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Duck River Nature Trail

Duck River Nature Trail Stage 2 now open for feedback (WICR346)

One of the City of Parramatta’s most ambitious projects for 2024 to 2028 is the $28.5M+ Duck River Nature Trail. To be delivered in three stages, the project will enhance the quality of our riverside landscapes. When complete, it will allow everyone in the community to walk and ride along both sides of Duck River and appreciate its natural beauty, ecology, and rich heritage. 

Scroll down to About the project and Answers to frequently asked questions to learn more.

Stage 2 proposed options

Stage Two of the Duck River Nature Trail (Eastern Streets North near Silverwater Park, and Eastern Streets South nearthe M4) proposed to deliver pedestrian and cyclist paths on local streets where the foreshore is inaccessible. When complete, residents, workers, and visitors to the Parramatta LGA will be able to safely use these paths to access the Duck River foreshore.

Stage Two uses the streets between Holker Street and Clyde Street in the north, and Junction Street, in the south, to create safe and comfortable walking and riding environments. The proposed improvements include:

  • Raised priority crossings for pedestrians and cyclists

  • Additional street planting

  • Installation of lighting to improve safety

  • Separated pedestrian and cyclist paths as well as shared paths where space is limited

Changed conditions are proposed for seven local streets including on-street parking and traffic flow, particularly for trucks longer than 19m. To keep streets as wide as possible (and to minimise changes to traffic conditions for large trucks) there are two different proposals for streets north of Holker Street:

  • Option one repurposes 61 on-street parking spaces (from a total of 287) on one side of five (5) streets. Based on comprehensive video counts of street parking, this is about equal to the spare parking capacity in this area.
  • Option two retains parking on both sides of Picken Street and Blaxland Street by making Pickens Street one-way southbound, and Blaxland Street one-way eastbound. This minimises the reduction in parking spaces to approximately 41 spaces.

Please see the resources section for detailed plans. The interactive map* outlines further details on the proposal.To provide feedback on the proposed design, please click on the map, drop a pin and post a comment.

Have your say and provide feedback on Duck River Nature Trail Stage 2!

Feedback on Stage Two and the proposed options is welcome until 5pm on Tuesday 18 March 2025. You can have your say:

  • Via the interactive map* - please click on the interactive map and make a comment on specific features of the design and/or the overall proposed design; or
  • Using the online submission form

For other ways to get involved, scroll down for verbal, postal and email submission options.

Council officers will also be hosting two pop-up sessions at Silverwater Park (2 Clyde Street, Silverwater) at the following times should you wish to have an in-person discussion or find out more:

  • Saturday 15 February 2025 (10am – 2pm), and
  • Wednesday 26 February 2025 (10am – 2pm)
*Please note the interactive map will NOT WORK on mobile phones.

Click on the map below to explore the proposed concept and provide comments on Stage Two of the project. Please use the left hand side bar to toggle between option one and option two. For further instructions on how to use the map, please refer to the Map User Guide in the Resources section.

The $28.5m Duck River Nature Trail project is proudly funded by the NSW Government in association with the City of Parramatta. Funded through the Western Sydney Infrastructure Grant Program and Transport for New South Wales Get Active NSW, the project is expected to open in three stages from 2025 to 2028.

Next steps

Following consideration of submissions, a report and recommendation will be made to Council.

Please FOLLOW this page (click the button at the top right of the page) to receive updates on the project.

If you have any questions, or would like information supplied in another language or format, please contact the Duck River Nature Trail project team via 1300 617 058 or participate@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au.

Other ways to provide a submission

Email

participate@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au
Subject: Duck River Nature Trail - Stage Two

Post

City of Parramatta Council
Attn: Transport Planning
Subject: Duck River Nature Trail - Stage Two
PO Box 32, Parramatta NSW 2124

Please ensure that you clearly state your full name, contact details and address.

Verbal

Please note that the verbal submission option is being offered for those who cannot provide or may find it difficult to provide a written submission.

Click for verbal submission

Duck River is the most significant north-south watercourse in Parramatta. A natural green corridor with thriving saltmarsh and mangrove colonies, it connects the City of Parramatta with City of Canterbury Bankstown and Cumberland City Council.

To be delivered in three stages, generous new boardwalks and pedestrian and cyclist paths along the eastern edge of Duck River, will create access to the foreshore and enhance the quality of our riverside landscapes.

The project will contribute to a more accessible, healthy and connected community that will have a greater visibility and awareness of the environment.

