Riverfest 2024
Riverfest 2024
Riverfest is the Parramatta River Catchment Group’s annual celebration of Parramatta River. Multiple events are held all around the Parramatta River Catchment over 1 week in September from World Clean Up Day to World Rivers Day.
Collaborations -
LEP23-015
The issue
Community consultation identified that for the Parramatta River Catchment Group (PRCG) to achieve its purpose of making the Parramatta River a living river, “we need an engaged community that loves and cares for their waterways” (The Parramatta River Masterplan 2018).
This means keeping our communities interested in the river and educating them about how they can help.
The solution
Riverfest includes a variety of in-person (clean-ups, festivals, stalls, workshops) and online (webinars, presentations) events. They can be hosted by anyone from community groups and volunteers to local councils.
A great example of innovation at Riverfest is The Painted River Project, facilitated by Dr Leo Robba. First produced for Riverfest 2017 to explore a more sustainable future for the Parramatta River through art. Easels are set up along the riverbanks and participants are invited to re-imagine a new future for Parramatta River.
This year we had another first-time innovation, Between the Tides by Dr Cameron Webb. An installation of sound recordings of wetlands within the Parramatta River catchment. Participants were invited to listen to these soundscapes through silent disco headsets while lounging on bean bags.
The impact
The collaboration began with one child grabbing a bean bag and taking it over to the painting area, then a family taking their canvases and paints over to the bean bag area. The unintended result was a fully immersive experience where people can listen to wetland soundscapes, while painting their vision of the Parramatta River.
Key facts
- The Parramatta River Catchment Group have a purpose to make the Parramatta River a living river.
- To achieve this, community consultation identified a need for an “engaged community that loves and cares for their waterways”.
- Riverfest 2024 has created an opportunity for innovation and collaboration resulting in an engaged community.