David Borger wants to celebrate Sydney’s waterways like the River Thames

A RIVER festival - like London’s month-long Totally Thames celebrating the River Thames with art, history, concerts and exhibitions - is how one man wants to celebrate Parramatta, Liverpool and Penrith’s waterways.

The Houses of Parliament and the River Thames. Picture: Daniel Steele

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A MAN who grew up in western Sydney has big plans for its waterways. He wants to celebrate its rivers with a festival.

Likening it to London’s Totally Thames, Sydney Business Chamber western Sydney director David Borger said there was no reason why you could have something of equal standings in Australia.

“Why can’t you have that in Parramatta, Liverpool and Penrith?” he said.

Totally Thames is a month-long celebration of the River Thames. Art, history, concerts and exhibitions put emphasis on the 346km long river. Activity takes place on, beneath and along the River Thames. It is the longest river in England and Mr Borger wants to replicate that in Sydney’s west.

“When you think of tourism, you don’t think of western Sydney. The area is growing strongly ... it was overlooked in the past.

“In the last five years, the perception of western Sydney has gone from a negative to a positive.”

Sydney Business Chamber Western Sydney Director David Borger. Picture: David Swift

He said bold new ideas would help pave the way for the future of western Sydney. Mr Borger said there was a wealth of things already in the booming area but the $100,000 from the State Government would help identify gaps and opportunities.

Tourism and Major Events Minister Adam Marshall made the financial commitment on Thursday at Parramatta. He said it was “just the beginning” in the government’s commitment to tourism in western Sydney. It forms part of the NSW Government’s Western Sydney Visitor Economy Strategy, also announced this week.

He said they would be looking at packaging visitor experiences so people aren’t in the area for just one event.

“There are lots of visits in a day but overnight is weak,” he said.

An aerial of Parramatta and the river that helps shape the community. Picture: Nearmap

Mr Marshall said while there had been rumours of Vivid Sydney coming to western Sydney and big food and wine festivals, he said discussions would start now.

Mr Marshall said the strategy was about providing a blueprint to attract visitors to western Sydney. He said day visitors was high but overnight stays were low.

“Now is western Sydney’s time to work together to attract many more visitors,” he said.

Western Sydney attracted $4.2 billion to businesses and the community last year. He said he was determined to grow that even more.

“Western Sydney is one of Australia’s largest, fastest growing and most diverse economies.”

The Sydney Business Chamber will use its funds to complete an audit of the area’s visitor assets. The Western Sydney Business Connection (WSBC) also received $100,000 to create a one-stop app and website for people planning on visiting western Sydney.

Totally Thames celebrate the waterway. Pictured is Future Dust, an installation at this year’s festival in London that explores the issue of plastic pollution from the river’s beaches. Picture: Rob Stothard

Its general manager Amanda Brisot said it was a step in the right direction. The website and app will be ready in December.

“We want to promote the hidden gems of western Sydney ... places like Featherdale and Wet n Wild,” she said.

Parramatta State Liberal MP Geoff Lee said the strategy would change the way western Sydney is perceived.

He said through the strategy, “we can bring western Sydney to the world”.

State of the Region Address

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian delivers the State of the Region Address at the Western Sydney Business Connection at Rosehill Gardens, in Sydney, Wednesday, August 30, 2017. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) NO ARCHIVING

Tourism and Transport Forum Australia’s chief executive Margy Osmond said the government collaboration with the Chamber and WSBC was needed to start unlocking the tourism potential of the region.

“The visitor economy is Western Sydney’s sleeping giant,” Ms Osmond said.

“The region has all the ingredients to become one of Australia’s ‘must-visit’ destinations, but has lacked a unified approach between government, industry and the community to managing and marketing the area and to developing a single, long-term destination management strategy and plan.”