Swimming at Whanganui port is not permitted but people do it anyway according to people at a planning meeting on Tuesday.
Urban design consultant Henry Crothers said he has worked on a number of waterfront developments where designated swimming areas had been incorporated.
"It's important to make it appeal to the demographic who will use it and make it challenging enough for them," he said.
Mr Crothers' LandLAB company have designed a number of waterfront developments around the Auckland port.
He said it is important to make use of what is already there and to have something for everyone who wants to be there.