Recently Sydney Water began the Urban Plunge initiative to address the lack of inland swimming facilities in Sydney, especially in western suburbs which are removed from the coast and subject to high inland temps. The organisation is working to to engage local councils and developers in a discourse on expanding water accessibility throughout western Sydney. To facilitate this dialogue, SW commissioned a technical report led by international architects Studio Octopi in collaboration with Nicole Larkin outlining several ways we can revive harbour and river swimming in Greater Sydney.

Some of the options included new harbour pools and netted swimming enclosures similar to those through Sydney Harbour. Others included simply allowing the community to better access the water. It also proposed ways to regenerate the natural environment and naturally filter river water, while also creating a place to swim. The project was launched in 2022 and continues to gain momentum with multiple swim sites continuing to open.