New report explores how Western Sydney waterways can unlock communities

We have collaborated with Business Western Sydney and Bentley to produce an advocacy report titled ‘Our Rivers: Connecting and activating Western Sydney River communities‘.

Urbis Perspectives Western Sydney Waterways Hero

We have collaborated with Business Western Sydney and Bentley to produce an advocacy report titled ‘Our Rivers: Connecting and activating Western Sydney River communities‘. The report explores the expansive potential of Western Sydney’s waterways – the Parramatta, Hawkesbury-Nepean, Georges River, and offers recommendations to enhance their social, environmental, and economic value.

Born out of a meeting in October 2023, where stakeholders from across Western Sydney discussed the role of urban waterways in region, the report aims to set out some clear actions in order to realise better outcomes for these natural assets and support improved community and environmental outcomes in Western Sydney.

Key objectives

To successfully support the vision of connected and advanced waterways, the report urges the NSW Government to adopt bold objectives that will allow these waterways to become key pillars in the community. These objectives include:

ensuring all Western Sydney residents have access to clean and healthy waterways for swimming and recreation within 30 minutes of their home,
revitalising and activating river foreshore areas,
protecting environmentally sensitive waterways, and
embedding First Peoples knowledge and involvement into the planning and management of all waterways.

The problem and the solution

Communities in Western Sydney are disconnected from their rivers and waterways due to fragmented planning, poorly managed flood events, and development that has often overlooked these natural assets. This disconnection has led to poor social, environmental, and economic outcomes for all residents – particularly considering Western Sydney is already the hottest part of the City in summer and only expected to get hotter

To improve the wellbeing of Western Sydney, better connection to waterways is essential. Creating a network of accessible ‘blue infrastructure’ will not only enhance community resilience but also help mitigate the impacts of extreme heat, encourage physical activity, and generate economic opportunities through recreation and tourism.

Activations to enhance the usability of the rivers, including river beaches, jetty pools, bike tracks, and ‘on water’ activities like kayaking and paddle boarding can work to create thriving and inclusive communities.

Healthy waterways, healthy communities

Activated waterways offer significant benefits for community health by encouraging outdoor physical activity and recreation, and greater social interaction, leading to a healthier population. The long-term savings in public health expenditure can be considerable, resulting in significant cost savings for governments while improving overall community well-being.

Shaping vibrant waterfronts

Waterfront land is brimming with potential. Transforming neglected post-industrial docklands into contemporary cultural, recreational, and lifestyle spaces can help see engaging activations of these spaces. This model has been demonstrated globally with activated waterfront precincts like Howard Smith Wharves in Brisbane, the Chicago Riverwalk and Paris Plages. Unlocking this potential in Western Sydney can be done through ensuring local relevance, creating a variety of experiences that allow year-round activation, and making accessible, high-performance and diverse destinations.

Recommendations

Our collaborative recommendations are outlined in the report including a clear commitment from government, the establishment of an ‘Urban Rivers Taskforce’, continued funding for ‘Places to Swim’ and the ‘Urban Plunge’ programs, prioritising the assessment of projects that activate Western Sydney waterways, and building momentum through a calendar of year-round events.

The report is a call to action for the NSW Government and all stakeholders to realise the immense potential of Western Sydney’s waterways. It shows us how we can work collaboratively towards their activation and revitalisation. By doing so, we can create healthier, more connected communities and a more sustainable future for Western Sydney.

To read the full report, click here , or reach out to one of our experts below for further discussion.

Published: September 30, 2024