Duck River Nature Trail

Latest News | Project update October 2025

Duck River Nature Trail Stage 1 – the sensational Silverwater Park is now open

Grab your walking shoes, hop on your bike, round up the kids, and fetch the dog, Stage 1 of the Duck River Nature Trail is now open for all to enjoy.

Stage 1 of the Duck River Nature Trail is designed make Silverwater Park more accessible, providing the community with safer walking and riding, and more opportunities to take-in views of the river.

The 450m separated pedestrian and cyclist path leads visitors around and through the park, providing a better connection between Silverwater Bridge, and the Parramatta foreshore paths. The path also has new LED lighting, helping people make more use of the park, particularly in winter.

For riders, new bike racks are provided, along with a deluxe bike maintenance stand and tools to help with tune-ups and simple repairs.

People and pooches can also re-hydrate at the new water fountain – as well as a bubbler – there’s an integrated dog water bowl at the base.

Work completed at the boat ramp, included upgrades to the footpath to provide a smooth and level surface. A new separated bike path now stretches along the waterfront in this area.  

Silverwater Park has also become much greener. Turf has been re-laid, there are 11 new trees (which when mature will provide cooling shade), additional landscaping and new native garden beds. These upgrades combine to improve the look and feel of this popular recreational space.

Stage 1 Silverwater Park will also connect to the future stages of the Duck River Nature Trail that will start at Picken Street, Silverwater.

When complete, the three-stage $28.1 million Duck River Nature Trail will deliver 4km of off-road walking and cycling paths, raised boardwalks, and bridges. The project will provide the community with greater access to the river, unlock unique natural areas, and showcase a rich cultural heritage for everyone to enjoy.

Proudly funded by the NSW Government in association with City of Parramatta.

The $28.1+ million Duck River Nature Trail project is proudly funded by the NSW Government in association with the City of Parramatta.

Stage 2 (Picken Street, Blaxland Street and Junction Street, Silverwater)

Following community consultation in February this year, the project team refined the proposed concept design to reflect feedback from businesses and the community.

At its meeting on Monday 8 September, Council approved a design for the sections of Stage 2 located on Picken Street, Blaxland Street and Junction Street. These components will proceed to detail design and construction.

Around 500m of the Duck River Nature Trail will move from local streets (as proposed in the draft concept design) to the river foreshore. This change was made possible through public access being secured over a wharf alongside Duck River.

The refined design will provide pedestrians and cyclist with greater views of the river and allow more on-street parking spaces to be retained. A raised priority crossing will be installed on Junction Street, near the M4.

The community will be able to provide feedback on the new concept design for the Duck River Nature Trail foreshore route (Stage 2) as part of the public exhibition of Stage 3.

Stage 3 (Duck River Foreshore)

At its September meeting, Council approved Stage 3 for community consultation.

The public exhibition of the new foreshore section of Stage 2, and the concept design for Stage 3, is anticipated to take place in October 2025. Stay tuned for more information on how to have your say.

Stage 3 includes raised boardwalks, foreshore paths, and two bridges making the riverfront and its plant, animal, and heritage attractions more accessible to the community.

Information on Stage 3 of the Duck River Nature Trail will be on Council’s Participate Parramatta website.

Duck River Nature Trail Project

One of the City of Parramatta’s most ambitious projects for 2024 to 2028, the Duck River Nature Trail Project proposes to unlock beautiful natural areas of saltmarsh and mangrove that are currently hidden away.

To be delivered in three stages, the Duck River Nature Trail creates a walking and cycling network alongside Duck River, connecting the M4 Shared Path and Parramatta River foreshore path network. The project is designed to allow the community to safely walk and cycle alongside Duck River and encounter remarkable bird life and native animals. 

The Duck River is the most significant north-south watercourse in Parramatta, connecting the City of Parramatta with the City of Canterbury Bankstown and Cumberland City.

South of the western rail line in Cumberland, the river is within regional scale parklands comprised of formal and informal sporting fields, as well as large areas of natural vegetation.

North of the rail line in Parramatta, it is more industrial in nature until it reaches Silverwater Park at the confluence with the Parramatta River. Many businesses still use Duck River to transport their wares.

This transformative project will provide 4km of off-road walking and cycling paths delivering a combination of concrete paths, boardwalks, raised platforms and a bridge to allow everyone in the community to walk and ride along both sides of Duck River and appreciate its natural beauty, ecology, and rich heritage.

