community day, lining up for free ice creams and coffees, and watching kids play in the sand showcases the value of our investment in reopening Penrith Beach.”
The opening marks the almost two year anniversary of a drowning at Penrith Beach just a week after the swimming spot opened to the public in December 2023.
Two people were having trouble in the water on Boxing Day, and while a child was pulled safely from the water a search ensued when a man did not resurface.
The man’s body was located a few hours later.
Meanwhile, heatwave warnings have been issued for parts of NSW, Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia, including an extreme warning for the Kimberley, Pilbara and North Interior.
A severe warning is in place for the Hunter, Metropolitan, Illawarra, South Coast, Central Tablelands and Southern Tablelands, in NSW.
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