The Parramatta River is the main tributary of Sydney Harbour, a branch of Port Jackson. Along the Parramatta River many hands have made lighter work, in the community-wide effort to make the entire river swimmable again by 2025, starting with the opening of Lake Parramatta in 2014. Thirteen councils sit within the Parramatta River catchment group and all have committed to tackling the two major polluters: sewer overflows and stormwater
Indigenous Heritage
The land adjacent to the Parramatta River was occupied for many thousands of years by Aboriginal peoples of the Wallumettagal nations and the Wangal, Toongagal (or Tugagal), Burramattagal, and Wategora clans of the Darug people.
Recreation
There are a number of sailing and yachting clubs on the River:
- Abbotsford 12 ft Flying Squadron in Abbotsford
- Concord & Ryde Sailing Club at Putney
- Parramatta River Sailing Club at Gladesville
There are Sea Scouts at:
- Rhodes: First Yaralla
- Meadowbank: Epping Scout Group has a boat shed at 150 Bowden Street, next to the public ferry wharf, and in the summer uses it for sailing and canoeing activities
Rowing
The river has a long historical association with rowing.
Fishing
The Parramatta River is subject to a number of fishing bans because of its contaminated sediments. There is a complete fishing ban in Homebush Bay because of the dioxin contamination. In 2006 the NSW Government imposed a complete commercial fishing ban throughout the rest of Sydney Harbour and its tributaries, including the Parramatta River west of the Harbour Bridge, which remained in place until 2011.
Local Chemical Facilities
Local chemical facilities include Formula Chemicals as discussed on our separate page.