Parramatta's New $88-Million Aquatic Centre Is Officially Full of Water and Ready to Open in Spring

Six years and $88.6 million in the making, the Parramatta Aquatic Centre has taken a big step towards opening, with its pools filled with water. Since the popular community swimming spot was demolished in 2017, Western Sydney residents have been pining for a summer when they could once again cool off with a dip in the Parramatta pool. This summer looks set to offer just that, with the 40,000-square-metre facility projected to open sometime in spring.

Over 2.5 million litres of water has been pumped into the aquatic centre's four pools: a 50-metre outdoor pool, a 25-metre indoor pool, an indoor learn-to-swim pool and an indoor water playground. These will be joined by a spa, sauna facilities, a cafe, a fitness centre and community facilities at the long-awaited centre. All of this will be located within Parramatta Park, in the heart of Sydney's second city.

"By the time the weather warms up, Parramatta will have a brand new place to cool down," says City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Sameer Pandey. "Our new aquatic centre will be a place where local kids learn to swim their first lap and potentially a training ground for our next Olympians."

Sustainability is also a big part of the upgraded facilities, with 358 rooftop solar panels being installed, generating 273 megawatts of power every hour.

If you want to sign up to become a Foundation Member of the aquatic centre, you can do so through the City of Parramatta website. The membership entitles you to full access to the pool, gym, pilates classes, spa and sauna, as well as lockers, two hours of free parking, and a pair of two-week free passes which you can gift to a friend or family member.

The project is partially funded by the NSW Government's Restart NSW Fund, which has provided an initial $38.5-million investment in building the centre, and has promised a subsequent $11.6 million to help future-proof the facility as Parramatta continues to grow.

The Western Sydney hub is currently experiencing plenty of change, with high-rise buildings continuing to be erected and the new Powerhouse Museum currently under construction. There are also plenty of exciting new venues popping up in the suburbs, from fellow Parramatta Park dweller Misc. to Circa Espresso's decadent new bakery Lucien Baked Goods.

We'll be sure to update you when we get an official open date for the new Parramatta pool.

The Parramatta Aquatic Centre is set to open in spring 2023 — for more information, head to the City of Parramatta website.