Australia news live: new Sydney Harbour pool slated to open in summer; AusAlert warning test to blare siren across phones nationally | Australia news
New Sydney Harbor pool to open this summer
Ben Doherty
The state government says Sydney’s newest harbor swimming hole on the foreshore of Callan Park in Lilyfield will open to swimmers this summer and construction is now underway.
The new tidal baths on Iron Cove’s shoreline, along the popular Bay Run and close to sporting venues such as Leichhardt Oval and King George Park are expected to attract thousands of people to the southern banks of the Parramatta River.
Demolition work has also begun on nine unsafe buildings in Callan park, which “have long been neglected and have become not only an eyesore but also a safety hazard”, the Minns government said on Monday.
“The removal of these long-cordoned buildings will unlock the central parts of Callan Park, allowing green space equivalent to two football fields to be brought back into free community use,” the government said in a statement.
The baths will feature a shark net, a fixed dock, a pontoon and an accessible pathway and ramp into the water.
Construction of the new tidal baths was expected to take six months, meaning it should open in summer 2026. Building demolition in Callan park was also expected to be completed by the end of this year.
important events
Two more cases of bird flu confirmed in South Australia
Two native birds suspected of contracting deadly bird flu in South Australia, the greater crested terns at Robe and Semaphore, have been confirmed positive for the H5N1 virus by the CSIRO.
Australia’s chief veterinary officer said this brings the total number of H5 confirmed or presumed positive detections to 20 nationwide. Doctor Sam Hamiltonhe said in a statement on Sunday.
These are all individual wild seabirds found in coastal areas.
There is no evidence of any mass mortality and no detection in poultry or our agricultural production system.
The risk to human health remains low.
Ben Doherty
NSW planning minister calls for bill to allow commercial activity around new pool
Minister of Planning and Public Services Paul ScullyCallan said the improvements to his park represented a “new era”.
“New tidal baths and the return of 1.6 hectares, or the equivalent of 4,000 large picnic blankets, of green open space to the community will mean more people will be able to enjoy this wonderful parkland,” he said on Monday.
Scully argued Callan Park would be further improved by the Parklands bill, which passed the state’s lower house in May and is now before the Legislative Council. Legislation currently prevents any commercial activity at Callan Park.
“We need the bill to pass parliament so that the park can be home to your new favorite cafe and reach its full potential,” Scully said.
When Callan park baths open, it will be the last of Sydney’s new or revitalized public swimming spaces. Marrinawi Bay at Barangaroo was touted as Sydney’s first city beach in 50 years when it opened in 2023.
Bayview park on the Parramatta River reopened for swimming in 2022 after being closed for more than fifty years. The river also includes Chiswick baths and Cabarita beach, while “Pondi” – Penrith beach – opened at Castlereagh in 2024.
New Sydney Harbor pool to open this summer
Ben Doherty
The state government says Sydney’s newest harbor swimming hole on the foreshore of Callan Park in Lilyfield will open to swimmers this summer and construction is now underway.
The new tidal baths on Iron Cove’s shoreline, along the popular Bay Run and close to sporting venues such as Leichhardt Oval and King George Park are expected to attract thousands of people to the southern banks of the Parramatta River.
Demolition work has also begun on nine unsafe buildings in Callan park, which “have long been neglected and have become not only an eyesore but also a safety hazard”, the Minns government said on Monday.
“The removal of these long-cordoned buildings will unlock the central parts of Callan Park, allowing green space equivalent to two football fields to be brought back into free community use,” the government said in a statement.
The baths will feature a shark net, a fixed dock, a pontoon and an accessible pathway and ramp into the water.
Construction of the new tidal baths was expected to take six months, meaning it should open in summer 2026. Building demolition in Callan park was also expected to be completed by the end of this year.
Good morning
Stephanie Convery He’ll be back soon to bring you today’s news as it emerges.
At 2pm AEST today, most phones in the country will sound the emergency siren as part of the first nationwide test of the new AusAlert alert system. People with hidden “secure phones” stored for personal safety were advised to turn off their devices for up to 24 hours after the test, and drivers were warned not to touch their phones during the warning.
The Royal Commission into Anti-Semitism and Social Cohesion continues its work in Sydney.
And Ed Husic He will be on ABC Radio soon to talk about the results of the National Labor Conference.
