7. Involve the community

• Number of full-month campaigns and blitz days conducted each year.
• Number of participating councils.
• Rate of compliance on construction sites.
• Read more about Get the Site Right campaign.

• Number of councils that support and promote the campaign.
• Engagement of the campaign through social media platforms.
• Read more about the Love Your Waterways campaign.

• Number of Riverkeepers.
• Number of Riverkeeper Ambassadors.
• Number of collaborative projects.
• Read more about the Riverkeeper Network.

• Number and type of organisations that take part in Riverfest.
• Number of people that attend events.
• Level of media engagement.
• Number of supporters and volunteers generated.
• Read more about Riverfest.

• Number of and type of events in which the PRCG participates.
• Level of engagement with the public at community events.
• Number of supporters and volunteers generated.
• Find out more about events on the Parramatta River.

• Get the Site Right: March campaign included a Blitz Day on 13 March, with joint inspections by NSW EPA. A joint operation with EPA, Liverpool Council, the Building Commissioner, Fair Trading, and SafeWork NSW addressed multiple compliance issues. New builder-focused educational materials were released. MoUs were distributed to councils to support consistent data reporting. PRCG also contributed to a Stormwater NSW webinar on erosion and sediment control.
• Community engagement:
  • ‘About the Future Now’ Australian Museum exhibition
  • Get the Site Right March Blitz
  • First Nations Water Forum (28 March)
  • Cockatoo Island swim site announcement (12 April)
  • Resilient Sydney Strategy 2025-2030 launch (29 April)
  • North Parramatta Heritage Day (17 May)

• Putney Beach Launch: The new swim site at Putney Park was officially opened on 22 January by Planning Minister Paul Scully and City of Ryde Mayor Trenton Brown. The event was well-attended with activities including races, giveaways, and a floaty party. The project was jointly funded by the NSW Government’s Places to Swim program and City of Ryde.
• Community engagement:
  • Putney Beach Launch (22 January).
  • McIlwaine Park upgrades opening (1 February).

• Riverfest 2024: Events included clean-ups, webinars, workshops, bushwalks, trivia, and The Painted River Project at Parramatta Park. Key partners included Western Sydney University, NSW Health, and Sydney Water.

• Community engagement:

  • Riverfest (21-29 September)
  • KAB NSW Sustainable Cities Award (10 October)
  • Get the Site Right Blitz Week (14-18 October)
  • Lake Parramatta Upgrade Launch (25 October).

• UNSW Student Design Project: PRCG, UNSW, and Inner West Council are partnering on a student-led project where first-year Landscape Architecture students will design concept plans for the proposed Mort Bay swim site, addressing environmental, cultural, and accessibility factors while developing real-world design skills.
• Community engagement:
  • World Environment Day events – Ryde Sustainability Fair Day (2 June).
  • NSW Landcare Enabling Program 2024 State Gathering (19-21 August).
  • Footprints EcoFestival (25 August).

• Bayview Park Community Event: Held with City of Canada Bay on 24 March to mark 10 years of the Our Living River mission, the event featured a Welcome to Country by MLALC, speeches by local MPs and council reps, and the launch of PRCG’s First Nations of the Parramatta River document. PRCG thanked member agencies and partners for their support.
• Get the Site Right: May campaign promoted best-practice erosion and sediment controls to prevent pollution and material loss. On Blitz Day (16 May), PRCG and NSW EPA joined five councils for site inspections. Results will be shared at the next meeting.
• PRCG and Sydney Water Boat Tour: Federal and state MPs joined council representatives for a river tour on 2 May highlighting the PRCG Masterplan, Sydney Water’s infrastructure investments, and the success of the Places to Swim program. Speakers emphasised collaboration and ongoing efforts to make the river swimmable.
• Community engagement:
  • Clean Up Australia Day (3 March)
  • Our Living River 10th Anniversary Community Day (24 March)
  • PRCG and Sydney Water Boat Tour (2 May)
  • PRAWN meeting (5 May).

• Get the Site Right: 17 councils conducted 1,178 inspections at 978 sites, with 67% of sites compliant on second inspection; 66 fines totalling $314,824 were issued; In 2025, GTSR will run a full-month campaign with a May blitz and an October blitz week, focusing on erosion and sediment control.

