A vision for Swimmable Cities

This is a guest post by Nikki Goodson, a self-proclaimed urbanist and Independent Marketer for businesses building a better world. Looking for projects to connect on, she found the global movement Swimmable Cities and thought advocacy for urban swimming sounded like a pretty good idea.

(The header image of the post shows the Danube Canal in Vienna, and is by Michael Hammerschick, as featured on the Swimmable Cities Instagram account.)

What’s a Swimmable City?

In Melbourne there’s a community of people working on regenerating the city’s local natural waterways. They have the audacious goal of making the Birrarung / Yarra River swimmable by 2030. And they’re not the only ones aiming to regenerate big city waters. They’re part of a global movement of stakeholders advocating for change towards Swimmable Cities.

Taking a leading role in this urban swimming movement is Melbourne-based Regeneration Projects, a B Corporation (the ‘B’ stands for ‘benefit for all’). They are one of many organisations working on the Swimmable Birrarung goal, and it was their visualisation of a ’Swimming Trail for Melbourne’s central river’ that first piqued my interest.

Soon after this, I heard about the Swimmable Cities charter – a set of 10 principles aiming to bring together decision-makers, actors and grassroots activists in the international urban swimming movement. The purpose of the charter is described sixfold as Making Peace with Nature, Promoting the Rights to Life, Empowering People in Practice, Swimming Towards Sustainable Development, Investing in a Better Future for All, and Connecting South, North, East and West.

The principles (listed below) are grouped into four categories – Foundational Values, Enabling Conditions, Sharing Benefits and Next Generation principles.

The Swimmable Cities principles:

1. The Right to Swim
2. One Health, Many Swimmers
3. Urban Swimming Culture
4. Water is Sacred
5. Rewriting the Rules
6. Democratic Participation in Swimming Places
7. Reconnection & Resilience
8. New Economic Opportunities
9. Sharing Wellbeing Benefits, Culture & Knowledge
10. Stewardship for Today, Tomorrow & Future Generations

Why might Auckland make a great Swimmable City?

My home city of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is already blessed with two ocean coastlines and numerous inner-harbour and inner-city beaches, so you might wonder why I think it could benefit from advocacy for an urban swimming movement.

Well sure, in theory we have plentiful access to swimmable waters, but imagine a city where any harbour, stream or beach was guaranteed to be clean and accessible – even after a storm! A city where anyone, wherever they are and without travelling too far, could easily access a relaxing local swimming spot for an after-school or after-work wind down.

Accessibility is perhaps one of the bigger challenges in our city when it comes to urban swimming. When I mentioned this project to a friend, they noted that the most difficult part is often getting transport to the beach, especially for those using economical or sustainable modes. For those living in inner-urban parts of the isthmus, getting to a swimmable spot can often take an hour on public transport, at least – which is not exactly what comes to mind when you think of popping down for a local swim. And as for accessing somewhere like Piha – one of our most famous and beloved coastal spots – that’d be a two day return hike on foot, a treacherous bike ride on narrow, winding roads, or… get a car!

But Auckland’s west coast hasn’t always been devoid of transport options, better things are possible 😉 Albeit a private track for transporting logs, the Piha Tramway was built between Piha and Karekare way back in 1910 – an example of what can be achieved when we believe and combine our collaborative resources and energy. (Is this the right moment to share my dream of a cable car across the Waitākere Ranges to New Lynn? I digress.)

And if swimming in the Seine for the Paris Olympics wasn’t enough of a revelation for you, London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan has also announced a commitment to make London’s waterways swimmable by 2034. It only seems impossible until it’s done.

Perhaps it’s my marketing training showing, but what strikes me most about this initiative is the reframe of the messaging in this campaign – from what could have just been a ‘stream-cleaning’ initiative, to a full vision for Swimmable Cities. This not so subtle difference moves you from a place of feeling like there’s hard work to be done, with no specific mention of what it might mean for people – to feeling drawn in and excited by the idea of something you could enjoy in your everyday life. A masterclass in marketing sustainability, I would say.

Tāmaki Makaurau has some amazing examples of upcoming projects for water access and urban restoration in the works, including Wynyard Quarter’s harbour pool and Te Ara Tukutuku, a new waterfront public space. [Ed: as recently covered by Greater Auckland, here and here]

Personally, I’d also love to see Te Auaunga Oakley Creek made officially safe for swimming. This would make an amazing central-west oasis. Imagine coming off the rainbow cycle path on a hot summer’s day, entering the canopy and traipsing down through the trees for a cool-off in the canyon.

It seems like only a matter of time before someone in Aotearoa joins the call and signs the Swimmable Cities charter, using their knowledge and connections to make a collaborative impact. Who’ll be the first to dip their toe in the water and make a splash?

Find out more at swimmablecities.org

PS In related news: have your say on the Shoreline Adaptation Plans

Nikki’s excellent post reminds us that public feedback is still open on Auckland Council’s Shoreline Adaptation Plans (SAPs), until Thursday 26 September. Council says the plans will:

• look at how we can adapt Auckland Council-owned land and assets to respond to coastal hazards and climate change over the next 100 years, and
• promote the preservation and restoration of the coastal environment for future generations.

The feedback survey asks about things like – what you value about our coastlines, how you access these areas and how you use them, any hazards you can identify, and what you think about the proposals for adaptation, preserving and restoring Council-owned coastal areas. You can comment on any or all of the beaches, coasts and estuaries you’re familiar with. It’s definitely useful to read the consultation documents first.

The strategy is split into two areas:

Waitematā Harbour West, including but not limited to: Northcote Point, Chelsea, Birkdale, Bayview, Windy Ridge, Greenhithe, Schnapper Rock, Paremoremo, Riverhead, Whenuapai, Hobsonville, West Harbour, Massey, Te Atatū, Glendene, New Lynn, Rosebank, Avondale, Point Chevalier, Herne Bay, Westhaven.

• Here’s the consultation document for this area
• Here’s the feedback form for this area

Weiti Estuary to Devonport Peninsula,  including but not limited to: Stanley Point, Bayswater, Belmont, Hauraki, Takapuna, Milford, Forrest Hill, Crown Hill, Campbells Bay, Mairangi Bay, Murrays Bay, Rothesay Bay, Browns Bay, Waiake, Torbay, Long Bay, Okura, Devonport, Redvale, Silverdale.

• Here’s the consultation document for this area
• Here’s the feedback form for this area

There’s also a handy “drop a pin” map for the combined areas, if you prefer to give feedback that way.

Weiti Estuary to Devonport Shoreline Adaptation Plan Area

Waitematā Harbour West Shoreline Adaptation Plan area

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