10. Create clear leadership

• Stormwater Compliance & Education program – Development of work plan appointment of stormwater compliance and education officer position.
• Parramatta River Bank Naturalisation – Distribution of RFQ for stage 1 project. Review of consultant submissions and appointment of successful consultant. Project inception meeting with consultant.
• Designing with Country – Completion of joint cultural interpretation project with City of Canada Bay as part of the Bayview Park upgrade. First Nations Peoples of the Parramatta River book published.
• Update of NHMRC Guidelines for Managing Risks in Recreational Water: Sydney Water was asked to provide two case studies that would inform the updated NHMRC (National Health and Medical Research Council) guidelines: 1. Human Health Risk Assessment process (chemicals); 2. RiverWatch predictive model in partnership with UNSW. Professor Stuart Khan, University of Sydney, sits on the NHMRC review committee.

• Stormwater Compliance & Education program – project planning and recruitment of stormwater compliance and education officer position commenced.
• Parramatta River Bank Naturalisation – Establishment of project working group and development of RFQ for stage 1 project to undertake catchment mapping and site prioritisation.
• NSW Government Local Small Commitments Allocation – Cr Penny Pedersen (City of Ryde) was successful in nominating for $25,000 in funding towards citizen science projects for the Lane Cove electorate.
• Designing with Country – progress of joint cultural interpretation project with City of Canada Bay as part of the Bayview Park upgrade. Further cultural advice sought for research paper on First Nations peoples of the Parramatta River.
• Greater Sydney Harbour Coastal Management Program – following the decision by the former state government to reject the request to raise the cap on allocation of funding for project implementation, SCCG continues to explore different ways of addressing and funding coastal inundation and waterway health under the CMP umbrella.

Greater Sydney Water Quality and River Health Monitoring Governance Framework project: project brief was issued and consultants invited to quote. Members of the working group were invited to form an assessment panel to review the proposals.

• NSW Government Masterplan grant: Funding received in June 2023. Planning for two grant projects 1. Stormwater Compliance & Education program and 2. Parramatta River Bank Naturalisation commenced in July 2023.
• Designing with Country: Progress of joint cultural interpretation project with City of Canada Bay as part of the Bayview Park upgrade.

• State Government Masterplan Funding Request:
  • On 23 March, Shadow Minister for Water, Rose Jackson, announced that, if elected, Labor would commit $1.8 million in funding over the next four years to support stormwater compliance and education and provide funding for riverbank naturalisation.
  • A further $800,000 would be provided to support citizen science programs StreamWatch and Waterwatch to monitor water quality.
  • Following the election, a project scoping document was developed and submitted to Dept of Planning and Environment for approval.
• Greater Sydney Water Quality and River Health Monitoring Governance Framework project:
  • The PRCG was invited to join an advisory group working to assist with the implementation of action 4.1b from the Greater Sydney Water Strategy Implementation Plan: Scope a water quality and river health monitoring governance framework for Greater Sydney’s waterways, including assessment of existing data in relation to WQOs.
  • The project will help address fragmented governance, inefficient stormwater planning, gaps in alignment of waterway objectives and legislative controls limiting the achievement of ecological, amenity and cultural objectives.
  • The project commenced in February 2023 and will be completed by June 2025.
• Greater Sydney Harbour Coastal Management Program: Following the decision by the former state government to reject the request to raise the cap on allocation of funding for project implementation, Sydney Coastal Councils Group is currently exploring different ways of addressing and funding coastal inundation and waterway health under the CMP umbrella.
• City of Canada Bay Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP): PRCG contributed to working group meetings to progress the RAP.
• Designing with Country project: Cultural interpretive works progressing as part of upgrades planned for the park. Project expected to be completed by October 2023.

• State Government Masterplan Funding Request:
  • PRCG submitted a Masterplan Funding Request to relevant state government ministers and shadow ministers prior to the next state government election.
  • PRCG Chair and Coordinator met with several state government ministers and shadow ministers to discuss opportunities for funding.
• City of Canada Bay Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP): PRCG contributed to working group meetings to progress the RAP.
• Designing with Country project:
  • Bayview Park pilot project: Bayview Park was one of the six sites identified in the Designing with Country project design framework for potential cultural interpretive works. PRCG is working with City of Canada Bay and Aboriginal artists on a joint cultural interpretation project involving new picnic shelter and bespoke seating, as part of upgrades planned for the park.
  • First Nations Peoples of the Parramatta River research paper: Formatted draft circulated to the Full Group for review and endorsement.
• River as a Living Entity: Planning for the Parramatta River as a Living Entity project will commence in 2023 with a letter of invitation to catchment Aboriginal organisations and an Expression of Interest to PRCG members to join a working group to further develop this project.