Key project elements include:

Stage 1 (Silverwater Park)

Officially opened on Friday 10 October 2025, Stage 1 delivers 450m of separated walking and cycling paths (4.5m wide), new landscaping and garden beds, 11 mature trees, and lighting.

Stage 2 (eastern streets - Picken Street, Blaxland Street and Junction Street, Silverwater)

Refined in response to public exhibition of the concept designs, Stage 2 will deliver 700m of separated walking and cycling paths, new mature street trees, lighting, and raised priority crossings of all streets.

Stage 3 (eastern river)

Stage 3 (concept designs anticipated for public exhibition in October 2025) introduces almost two kilometres of new paths and boardwalks between Canarvon Street and Blaxland Street in Silverwater, with street connections at Derby Street, Giffard Street, River Street and Holker Street.

Stage 3 (western river)

The concept design for this section of the Duck River Nature Trail proposes just under 1km of new boardwalks and generous 5m wide walking and cycling paths.

This new active transport connection will link the existing pathway at the M4, and extend across Duck Creek via a new bridge - 35m long and 4m wide.

The path will continue along the existing western foreshore to terminate at the boundary of the Viva Clyde and Parramatta Fuel Terminals. Currently, access to the foreshore is not possible beyond this point.

View past project updates

 

Stage 1 (Silverwater Park)

The concept design for Stage 1 of the Duck River Nature Trail (Silverwater Park) was on public exhibition in late-2024. City of Parramatta received around 100 submissions.

Following updates to the concept design reflecting community feedback, Stage 1 of the project was endorsed by Council, and began construction in late-March 2025.

Silverwater Park was officially opened on 10 October 2025.

Stage 2 (Picken Street, Blaxland Street and Junction Street, Silverwater)

The community was invited to provide feedback on Stage 2 of the Duck River Nature Trail (Silverwater streets) in early-2025.

Community consultation focussed on Stage 2 as the critical link between Stage 1 (Silverwater Park) and Stage 3 (Duck River foreshore).

The proposed enhancements to the street network were designed to facilitate community access to the Duck River. The concept design for Stage 2 included new pedestrian/cyclist paths, lighting, tree planting and an elevated pedestrian crossing.

City of Parramatta received more than 28 pin and post comments on the interactive map which provided detail on the planned improvements associated with the Duck River Nature Trail Stage 2. In addition to feedback provided via the map, another 55 formal submissions were received.

Following public exhibition, the project team refined the design proposed for Stage 2 Silverwater streets, to reflect feedback from businesses and the community.

At its September meeting, Council approved a refined concept design for the sections of Stage 2 located on Picken Street, Blaxland Street and Junction Street.  These will proceed to detailed design and construction. A raised priority crossing will be installed on Junction Street, near the M4.

Around 500m of the Duck River Nature Trail, previously located on streets in Silverwater, has been relocated to the river foreshore. This section is now possible through public access being secured over a wharf alongside Duck River.

The new foreshore route will provide pedestrians and cyclists with expansive views of the river and allow more on-street parking spaces to be retained.

The refined concept design for Stage 2, will be placed on public exhibition alongside the concept designs for Stage 3.

It is expected that community consultation on the final components of the Duck River Nature Trail will take place in October 2025.

Stage 3

Endorsed for public exhibition by Council at its meeting on 8 September 2025, it is expected that the community will be able to provide feedback on the largest and final piece of the Duck River Nature Trail in October 2025.

The concept design for Stage 3 includes foreshore paths and two bridges making views of the riverfront and its plant, animal, and heritage attractions more accessible. 

For more information on the project, including how to have your say on Stage 2 and Stage 3 of the Duck River Nature Trail, please visit Participate Parramatta

 

Proudly funded by the NSW Government in association with City of Parramatta.

The $28.1+ million Duck River Nature Trail project is proudly funded by the NSW Government in association with the City of Parramatta. Funding is provided through the Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants Program and Transport for NSW’s Get Active NSW Active program.

The NSW Government’s Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants Program (formerly known as WestInvest) is providing $2 billion to fund transformational infrastructure projects across Western Sydney. Projects will improve liveability and support economic recovery, making a real difference to the quality of life in Western Sydney. Find out more, visit Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants Program

Location

Clyde Street, Silverwater 2128  View Map