Supported by the NSW Government through the Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants Program and Transport for New South Wales Get Active NSW, Stage One Silverwater Park is expected to be open to the public in mid-2025.

Artist's impression of Duck River nature trail

Artist's impression of Duck River nature trail

Stage One outcomes

Thank you to everyone who participated in providing feedback on concept designs for Stage One in August 2024. Stage One focused on Silverwater Park introducing separated paths for pedestrians and cyclists. Other improvements included: lighting; bicycle parking and a maintenance stand; a water fountain; tree planting and more bench seating. 

Following public exhibition, Stage One of the Duck River Nature Trail was reported and endorsed by Council on 11 November 2024. A copy of the Council report can be found in the resources section of this page. Stage One of the project is planned to commence construction on site late March 2025 and open to the public in mid-2025.

Stage Three future engagement 

There will be more opportunities for the community to provide input into the design process for the Duck River Nature Trail.

Foreshore pedestrian and cyclist paths are planned on both sides of Duck River as part of Stage Three, where the project also includes boardwalks and bridges. Concept designs will be made available as part of a community consultation program anticipated to be run in the middle of 2025.

Frequently asked questions

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While the Parramatta Valley Cycleway (PVC) has been delivered over 35 years in stages since 1991, patronage has grown exponentially in the last five to six years with the completion of some of the final stages. This is largely due to the safety of being completely off-road. 

 

Our community embraces active transport and benefits from improved physical and mental health outcomes when provided with safe opportunities to walk in nature and to ride along separated paths. The accelerated delivery of Duck River Nature Trail offers the opportunity to promptly deliver the 4.5kms of links in less than four years to ensure the benefits to the community of a completely separated walking and cycling facility are immediately realised. Employees within Silverwater and Camellia, along with future residents of a re-developed Camellia, will be provided with alternative healthy, enjoyable and direct connections to their place of employment and neighbourhood facilities. 

 

The project will also draw-in walking groups and cyclists from a wide catchment for personal recreation and transport trips. The Duck River Nature Trail will contribute to a more accessible, healthy and connected community that will have a greater visibility and awareness of the environment. With a minimum design life of 50 years, the benefits will be enjoyed by the generations to come.   

To be delivered in three stages from mid-2025 to 2028 this project looks to unlock previously inaccessible foreshore land allowing residents and visitors to enjoy 4.5km of off-road walking and cycling while taking in scenic river views. 

 

In Silverwater Park (Stage One), the existing 2.5m wide shared path will be replaced with a 4.5m wide path, with line-marking to provide separate space for pedestrians and riders. Lighting will also be provided along with bicycle parking, a water fountain and more  bench seating. The 450m off-road path will provide more space for people to safely enjoy the park and connect from Wilson Park down to Clyde Street. The following stages of the project including the Eastern River Bank and Western River Bank will see the Duck River Nature Trail provide one of the few north-south walking and cycling routes in the Central River City that will be separate from traffic.   

 

Eastern River Bank: 

  • 1km+ of separated bike paths and footpaths along the streets of Silverwater where the Duck River foreshore is inaccessible, with new street trees, lighting and raised priority crossings of all streets
  • Almost 2km of boardwalk and concrete shared path along the river corridor and in Silverwater Park

 

Western River Bank:  

  • A 5m wide, 35m long pedestrian and cyclist bridge over Duck Creek  
  • Just under a kilometre of boardwalk and generous shared paths adjacent to the river corridor

 

The project will include lighting at all street crossings and the route adjacent to public streets will also be lit. Lighting along the northern Silverwater street alignment will be upgraded to meet current standards and short sections of the Duck River corridor that connect public streets (Giffard Street to Holker Street, Canarvon Street to Adderley Street West) will be lit as they are short connections with better passive surveillance.   

The Duck River Nature Trail project is co-funded by the NSW Government with a $28.5M grant. Council is also contributing to the project. Funding is provided under the NSW Government’s Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants Program and the New South Wales Get Active NSW program.

The $2 billion Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants Program (formerly known as WestInvest) is funding transformational infrastructure projects across Western Sydney. Funded projects will improve the liveability of communities and support economic recovery, making a real difference to the quality of life in 15 Local Government Areas in the region.  
 
