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The Parramatta River, New South Wales, Australia, is the main tributary of Sydney Harbour, along with the smaller Lane Cove and Duck Rivers. Image File history File links Unbalanced_scales. ... Emblems: Floral - Waratah (Telopea speciosissima); Bird - Kookaburra (Dacelo gigas); Animal - Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus); Fish - Blue Groper (Achoerodus viridis) Motto: Orta Recens Quam Pura Nites (Newly Risen, How Brightly You Shine) Slogan or Nickname: First State, Premier State Other Australian states and territories Capital Sydney Government Const. ... Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge located on Port Jackson Port Jackson is the natural harbour of Sydney, Australia, also known as Sydney Harbour and is the largest natural harbour in the world. ... The Lane Cove River is a tributary of the Parramatta River and its lower reaches form an arm of Sydney Harbour, Australia. ...

River governance

The whole of Sydney Harbour including its tributary rivers is now subject to a long range Catchment Management Plan. While it is largely in the information gathering and policy development stage, it is now a formal New South Wales Government policy. The Government has almost eliminated local representation by disbanding the former local catchment management boards. Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge located on Port Jackson Port Jackson is the natural harbour of Sydney, Australia, also known as Sydney Harbour and is the largest natural harbour in the world. ... Emblems: Floral - Waratah (Telopea speciosissima); Bird - Kookaburra (Dacelo gigas); Animal - Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus); Fish - Blue Groper (Achoerodus viridis) Motto: Orta Recens Quam Pura Nites (Newly Risen, How Brightly You Shine) Slogan or Nickname: First State, Premier State Other Australian states and territories Capital Sydney Government Const. ...

The New South Wales Government has a documented policy in relation to access to the harbour and river foreshores, including public access to intertidal lands where landowners have absolute waterfronts, but where the waterfront is exposed at low tide. Moorings and jetties are the responsibility of NSW Maritime, who are also responsible for the management of the Harbour and river seabed. Many bays are choked with swing moorings, mostly privately owned, but some associated with Marinas. Emblems: Floral - Waratah (Telopea speciosissima); Bird - Kookaburra (Dacelo gigas); Animal - Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus); Fish - Blue Groper (Achoerodus viridis) Motto: Orta Recens Quam Pura Nites (Newly Risen, How Brightly You Shine) Slogan or Nickname: First State, Premier State Other Australian states and territories Capital Sydney Government Const. ...

SREP 22 is a planning instrument governing development along the foreshore. It is effectively ignored by the State Government on major developments along the foreshore, even on State Government owned sites such as the Balmain Power Station site and Waterways former Union Carbide site. See also the development at Birkenhead Point from the water near Iron Cove Bridge. Balmain Power Station site today - Residential apartments. ... Birkenhead Point is a point in Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. ... The Iron Cove Bridge links the suburbs of Rozelle and Drummoyne across Iron Cove in the inner-west of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia. ...

Transport

Ferry services and wharves

There are River Cat services along the Parramatta River to Circular Quay. The main wharves are: Categories: Suburbs of Sydney | Incomplete Sydney suburbs ...

• Parramatta, (Southern side of River)
• Homebush, (Southern)
• Meadowbank, (Northern)
• Kissing Point, (Northern)
• Cabarita Park, (Southern)
• Abbotsford, (Southern)
• Five Dock, (Southern)
• Gladesville, (Northern)

Parramatta is a city, suburb and Local Government Area in Sydney, Australia, 25 kilometres west of the central business district (CBD) in Western Sydney. ... Homebush is a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, located in the municipality of Strathfield. ... Meadowbank is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. ... Kissing Point is an area located in the Sydney Lower North Shore locality of South Ryde, or what is far more commonly known as Putney. ... Cabarita is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. ... Abbotsford is a suburb of Sydney, Australia. ... Five Dock is one of the 17 suburbs within the Local Government Area of the City of Canada Bay, in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. ... Gladesville is a suburb on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. ...

