Duck River Nature Trail

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  

A Review of Environmental Factors (REF) is a document which forms part of formal planning approvals.

The REF for the Duck River Nature Trail Stage 1 (Silverwater Park) assesses the potential environmental impacts which may be caused by the construction of the project. It considers work which includes the partial demolition of footpaths, construction of a 4.5m wide shared path and a 2.5m wide cycle path, and the proposed installation of lighting posts that are 5m high with lights located at 15m spaces.

Within the Duck River Stage 1 proposal, the removal of eight (8) trees has been identified, with 11 replacement trees, additional planting and landscaping.

The REF outlines mitigations that must be incorporated into the developed design and construction plans.

The minor nature of the proposed works to deliver Stage 1 of the Duck River Nature Trail, is unlikely to cause any significant adverse environmental impacts.

Users of Silverwater Park and adjoining sites, and workers, are also unlikely to be negatively affected by the works.

Some short-term minor impacts, including noise and vibration, are likely to be generated by the construction works. However, the overall community benefit from the proposed work is likely to significantly outweigh any short-term impact.

Council intends to ensure that works follow the Construction Management Plan (CMP) which will be prepared by the contractor. The plan will address the measures identified in the REF that mitigate or minimise environmental impacts. The CMP also details the protocols for communicating with relevant authorities, the community, and other stakeholders. 

The full REF for Stage 1 of the Duck River Nature Trail project can be found in the Resources section on this page.

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 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