For more information see https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/western-sydney-infrastructure-grants-program 

The wetland areas within Duck River are of regional conservation significance, providing home to three (3) Endangered Ecological Communities and several threatened species. Native wildlife includes possums, many species of birds, frogs and reptiles such as the water skink. Budgerigars and Brush Turkeys have been recorded along with the Satin Bowerbird and Red-Browed Finch.

 

In addition to the mangrove, saltmarsh and native grasses that line the riverbanks, wildflowers are common in late winter, and small orchids may be observed. 

 

Early in the project, plant and animal species will be documented and any protection zones identified. The planning process will also stipulate clear construction methods to ensure minimal footprint and low impact on the environment including animal habitats and fragile saltmarsh and mangrove areas. 

The vision for the Duck River Nature Trail is to unlock the significant areas of high-value ecological communities that are currently hidden from view and allow the community to safely experience walking and cycling along the foreshore. 

 

With an overarching goal to improve the river landscape, the project aims to use sensitive environmental design to create a riverscape that improves the landscape and the river’s environmental performance.

 

The project will undergo rigorous planning processes that mean plant and animal species will be documented and any protection zones identified. The planning process will also stipulate clear construction methods to ensure minimal footprint and low impact on the environment including fragile saltmarsh and mangrove areas. 

Designed with the smallest footprint possible, and placed in locations which will tolerate disturbance, boardwalks and paths will offer the community safe access to the wetland areas of Duck River, unlocking new pedestrian and cycle paths for all to enjoy.

An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) are documents that are prepared to demonstrate due diligence and comply with the requirements of the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act (1979).  

 

An REF typically applies to construction activities which do not require consent under the Act. Instead, the proponent (in this case, the City of Parramatta) must clearly demonstrate it has identified all environmental impacts of the proposal, along with mitigation measures to minimise those impacts. The REF needs to be appropriate to the nature and scale of the proposal, and often draws on specialist studies to reach a conclusion on the nature and extent of impacts and mitigations. 

 

An independent planner was commissioned to prepare the REF for Silverwater Park. The planner integrated the advice and findings of all specialist designers and engineers who prepared the design for the upgrade and associated works. This was supplemented by reports commissioned for the project from heritage specialists, archaeologists and ecologists. The City of Parramatta is committed to implementing the mitigations and safeguards identified in the REF.  The REF for Stage 1 Silverwater Park will be shared with the community shortly. An EIS is being commissioned for Stage 2 and Stage 3 of the project.  

The vision for Duck River Nature Trail is to unlock the significant areas of high-value ecological communities that are currently hidden from view and allow the community to safely experience walking and cycling along the foreshore. The project will undergo rigorous planning processes including the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement and for Silverwater Park a Review of Environmental Factors.

 

Prepared by specialists, these planning instruments mean that plant and animal species will be documented, any protection zones identified and clear construction methods specified to ensure minimal footprint and impact on the environment including fragile saltmarsh and mangrove areas. The overarching goal for the project is to improve the river landscape. Construction will comply with environmental performance measures to ensure the protection of land and water. 

Early surveys and maps suggest the Duck River area downstream from the confluence with A'Becketts Creek was a wetland of saltmarsh, rushes and grasses. Upstream, there were Eucalypt forests. While there are now weed species throughout the site, one of the goals for the Duck River Nature Trail is to unlock the foreshore for public use and through sensitive environmental design create a riverscape that improves the landscape and the environmental performance of Duck River and its foreshore areas.


The wetland areas within Duck River are of regional conservation significance, providing home to three Endangered Ecological Communities and several threatened species. Native wildlife includes possums, many species of birds, frogs and reptiles such as the water skink. Budgerigars and brush turkeys have been recorded along with the Satin Bowerbird and Red-Browed Finch.

 

In addition to the mangrove vegetation that lines the riverbanks, wildflowers are common in late winter, and small orchids may be observed. 


Designed with the smallest footprint possible and placed in locations which will tolerate disturbance, boardwalks and paths will offer the community safe access to the wetland areas of Duck River, unlocking new pedestrian and cycle paths for all to enjoy.

 

There are a number of birds and native animals that make Duck River and surrounds their home including:  

  • Grey Headed Flying Fox
  • Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog  
  • Striped Marsh Frog
  • Superb Fairy Wren
  • Satin Bowerbird
  • Brown Gerygone
  • Red-Browed Finch
  • Dusky Woodswallow  

Following public exhibition of the Stage One concept design in August 2024, the project was approved by Council in November 2024.