Ecological and environment issues

Water quality concerns

Until 1970 the river was an open drain for Sydney's industry and consequently the southern central embayments are contaminated with a range of heavy metals and chemicals. The Northern Bays are less affected as the Sydney Harbour Bridge was not completed until 1932 and so industrial development was already well established on the southern side of the Harbour. River upstream of an Australian trout farm A river is a large natural waterway. ... The Sydney Harbour Bridge is the main crossing of Sydney Harbour carrying vehicular, rail, and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district (CBD) and the North Shore. ... 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will take you to a full 1932 calendar). ...

Dr Gavin Birch of the University of Sydney has published a number of papers which show that Sydney Harbour is as contaminated as most other harbours in industrialised cities, that the main sediment contamination is in the southern central embayments (Blackwattle to Homebush Bays), that there are 5 particularly contaminated areas of Sydney Harbour, and that 4 of them are in the Parramatta river system. The University of Sydney, established in Sydney in 1850, is the oldest university in Australia. ... Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge located on Port Jackson Port Jackson is the natural harbour of Sydney, Australia, also known as Sydney Harbour and is the largest natural harbour in the world. ... Sediment is any particulate matter that can be transported by fluid flow and which eventually is deposited as a layer of solid particles on the bed or bottom of a body of water or other liquid. ... Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge located on Port Jackson Port Jackson is the natural harbour of Sydney, Australia, also known as Sydney Harbour and is the largest natural harbour in the world. ...

The main contaminated areas of the Parramatta River are:

• Homebush Bay - dioxins, lead, phthalates, DDT, PAH's (coal tars) mainly originating from nearby chemical factories of Berger Paints, CSR Chemicals, ICI/Orica, and Union Carbide.
• Iron Cove - various metals and chemicals with no clearly defined point source.
• Off former AGL site, now redeveloped as Breakfast Point.

Water quality is monitored by the New South Wales Environment Protection Agency (EPA) for faecal coliforms and e. coli, but only as far west as Cabarita. In spite of the large scale high density development taking place further west on the River, and the use of the river further west for sailing, Sea scouts and rowing the EPA refuses to monitor water quality in those areas. In the areas monitored, the water quality is generally acceptable except after heavy rains. Homebush Bay is a suburb of Sydney, Australia, adjacent to the newly developed suburb of Newington. ... 3D model of 2,3,7,8- tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin Structure of 2,3,7,8- tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) Dioxin is the popular name for the family of halogenated organic compounds, the most common consisting of polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs). ... General Name, Symbol, Number lead, Pb, 82 Chemical series poor metals Group, Period, Block 14, 6, p Appearance bluish white Atomic mass 207. ... General chemical structure of phthalates. ... DDT was the first modern pesticide and is arguably the best known organic pesticide. ... Pah: God of the Moon. ... CSR Limited is a major Australian industrial company, producing aluminium, sugar products (notably including pure ethanol), and construction products. ... Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) is a British chemical group and one of the largest chemical producers in the world. ... Orica is an Australian-headquartered multinational manufacturer of various chemical products, from paints to explosives. ... This article or section is incomplete and may require expansion and/or cleanup. ... Iron Cove is a bay on the Parramatta River, in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. ... The Australian Gas Light Company (AGL) is an Australian gas and electricity retailer. ... Breakfast Point is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. ... Rabbit feces are usually 0. ... Binomial name Escherichia coli T. Escherich, 1885 Escherichia coli (usually abbreviated to E. coli) is one of the main species of bacteria that live in the lower intestines of warm_blooded animals (including birds and mammals) and are necessary for the proper digestion of food. ... Binomial name Escherichia coli T. Escherich, 1885 Escherichia coli (usually abbreviated to E. coli) is one of the main species of bacteria that live in the lower intestines of warm-blooded animals (including birds and mammals) and are necessary for the proper digestion of food. ...

