Sydney council to close Marrinawi Cove for three months ahead of summer for upgrades

SYDNEY — Marrinawi Cove at Barangaroo Reserve will close for three months starting Sept. 22 for upgrades ahead of summer, with a mid-December reopening planned, officials said. The work is part of a broader effort to revamp Sydney’s foreshore and ensure popular harbour locations remain safe, accessible, and inviting for residents and visitors alike.

Opened in 2023, Marrinawi Cove quickly became a standout feature of Barangaroo, the first city beach west of the Harbour Bridge in more than five decades. The cove drew crowds seeking a harbour swim with panoramic views and a convenient urban setting for a lunch break or post-work dip. The temporary closure has sparked a wave of reaction online, with locals debating whether the work could have been scheduled for winter when fewer people might use the space.

The upgrades planned for Marrinawi Cove include a new decking platform, an outdoor shower, and non-slip stairs to address concerns about rock-facing hazards along the shoreline. Sandstone blocks around the water are set to be repositioned to free up more towel space, and officials say the swimming area will be expanded with a realigned shark net and a depth marker to aid swimmers of all skill levels. Funding for the project will come from developers’ contributions, city officials said, underscoring a broader push to improve accessibility and safety at harbourfront sites as populations encroach on these spaces.

Lands Minister Steve Kamper stressed that the upgrades are a response to the cove’s growing popularity and a commitment to making the space safe, accessible, and enjoyable for everyone. “These upgrades are about responding to that popularity and making sure the space is safe, accessible, and enjoyable for everyone,” Kamper said. The government framed the project as part of a wider plan to enhance the Sydney foreshore and reconnect people with the harbour.

Community groups have offered mixed reactions. Yasmina Bonnet of the Millers Point Resident Action Group welcomed the move, saying the community had long called for an expanded swim area and better accessibility for elderly and less mobile visitors. She told The Herald that broader swimmable options in the area would be ideal, noting that improved facilities could benefit locals and visitors alike. "Sydneysiders love a good harbour swim," she said. "If the larger Nawi Cove, just near Barangaroo metro station, was also swimmable in the future, that would be fabulous."

But several local commenters questioned the timing, arguing that winter would have been a quieter period in which to carry out construction. One social media user quipped, “Perfect timing, couldn't have been done in the winter,” while another said they swim there daily regardless of the weather and questioned why the work could not have begun earlier. Despite the online debate, others expressed support for the plan, acknowledging the need to upgrade facilities and the potential for a more comfortable, safer space once work is complete.

Officials say the site is expected to reopen by mid-December, weather permitting, with the upgraded facilities designed to better accommodate the steady stream of visitors that Marrinawi Cove has drawn since its debut. The redevelopment aligns with governmental priorities to modernise the harbourfront and ensure popular outdoor spaces remain accessible to a broad cross-section of the public, including families and older residents, as Sydney continues to attract visitors during summer.