• Riverfest: Riverfest 2023 launched on 16 September with clean-ups across the catchment, including events by FITA, Friends of Toongabbie Creek, and local community groups. Blacktown Council hosted two nature walks and joined the Youth EcoSummit.
• Get the Site Right: Over 20 councils took part in the October Blitz Week. Results will be released in December.
• Reduce Your Rubbish: Part of the Love Your Waterways campaign, this initiative promotes five key actions to reduce waste. A joint online campaign is running with partner catchment groups through November and December.
• Community engagement:
  • Parramatta/Burramatta River Symposium (7 November).
  • McIlwaine Park upgrade launch (18 November).

• UNSW Student Design Project: First-year UNSW Landscape Architecture students, in partnership with PRCG and Inner West Council, are developing concept designs for the proposed Callan Park swim site, addressing real-world environmental, cultural, and accessibility challenges to support future planning.
• Community engagement:
  • World Bicycle Day event along the River foreshore at Silverwater – organised by Riverkeeper Ambassador Charlene Bordley (3 June).
  • World Environment Day events – Ryde Sustainability Fair Day; and events organised by City of Parramatta (4 June).
  • Promotion of Plastic Free July.
  • Participated in Science Week (12-20 August).
  • Citizen Science community workshop in partnership with Cumberland Council (26 August).
  • Participated in Eco Footprints Festival (27 August).

• Get the Site Right: conducted the May campaign that focused on correct containment and disposal of litter and other waste on building sites.
• Round 7 Litter Prevention Community Grant – Make a change for greener gatherings: held 6 litter prevention events in public parks to conduct community education regarding the need to reduce litter and choose sustainable alternatives.
• Citizen science: held events in partnership with member councils or community groups: including Spotlight of Saltmarsh (6 May).
• Community engagement:
  • Stall promoting PRCG mission at Seven Hills community fair in partnership with City of Blacktown (18 March)
  • Sustainable Saturday at Concord organised by Canada Bay (1 April).

• Round 7 Litter Prevention Community Grant – Make a change for greener gatherings: Community events conducted in partnership with land managers at litter focus parks: Blaxland Riverside Park (SOPA), Reynolds Reserve Toongabbie (Friends of Toongabbie Creek) and Silverwater Park (City of Parramatta); Educational posters, bin stickers and pavement stencils to be installed.
• Regional Litter Prevention Strategy (RLPS): PRCG is advancing the RLPS website with SCCG and joined the 23 February bus tour showcasing litter prevention initiatives across Greater Sydney Harbour.

• Riverfest 2022: Held from 17-25 September, Riverfest focused on litter clean-ups and biodiversity education, with events at Five Dock, Ermington, and Toongabbie Creek, supported by Riverkeeper Ambassadors. Highlights included Blacktown’s ‘Meet the Creek’ and an online Community Litter Forum.

• Get the Site Right: October Blitz Week ran from 17-21 October, with Lane Cove Council joining and Hornsby Shire Council expressing interest for 2023.

• Bayview Park Swim Site Launch: Held on 20 November, the launch marked a major milestone in the swimmable river goal. PRCG helped plan the event and hosted an info stall.

• Greater Sydney Harbour Regional Litter Prevention Strategy (GSH RLPS): The EPA-endorsed GSH RLPS was developed in partnership with the Sydney Coastal Councils Group (SCCG) through the EPA’s Community Litter Grants program. A Community Litter Forum is scheduled for 23 September as part of Riverfest. SCCG and PRCG are collaborating with Cumberland, Inner West, Hornsby, and North Sydney councils to address local litter hotspots, including through PRCG’s ‘Greener Gatherings’ initiative.

• Reconciliation Action Plan: PRCG contributed to the City of Canada Bay’s Reconciliation Action Plan development and joined a Walk on Country at Cabarita Park with Uncle Jimmy Smith.

• Community Engagement:

  • Junior Riverkeepers through the City of Canada Bay Sustainable Schools and Childcare Network
  • Local Government Biodiversity Network, providing updates on catchment-wide biodiversity actions
  • Burramatta NAIDOC celebrations in Parramatta Park (July).

Get the Site Right: Seven new councils and WaterNSW joined the Get the Site Right campaign, with PRCG updating educational materials, hosting an introductory webinar in April, and organising a half-day erosion and sediment control workshop in May.

