The Parramatta River Help us make the Parramatta River swimmable again The Parramatta River is the main tributary of Sydney Harbour. Its catchment area covers 266 square Parramatta River kilometres and is home to a diverse and rapidly growing community of over 750,000 people. What you can do to help The river was once a popular swimming location and the focal point of many social activities. By the At home, at work or at play, what we do can affect the river. Everyone has an important role to play in 1950s, lack of regulation and rapid industrial development led to the river becoming heavily polluted helping make the river swimmable again. Swim Report and most swimming sites being closed. With improved regulation, technology and community awareness over the last 20 years, the condition Report littering from vehicles Report pollution incidents of the river has been improving and swimming has become a possibility once again. Download the Environment Protection Call 131 555 (NSW only) or Authority’s Litter App: +61 2 9995 5555, or contact your Where is it safe to swim in the Parramatta River? www.epa.nsw.gov.au/litter/ local council to report leaks, spills reporting.htm and other pollution incidents that There are currently four sites safe for swimming in the Parramatta River. Water quality indicators are can harm the environment. routinely monitored at each of these sites to demonstrate that they are safe for human contact. Suitability for swimming is assessed at these sites following the National Health and Medical Research Council’s Guidelines for Managing Risks in Recreational Waters 2008. HELP Outside your home Inside your MAKE THE Cabarita Park beach Chiswick Baths home The stormwater drain Never put the following PARRAMATTA is just for rain! Prevent household materials down RIVER harmful materials from the sink: washing into our rivers. Dawn Fraser Baths Lake Parramatta food put litter in the bin paint SWIMMABLE pick up dog poo rubbish shop with reusable bags AGAIN put grass clippings in the oils What we are doing to make more sites safe for swimming compost or green bin chemicals The Parramatta River Catchment Group has developed an evidence-based Masterplan to map the steps wash your car on the grass or at Image by Chris Frape needed to make more sites along the Parramatta River swimmable by 2025. Don’t ever flush wet wipes down a car wash the toilet. They block pipes and cause contact your local council to dispose This swim report provides a current snapshot of where we are at in achieving this goal. sewage to overflow into the river. of paints, oils or other chemicals Stay updated with our progress at www.ourlivingriver.com.au or by following us on Facebook. clean paintbrushes in the garden minimise the use of pesticides and Build a raingarden and install herbicides. a rainwater tank The Parramatta River Catchment Group is an alliance of local Raingardens are an attractive, low maintenance and state government organisations and the community who have the common purpose of making the Parramatta River a living river. and self-watering garden that help filter storm- Become a Riverkeeper volunteer As the health of the river improves the opportunity to swim and recreate along water before it enters our rivers and creeks. its foreshore will undoubtedly provide for immense enjoyment, pleasure and solace. Ask your council where your closest street Have fun while helping to clean up the river. Our mission is to make the Parramatta River The Parramatta River will provide families and friends with an opportunity to enjoy the raingarden is to see what they look like Register at: swimmable again by 2025. unique features and attributes that are vastly different to other aquatic locations. and how they work. www.ourlivingriver.com.au Financial members include Sydney Water, NSW Environment Protection Authority, The future vision is exciting but it is also important that collaboratively we work NSW Department of Planning and Environment and the Councils of Blacktown, Burwood, Canada Bay, Canterbury Bankstown, Cumberland, Hunters Hill, Inner West, Ryde, Parramatta, Strathfield and The Hills. together to gain the significant benefits the river will provide. For more information visit: Updated July 2018 Please...Respect the river”, Royal Life Saving Society, NSW. www.ourlivingriver.com.au or Our Living River The past, present and future of swimming 1960s in the Parramatta River Water quality in M7 WESTLINK Current and proposed swimming sites the river becomes SAW MILL CK BELLA VISTA CASTLE HILL We are now working with our partners to establish a health risk. EXCELSIOR CK BELLAMYS CK a Riverwatch monitoring program to monitor future Most river swimming 1970 baths close. WEST PENNANT swimming sites along the river with the aim to make Introduction BELLBIRD CK HILLS them swimmable again by 2025. of the Clean Waters M2 MOTORWAY Timeline of key historic events TOONGABBIE CK STEVENSON CK BLUE GUM CK Act to improve water along the Parramatta River quality. Increased awareness sees plans for BAULKHAM HILLS RIFLE RANGE CK CARLINGFORD 1989 river improvement and relocation of waterfront factories. Aboriginal people WINSTON HILLS use and enjoy the BLACKTOWN CK Beachwatch HUNTS CK Parramatta River. 1791 established in response NORTHMEAD GUL British settlement MILLS CK DARLING Macquarie to public concern over commences BLACKTOWN 1 DUNDAS VALLEY the level of sewage at Early 1990s in 1788. River modification Park Sydney’s ocean GIRRAWEEN CK beaches. begins, including WENTWORTHVILLE planting of vineyards, THE PONDS CK The upper citrus trees and other Parramatta River plants along the WESTERN RYDE 1830s 2 ARCHER CK is dredged for ferry riverine landscape. MOTORWAY PARRAMATTA SUBIACO CK Lane Cove River 2006 access. Rivercat 3 VINEYARD CK service begins DOMAIN CK RYDALMERE in 1993. PENDLE CK COOPERS CK 4 Wetlands along Parramatta Commercial 6 CHARITY CK the Paramatta River CBD fishing ban for all were drained and filled Prospect GLADESVILLE areas west of the GREYSTANES CLAY CLIFF CK 5 to create firm and FINLAYSONS CK Sydney Harbour Bridge arable land. 1850s Reservoir PARRAMATTA RIVER ABECKETTS CK 8 due to heavy metal 2008 accumulation GROVE CK HUNTERS HILL HOLROYD 7 9 GLADES CK in fish. GRANVILLE HOMEBUSH BAY The Parramatta Parramatta 10 13 River Catchment becomes a main DUCK CK Group is formed with metropolis. the purpose of restoring 1866 Sydney 12 14 Sydney 2015 Olympic and protecting the Harbour Parramatta River. POWELLS CK 11 Park SALTWATER CK ABBOTSFORD 16 First ferry service CONCORD DRUMMOYNE Lake Parramatta begins with services is officially re-opened often terminating at GUILDFORD AUBURN HASLAMS CK CANADA BAY for swimming 72 years Rydalmere. Ferry trips to IRON COVE15 after its closure. It Parramatta cease in Safe to swim now Not yet swimmable attracts over 12,000 2018 1928 due to siltation 1880–1930s LIDCOMBE FIVE DOCK visitors in the first and shallowing. 1. Lake Parramatta 2. Little Coogee STRATHFIELD summer season. Twenty-two 10. Cabarita Park beach 3. Parramatta CBD Launch of the swimming baths Parramatta River established along the 14. Chiswick Baths 4. MacArthur St Bridge BURWOOD LEICHHARDT Masterplan at HAWTHORNE CN HAWTHORNE Parramatta River. Rowing 16. Dawn Fraser Baths 5. Silverwater Park 2025 the International and sailing was also very IRON COVE CK WESTERN MOTORWAY Riversymposium. Early 1900s popular with thousands 6. Meadowbank of spectators at 7. Brays Bay REGENTS PARK ASHFIELD river events. New sites along 8. Kissing Point Park the Parramatta River opened for swimming, 9. Putney Park Industrialisation and monitored and begins to see illegal 11. Bayview Park BANKSTOWN reported via a new Riverwatch program. dumping of soil and 12. Quarantine Reserve rubbish in the river. 13. Henley Baths YAGOONA Cooks River 15. Callan Park © Land and Property Information 2015.