 

Following contributions from the community, the design was updated to reflect community feedback. Detail design and approvals were completed (for further information, see Stage One detailed design in the resources tab). Stage One is expected to begin construction in March 2025. The first stage of the Duck River Nature Trail is expected to open by the middle of 2025.

Yes, a total of eight (8) trees will be planted. We will use species endemic to the area, specifically suited to the existing Estuarine Swamp Oak Forest vegetation community.

In addition to wider (4.5m) line-marked and signed paths for cyclists and pedestrians, designed to offer safe clearance and enough space for path users to travel at their own pace, planned upgrades to Silverwater Park include a deluxe bicycle repair stand where cyclists can pump-up their tyres and use some basic tools for bike maintenance or repair. Tools include tyre levers, pedal wrench, wrenches and screw drivers. Path users will also find bike racks, drinking fountains, seating and bins.

  • May - June 2024: Concept Design 
  • August - September 2024: Public exhibition of the Silverwater Park Stage 1 Concept Plan
  • September - October 2024: Review of community feedback and detailed design
  • Late 2024: Review of Environmental Factors public exhibition
  • Late 2024: Procurement of contractor
  • Early 2025: Construction expected to commence 

Silverwater’s heavy industrial past means there are some interesting looking structures which lend a stark architectural backdrop to walks along the river.  While there is still some industry present, saltmarshes and mangroves and the birds and animals that call the area home are key attractions that the community will be able to appreciate as boardwalks and cycle paths are built.  

 

City of Parramatta will be working closely with environmental specialists to reduce weeds, improve drainage and have an overall positive impact on the environment. As with other areas along the river dense with vegetation, mosquitoes can be an issue. Council expects that from time to time it will take active measures to control larvae and mosquitoes. Park users will be advised to use repellent, wear long sleeves, and avoid being close to the marsh areas during times when there are more mosquitoes around, including dusk.  

Stage Two will provide a safer and more enjoyable experience for pedestrians and cyclists between Stage One in Silverwater Park, and Stage Three within the Duck River corridor.  As the foreshore is inaccessible in places, the concept design proposes that a number of the industrial streets in Silverwater are upgraded to include footpaths, bicycle paths, shared paths, street trees, lighting and raised crossings. 

 

Stage Two near the M4 will reduce the distance from the M4 Shared Path to Canarvon Street by more than a kilometre. It will also allow pedestrians and cyclists to avoid a number of busy intersections.

 

To accommodate these changes and meet current traffic engineering standards and guidelines, a number of changes are proposed to on-street parking as we all as traffic flow (including turn restrictions for large trucks longer than a 19m semi-trailer). 

To keep streets as wide as possible (and to minimise changes to traffic conditions for large trucks, and potential interactions with pedestrians and cyclists) there are two different proposals for streets north of Holker Street:

 

  • Option one repurposes 61 on-street parking spaces (from a total of 287) on one side of five (5) streets. Based on studies, this is about equal with the spare parking capacity in this area.
  • Option two retains parking both sides of Picken Street and Blaxland Street by making Pickens Street one-way southbound, and Blaxland Street one-way eastbound. This minimises the reduction in parking spaces to approximately 41 spaces.

 

For a detailed view of the proposed designs, please view the interactive map or the concept designs in the Resources section. Please note the interactive map will not work on mobile phones.

To assess the impact of this proposal, comprehensive hourly video parking surveys were completed on a weekday and weekend to understand demand. Peak usage of the 287 available spaces is 220 on a weekday and 70 on a Saturday midway through the morning, as per Figues 4 and 5 below (as per the Council Report 9 December 2024).

 

 

The narrowness of Shaft Street poses challenges for long vehicles at either end given the limited space to manoeuvre. While 23m long vehicles are currently permitted, the changes proposed (and applying current road design standards) mean that any vehicle longer than a standard 19m semi-trailer will not be able to make the following turns:

  • Eastbound on Holker Street, no left turn into Shaft Street
  • Eastbound on River Street, no right turn into Shaft Street
  • Northbound on Shaft Street, no left turn into River Street

There are seven streets where changes are proposed to accommodate the Duck River Nature Trail.

 

These changes are in areas where paths next to the Duck River are not possible: Holker Street; Shaft Street; River Street; Silver Street; Blaxland Street; Picken Street and Junction Street. Raised priority crossing are proposed for Blaxland Street, River Street, and Holker Street. There are two options for changes to on-street parking for Blaxland Street and Picken Street that also affect traffic flow in those streets.