• Designing with Country project:
  • Project completed and a soft copy of the document distributed to PRCG Full Group members.
  • Final draft of the First Nations Peoples of the Parramatta River research paper sent for graphic design and will be circulated for final comment in the new year. PRCG engaged Dharug artist Leanne Watson Redpath to provide the graphic elements for the design.

• Designing with Country project:
  • Second Walk on Country and Design Jam held for councils and community members in the upper Parramatta River catchment.
  • Design framework is progressing steadily and is scheduled for completion at the end of August 2022. A first draft was circulated to the Designing with Country Working Group and feedback was provided to the consultant at beginning of August.
• City of Canada Bay Reconciliation Action Plan: The PRCG was invited to participate in Council’s Reconciliation Action Plan development and attended a Walk on Country at Cabarita Park with Uncle Jimmy Smith.

• Second Walk on Country and Design Jam held for councils and community members in the upper Parramatta River catchment.
• Draft research report on the Aboriginal history and culture of the Parramatta River catchment distributed for review.
• PRCG attended Reconciliation Week event at Sydney Olympic Park.
• The PRCG participated in River Conversations events as part of this year’s Biennale exhibition. The events brought together artists, First Nations people, and organisations such as the Birrarung Council, to discuss rivers as living entities.

• The Parramatta River Reference Group met in December 2021 and again in March 2022 for the last time.  
• Members of the PRCG and the Delivery Engine presented at the franc.sydney Conference in late March 2022. 
• First Walk on Country and Design Jam held for councils and community members in the lower Parramatta River catchment.
• Draft research report on the Aboriginal history and culture of the Parramatta River catchment completed.

• The Parramatta River Reference Group met in September with a focus on the pilot of the Blue Green Index Tools in Camellia.
• A paper was submitted for the OzWater’22 Conference on the importance of recreation in urban waterways during COVID.
• The Designing with Country project has engaged consultancy group, Yerrabingin to develop an Aboriginal Design Framework that will assist with future interpretive design projects across the catchment.

• The Parramatta River Reference Group met on 20 April with a focus on engaging with the development industry.
• The Metro Greenspace grant application for the Designing with Country project was successful. Work has commenced on the research document and Request for Quotation to engage an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander design consultant who will advise on the project and prepare the Aboriginal Design Framework.
• The NSW EPA Litter Prevention grant application was successful and a project officer appointed.

• The Parramatta River Reference Group met on 15 December, to discuss the Masterplan.
• The Metro Greenspace Aboriginal engagement grant Designing with Country was submitted and we are waiting to be notified of its approval.

• Followed up on Transport for NSW letter of invitation to join PRCG, which they are progressing with their executive.
• Three groups of Masters students from Macquarie University were mentored by Paul Hackney, Nell Graham and Nerida Taylor.
• The Metro Greenspace Aboriginal engagement grant was submitted and waiting to be notified of its approval.

• Presented to the Parramatta Aboriginal Advisory Committee
• An application to the Metro Greenspace grant program is being drafted to develop a whole of catchment approach to Aboriginal engagement, storytelling and design, with locally identified outputs.

• Transport for NSW sent a letter of invitation to join PRCG.
• Requests made to present at Inner West, Cumberland & Parramatta Aboriginal Advisory Committees.

• Two tours of current and planned swim sites on Parramatta River held by Sydney Water for key government agencies.
• Continued development of funding prospectus and costings for actions in the Masterplan.
• Attended Murama Healing Space community event on 14 March 2020.
• Met with and developed membership proposal for Transport for NSW.

• Commenced development of funding prospectus and costings for actions in the Masterplan.

• New PRCG Coordinator appointed.
• Discussions held with DPIE regarding progressing ‘Ochre Grid’ project for Parramatta River.

• Sydney Water committed funding to support implementation of the Masterplan over the next two years.
• Riverwatch Coordinator and Strategic Stormwater Planner recruited to support Masterplan implementation.