Our Living River 10th Anniversary celebration

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of the Our Living River mission to make the Parramatta River swimmable again.

Launched by the Parramatta River Catchment Group (PRCG) in 2014, the mission set an ambitious goal to improve the health of the river and its catchment to enable swimming at selected sites. It also aimed to conserve important ecological areas and increase habitat for wildlife.

The Our Living River project established a new vision, purpose, and mission:

• Our vision: We believe Sydney deserves and world-class river
• Our Purpose: To make Parramatta River a living river.
• Our Mission: To make Parramatta River swimmable again by 2025.

The project’s first milestone came with the launch of the Lake Parramatta swim site, which reopened after being closed for more than 70 years.

In 2022, City of Canada Bay Council opened Bayview Park Baths in Concord – the first site on the river to be opened in more than 50 years. More swim sites are planned to open in the next couple of years at Putney, Bedlam Bay in Gladesville and Callan Point in Lilyfield.

A range of celebratory events is being held throughout the year starting with a Community Day at Bayview Park, Concord on Sunday, 24 March from 10am to 1pm. There will be a range of stalls and activities on offer. Try your hand at kayaking, learn more about the bar-tailed godwit and other shorebirds, or just relax and enjoy the free entertainment and BBQ.

Visitors will also have a chance to view the upgrades to the park and cultural interpretive designs by Dharug artist Leanne Watson. The Parramatta River Catchment Group will also officially launch the First Nations of the Parramatta River and surrounding region that was published late last year.

It promises to be a day of celebration and fun as we recognise the efforts of all those who have contributed to making the Parramatta River a ‘living river’.

Visit the Our Living River website and our social pages below for more information on events happening this year.