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.
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