Western River Precinct Connections

The City of Parramatta will soon commence archaeological and geotechnical investigations along the Parramatta River between Marsden and O’Connell Streets, mainly focussing on the southern foreshore. This work is required to progress the detailed design of the Western River Precinct Connections project.

What’s happening and when?

Archaeological test excavations (including both historical and Aboriginal) and geotechnical investigations are currently scheduled to commence during the week beginning 4 May 2026 and will take approximately 6 weeks to complete, subject to weather and ground conditions. Work will generally be carried out Monday to Friday from 7:00am to 5:00pm.

What works will be carried out?

• Heritage test excavations: Small test trenches will be excavated at selected locations along the southern foreshore to assess potential Aboriginal and Historic heritage. Works will be supervised by qualified archaeologists, with areas backfilled and reinstated after completion.
• Geotechnical investigations on land and within the river: On land, boreholes will be drilled to understand soil and rock conditions below ground. Testing within the river will use a non-intrusive method that avoids in-river drilling to minimise disturbance to the waterway and aquatic habitat.
• Potholing and contamination testing: Small, non-destructive excavations to confirm the location of underground services, and soil samples will be collected to assess potential contamination.

What the community may notice

• Temporary work zones around investigation areas
• Short-term changes to pedestrian pathways, with safe access maintained at all times
• Some noise associated with drilling and excavation during daytime hours
• Minor vehicle movements involving mainly light vehicles and small trucks

Each investigation location will be active for a short period only and will be reinstated once works are complete. Traffic impacts are expected to be minor and no major road closures are anticipated. No trees will be cleared as part of these investigations.

Who do I contact for more information?

Please contact City of Parramatta’s Project Manager, Hemantha Wijewardane on telephone (02) 9806 8236 or our Customer Contact Centre on 1300 617 058 or email council@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au