 

A number of turn-bans for trucks longer than a 19m semi-trailer are proposed around Shaft Street:

  • Eastbound on Holker Street, no left turn into Shaft Street
  • Eastbound on River Street, no right turn into Shaft Street
  • Northbound on Shaft Street, no left turn into River Street

While Stage Two of the Duck River project focuses on the street network of Silverwater to connect to Stage One (Silverwater Park) and Stage Three (Eastern and Western River), planning protocols and environmental controls still apply.

 

Within Stage Two tree removal has been kept to a minimum – with 16 trees identified. To create more shade and enhance the streetscape, around 60 advanced native trees will be planted.

  • February - March 2025: Public Exhibition
  • March - April 2025: Review of community feedback and development of detailed design
  • April 2025: Report to Parramatta Traffic Committee
  • June 2025: Complete detail design
  • Late 2025: Commence construction
  • Mid 2026: Complete construction

Duck River Nature Trail will open in stages:

  • Stage One (Silverwater Park) is expected to be open to the public in mid-2025
  • Stage Two (Eastern Streets) is expected to open in mid-2026
  • Stage Three (Eastern and Western River) is anticipated to open in 2028

Council officers will be hosting two pop-up sessions at Silverwater Park (2 Clyde Street Silverwater) at the following times should you wish to have an in person discussion or find out more:

  • Saturday 15 February 2025 (10am – 2pm), and
  • Wednesday 26 February 2025 (10am – 2pm)

Council offers the opportunity to provide feedback via Participate Parramatta as well as via email, in writing and verbal submissions. 

 

Council officers will be hosting two pop-up sessions at Silverwater Park (2 Clyde Street Silverwater) at the following times should you wish to have an in person discussion or find out more:

  • Saturday 15 February 2025 (10am – 2pm), and
  • Wednesday 26 February 2025 (10am – 2pm)

 

The project will be promoted via Council’s website, and other channels including eNewsletters and social media. Letterbox drops, signage installed in the project area, and advertisements in the local paper will also promote the opportunity for the community to respond to the public exhibition of Stage Two and Three concept designs. The community may also be invited to provide feedback on refined designs for Stage Two following the public exhibition of concept designs.                                                 

Stage 3 is the largest and most complicated of the three sections which comprise the Duck River Nature Trail. Boardwalks and paths will hug the foreshore between Holker Street and Canarvon Street in Silverwater, a new 35m long bridge will span across Duck Creek and connect to foreshore paths in Camellia. It is expected that community consultation on this section of the project will begin in 2025 with construction planned to begin in 2026 – 2028.

  • 2025: Concept Design 
  • 2025: Environmental Impact Statement Public Exhibition
  • 2025: Review of community feedback and detailed design 
  • 2026: Procurement
  • 2026-2028: Construction 
  • 2028: Anticipated opening 

市议会致力于确保每个人都能获得所需要的信息。如果您需要以其它语言或格式获取信息，请致电 1300 617 058 或发送电邮至 participate@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au

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Need an interpreter? Please phone TIS on 131 450.

If you are deaf and/or find it hard hearing or speaking with people who use a phone, please contact the National Relay Service at relayservice.gov.au and provide them the City of Parramatta contact number, 1300 617 058.

Timeline - Stage Two

  • icon
    December 2024

    Duck River Nature Trail: Stage Two - report to Council seeking approval to publicly exhibit the draft concept design
  • icon
    February - March 2025

    Public exhibition of Stage Two - from 9am on Tuesday 11 February 2025 to 5pm on Tuesday 18 March 2025
  • icon
    March - April 2025

    Review of community feedback and development of detailed design
  • icon
    April 2025

    Report to Parramatta Traffic Committee
  • icon
    June 2025

    Complete detail design
  • icon
    Late 2025

    Commence construction
  • icon
    Mid 2026

    Complete construction

Resources

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Contact us

  • Transport Planning Team

    City of Parramatta

    If you have questions or want to learn more about this project, please contact us using the details below.

    Phone: 02 9806 5050

    Email: transportplanning@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au

Sponsors

      

 

The $28.5m Duck River Nature Trail project is proudly funded by the NSW Government in association with the City of Parramatta.

Need an interpreter? Please phone TIS on 131 450.

If you are deaf and/or find it hard hearing or speaking with people who use a phone, please contact the National Relay Service at relayservice.gov.au and provide them the City of Parramatta contact number, 1300 617 058.