LOCKED OUT: GOLDEN STRETCH OF SAND OFF LIMITS

Western Sydney Lakes could be the answer to cooling down this summer, but the gates are locked and the state government won't give up the keys.

 

"This belongs to the people of Penrith. They were promised that after all the mining was finished, this would come back to them," Penrith Mayor Tricia Hitchen said. ​

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Penrith's lake system is bigger than Sydney Harbour and the water has been deemed safe for swimming.

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There are also bold proposals to transform the area into an international tourist destination which could rival the iconic Bondi Beach. 

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Chris Brown from the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue agrees the long stretch of sand should open to the public. 

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"Penrith a couple of years ago was the hottest place on earth and we're headed for a stinker of a summer," he added. ​"This has been the subject of such an amount of ridiculous bureaucracy."

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The Planning Minister's office told 7 News the department is continuing to investigate the site's future recreational use.