• Riverfest 2021: Held online with over 20 webinars and activities focused on waterway health.
• Get the Site Right: Due to COVID, the October campaign was delayed to a November Blitz Week, with 17 councils participating, 63% site compliance, and $119,600 in fines issued.
• Parramatta River Changemakers Course: Pilot projects were presented at the Full Group meeting in October.
• Round 7 Community Litter Grant Stream 1 – Making a Change for Greener Gatherings in Park: PRCG secured a $30,000 litter grant for park initiatives and supported the hiring of a Regional Litter Coordinator through a separate grant. Community events included the Seaside Scavenge at Blaxland Park and a Bayview Park clean-up to clear debris from the swim site.
• Round 7 Community Litter Grant Stream 3: Sydney Coastal Councils Group received a Round 7 Stream 3 grant to fund a part-time Regional Litter Coordinator, Cynthia Chang, to implement the RLPS and support councils across the catchment.
• Community engagement:
  • Seaside Scavenge at Blaxland Riverside Park (19 February)
  • Bayview Park Low Tide Clean Up (29 February).

• Love Your Waterways: Online stormwater education campaign was held in July, supported by an Instagram photo competition that encouraged the community to demonstrate one of the five, litter prevention behaviours.
• Regional Litter Prevention Strategy: Community litter survey was conducted, and a draft of the strategy is currently in progress.

• Get the Site Right: The May 2021 campaign focused on the impact of sediment runoff on waterway health, with a Blitz Day held on 20 May.
• Love Your Waterways: Formerly River Aware, the campaign has expanded to include other Sydney catchment groups and will launch in July 2021 with an Instagram photo competition.
• Changemakers Course: Held from April–June, the course engaged 22 volunteers in catchment education and small group project planning. Riverkeeper Ambassadors supported the course as mentors.
• Regional Litter Strategy Pilot: Inner West, Parramatta, and Willoughby councils are piloting litter prevention actions under the Regional Litter Prevention Strategy, ahead of a broader rollout across the Greater Sydney Harbour region.

• Greater Sydney Harbour Regional Litter Prevention Strategy: A Regional Litter Prevention Officer has been engaged to develop the grant-funded project.

• Riverfest 2020: Held from 6–31 October, featuring 30 online and in-person events.
• Get the Site Right Blitz Day: With eased COVID-19 restrictions, the Blitz Day took place in-person on 21 October, involving over 20 councils from Sydney and the Hunter Coast, along with the EPA.
• Regional Litter Prevention Strategy Grant: PRCG and SCCG received a $90,000 NSW EPA Community Litter Grant to develop a Regional Litter Prevention Strategy for the Greater Sydney Harbour catchment.
• Australian Microplastics Assessment Project (AUSMAP): PRCG participated in AUSMAP training, funding places for Riverkeeper Ambassadors and council officers at an event hosted by Concord and Ryde Sailing Club.

• Get the Site Right Campaign: Postponed to June 2020 and delivered primarily online due to COVID-19, with 14 councils and the EPA still conducting site inspections. The October blitz day will follow a similar online format.
• New Riverkeeper Appointment: Jasmine Payget joined as Riverkeeper, starting on 27 July.
• Riverfest Planning: Preparations are underway for this year’s Riverfest to be held online in October.
• Community Engagement:  A video featuring Riverkeeper Ambassador Kellie Darley from ParraParents was produced. The PRCG team supports her monthly clean-ups at George Kendall Reserve and community engagement efforts focused on making the Parramatta River swimmable again.

• River Aware campaign launched on social media to engage the community during May 2020.
• Riverkeeper role approved for recruitment.

• Meeting with other catchment groups on 17 February to plan 2020 campaigns. Focus of the May 2020 campaign will be to target private certifiers.
• Meeting with the Regulatory Subcommittee on 17 March to plan the May 2020 campaign.
• River Aware campaign collateral finalised to be distributed to members.
• Completion of the online River Aware pledge.

• A draft stakeholder engagement strategy under development targeting the six key areas identified in the Masterplan.
• Get the Site Right and Riverfest campaigns held.
• Updated River Aware campaign to be disseminated to all members in early 2020.
• Coordination of the Riverkeeper Network.
• Attendance at community events continues.

• Get the Site Right campaign planning for October Blitz Day.
• River Aware neighbourhood campaign launched in July 2019.
• Presentation to community groups including Baulkham Hills Probus Club and Catholic Earthcare.
• Presentation at Stormwater NSW Conference on stormwater engagement campaigns.
• PRCG presence at Cherry Blossom Festival (Cumberland Council), Footprints Ecofestival (Inner West), McIlwaine Park Consultation (City of Canada Bay) and Moocooboola Festival (Hunters Hill).

• Get the Site Right campaign conducted, including a one-day blitz on 14 May.
• PRCG presence at the North Parramatta Heritage Festival and EDGE Greenway events.