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, and a complete commercial fishing ban throught the rest of Sydney Harbour and its tributaries, including the Parramatta River. Homebush Bay is a suburb of Sydney, Australia, adjacent to the newly developed suburb of Newington. ... 3D model of 2,3,7,8- tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin Structure of 2,3,7,8- tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) Dioxin is the popular name for the family of halogenated organic compounds, the most common consisting of polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs). ...

The Parramatta River is one of the few significant coastal rivers in New South Wales which has not been the subject of a Healthy Rivers Commission Investigation. The Cooks River and Botany Bay have been subject to such an investigation. Some have campaigned for a Healthy Rivers Commission inquiry to bring together all the information on the state of the river and its sediments and fish and assist in watershed management. Emblems: Floral - Waratah (Telopea speciosissima); Bird - Kookaburra (Dacelo gigas); Animal - Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus); Fish - Blue Groper (Achoerodus viridis) Motto: Orta Recens Quam Pura Nites (Newly Risen, How Brightly You Shine) Slogan or Nickname: First State, Premier State Other Australian states and territories Capital Sydney Government Const. ... For other Botany Bays see Botany Bay (disambiguation) Bicentennial Monument at Botany Bay Botany Bay is a bay in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, a few kilometers south of the central business district. ...

Major wetlands and environmentally sensitive areas

Major wetlands include:

• Bicentennial Park Wetlands (nationally significant, JAMBA CAMBA)
• Newington Wetlands (nationally significant, JAMBA CAMBA)

There are significant stands of mangroves along the river west of Henley (on the North shore) and Mortlake (on the southern shore) and in the Lane Cove River. The mangroves have actually colonised areas that were previously salt marsh. Research into historical drawings and writings indicates that the mangroves were far fewer at English colonisation. Council information panels in Glades Bay explain that the bay's now extensive mangrove stands would once have been open water, sandy beaches and outcrops of rock. Land clearing and development has allowed soil and various nutrients to be washed into the river. This has provided an ideal environment for mangroves to colonise. The excessive siltation of the river is an ongoing problem. The Japan Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (JAMBA) is a treaty between Australia and Japan to minimise harm to the major areas used by birds which migrate between the two countries. ... The China Australia Migratory Bird Agreement os a treaty between China to minimise harm to the major areas used by birds which migrate between the two countries. ... The Japan Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (JAMBA) is a treaty between Australia and Japan to minimise harm to the major areas used by birds which migrate between the two countries. ... The China Australia Migratory Bird Agreement os a treaty between China to minimise harm to the major areas used by birds which migrate between the two countries. ... The Lane Cove River is a tributary of the Parramatta River and its lower reaches form an arm of Sydney Harbour, Australia. ...

Reclamation

Many areas of the river, particularly the swampy heads of bays, have been reclaimed, often being used as rubbish dumps before being converted into playing fields. Large sections of Meadowbank Park were created in this manner. Some industrial sites were also reclaimed heavily from the river, particularly in Homebush Bay. Most creeks leading into the bays have been channelised (lined with concrete walls and floor). Land reclamation is either of two distinct practices. ...

Remediation

While some areas of the river with heavily contaminated sediments have not been remediated, there is significant remediation of sediments about to start in Homebush Bay. These include the dioxin contaminated sediments near the former Union Carbide plant and the lead contaminated sediments near the former Berger Paints plant. Unfortunately, the EPA has allowed the sediments to get out of synch with the land based sites on which the polluters operated. The former AGL site has been analysed, a remediation plan developed and approved, remediation completed and construction commenced on medium to high density residential development, but the sediments, which independent research shows to be contaminated with pollutants from the AGL operations, have not yet had the investigation stage finalised (as of 2000). Generally, remediation means giving a remedy. ... Homebush Bay is a suburb of Sydney, Australia, adjacent to the newly developed suburb of Newington. ... 3D model of 2,3,7,8- tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin Structure of 2,3,7,8- tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) Dioxin is the popular name for the family of halogenated organic compounds, the most common consisting of polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs). ... This article or section is incomplete and may require expansion and/or cleanup. ... This article is in need of attention. ...

