About Us
We have a vision to make it easy, enjoyable and safe to immerse ourselves in the Swan River in the city. As a team of local professionals with years of experience on significant projects, we are working to make this happen.
The Swan River Deck
The place to connect - to swim freely and safely in filtered, clear river water without chemicals, mud, jellyfish and algal blooms - year round, set in the amphitheatre of our beautiful city.
Life in Western Australia centres around water – our aquifers, our beaches, our rivers. The River Deck will add to life in Perth.
This is a unique opportunity for us to celebrate and embrace one of Perth’s most important natural resources, the Swan River. Western Australians have had a long and unique relationship with this water body – from its Indigenous origins as a place of food gathering, hunting, swimming and cultural ceremonies, through to European settlement and the development of the City Baths and the Crawley Baths, and now as a place where the city meets the water at Elizabeth Quay.
The proposed River Deck encapsulates this cultural and functional history of the river to offer a new way to interact with the river and a new destination. This destination will enrich Perth’s developing foreshore and add to its burgeoning night life. This is not just a place for swimming – it is a place to learn, meet friends, gather for events and enjoy performances.
The Deck’s form and function are inspired by the Swan River’s unique morphology and the idea of water play. Designed as a lagoon connected to the river, its surface is generated by the inception of the splash, creating multiple water pools, a ‘sand-bar’ area to sunbake and to stay dry, and an ecological ‘habitat’ with rooms inside for events and exhibitions. The splash itself offers change-room facilities, as well as a unique viewing deck and bar within the crown – a new vantage point to view the city and the river from, which gives the deck an unmistakable profile to the city and its surrounds.
There are ten big ideas behind the River Deck:
A place for everyone
Filtered river water, no chemicals
100m swimming length
Tempered water
Environmentally light-touch
Productive architecture
Cultural heritage
Knowledge and learning
Build something different and bold
Community asset
The Proposed site
We think that a good site for the River Deck is next to the lovely Elizabeth Quay, in close proximity to the best public transport in the metro area and accessible to the many people who visit, work or live in the city. The River Deck will build upon the significant investment in Elizabeth Quay as a destination.
We propose that the Swan River Deck could be accommodated at Elizabeth Quay in harmony with the proposed Indigenous Cultural Centre, to mutual benefit. Alternatively, subject to its final design, the Deck could be relocated to accommodate the ICC when it is built.
WHAT WE’VE DONE SO FAR
Our team has spent many hours developing a preliminary view on what people may like to do at the Deck, how it could look, how it might operate (both technically and financially) and how it could be designed and built. We’re also in contact with the inspirational team at Plus Pool in New York City, and we look forward to collaborating on technology and sharing experiences with them.
We’ve also met with a number of parties to seek feedback. These include the WA Minister for Environment; local Indigenous, business and community leaders; Tourism WA; the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority; Landcorp; Tourism Council of WA; WA Department of Transport; SWALSC; Swimming WA and Committee for Perth. As a next step, prior to pursuing regulatory approvals, we recognise that community endorsement is important for us to proceed further.
Be part of the Deck; join the conversation
We are at the early stage of this project and there is still much work to do. The final design & functionality will be shaped by you.
We value your opinion, so please complete a quick survey or visit our Facebook page and join the conversation. If you think that the Deck is a good idea and want it to happen, please register your support below! If you are interested in being a part of the Deck’s development, please email us at swim@swanriverdeck.com
Once we receive feedback from the public through the above channels and the WA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attraction’s Perth Water Precinct Plan public consultation process, we’ll move things ahead.