Other areas have had sediments covered with concrete to prevent the fish eating the benthos. Some of these companies claim that the contamination is best left alone, but environmentalists have argued that the contamination could be being passed up the food chain and claim that the companies are trying to avoid the costs incurred in pollution cleanup. In oceanography, marine geology and biology, benthos are the organisms and habitats of the sea floor; in freshwater biology they are the organisms and habitats of the bottoms of lakes, rivers, and creeks. ...

Recreational activities

Sailing

There are a number of sailing and yachting clubs on the River:

• Abbotsford 12ft Flying Squadron in Abbotsford
• Concord & Ryde Sailing Club at Putney http://www.concordrydesailing.org
• Parramatta River Sailing Club at Gladesville http://www.prsc.org.au/

Sailing and rowing take place under an aquatic licence granted annually by Waterways. Abbotsford is a suburb of Sydney, Australia. ... Putney is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. ... Gladesville is a suburb on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. ...

Sea Scouts

There are Sea Scouts at:

• Rhodes: First Yaralla
• Meadowbank: First Epping

Rowing

The river has a long historical association with rowing. There is a monument in honour of Henry Searle, a champion sculler of his day, in the river at Henley.

Some of the school rowing sheds are:

• Sydney Women's MLC
• The King's School Rowing Club
• Sydney Boys High School

There are also a number of rowing clubs:

• Drummoyne Rowers in Iron Cove
• Sydney Rowers at Abbotsford
• UTS Haberfield at Haberfield
• Balmain

While a number of regattas are still held on the river each year, mainly in Iron Cove, many of the major regattas are now held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre (SIRC) where rowing was held for the 2000 Summer Olympics. Early GPS Schoolboy Head of the River races were held on the Parramatta River before moving to the Nepean River and later SIRC. Balmain is a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. ... The 2000 Summer Olympics or the Millennium Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were the Summer Olympic Games held in 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. ... A Head of the River race is a rowing race, held as a procession race against the clock, with the winning crew receiving the title of Head of the River. ... The Nepean River is a river in the coastal region of New South Wales, Australia. ...

Most rowing training is done in the middle to upper reaches of the river between Abbotsford and Homebush Bay because there is less water traffic and therefore less waves and more protection from wind. Rowing also takes place in the Lane Cove River and Iron Cove which also have less traffic. The Lane Cove River is a tributary of the Parramatta River and its lower reaches form an arm of Sydney Harbour, Australia. ...

Foreshore walks and cycleways

Much of the foreshore is still in the hands of industry and private individuals as residences, however there is an increasing amount of waterfront land available as foreshore reserve with walkways and cycleways. As former industrial sites undergo remediation and redevelopment the foreshores are opened up for public access. Where there is no foreshore access, cycleways are routed through quiet residential streets with clearly marked sections of the road reserved for cyclists. Generally, remediation means giving a remedy. ...

Major foreshore parks include:

• Cabarita Park
• Kissing Point Park, Ryde
• Meadowbank Park
• Putney Park
• Bicentennial Park, Homebush Bay
• Millennium Parklands, Homebush/Auburn

Heritage items on or near the foreshore

Major heritage buildings on or near the foreshore include:

• Thomas Walker Convalescent Hospital (now Rivendell unit for Teenagers)
• Callan Park, a former psychiatric hospital, with fine sandstone buildings
• Gladesville Psychiatric Hospital, with many sandstone buildings in parklike surroundings on the southern side of Victoria Road. All the buildings on the Northern side were demolished and sold for redevelopment in about 1990.
• Yaralla, the italianate mansion of Dame Edith Walker, a generous benefactor of the Concord Community, still preserved in magnificent and extensive grounds through a trust structure in favour of a hospital.
• the Newington armaments depot with its armaments railway and concrete bunkers

Callan Park Buildings Callan Park is a 104. ...

External links

• Information on proposed remediation at Homebush Bay and the Rhodes peninsula