Parramatta Light Rail - Stage 2

Overview

Tika EQ was engaged by CM+ and Transport for NSW as the Connecting with Country consultants for the Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 (PLR2) Early Works. This major infrastructure project extends light rail services from Camellia to Sydney Olympic Park, connecting key growth precincts including Rydalmere, Ermington, Melrose Park, and Wentworth Point.

Located on Dharug Country, the project corridor traverses a landscape rich in cultural, ecological, and historical significance. These lands are part of a living cultural network shaped by waterways, Songlines, and enduring relationships between people and Country.

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As Connecting with Country consultants, Tika EQ worked closely with CM+, John Holland, Transport for NSW, and the Dharug community to support the integration of cultural narratives and values throughout the early design and planning process.

Our work built on earlier frameworks including the Yellow Book, Public Art and Heritage Interpretation (PAHI) Strategy, and Transport for NSW’s Aboriginal Culture and Heritage Framework, aligning with the NSW Government’s Connecting with Country and Designing with Country guidelines.

Approach and Process

We supported a collaborative cultural engagement process that included:

• Walk on Country and Workshop – Held at Sydney Olympic Park Ferry Wharf and Wentworth Point Community Centre, bringing together representatives from community and project partners.
• Cultural Advisory Sessions – Facilitated discussions on Dharug values, language, and cultural expression within the urban and landscape design.
• Cultural Theming and Integration – Embedding principles of respect, reciprocity, and cultural continuity into design documentation and recommendations.

This process emphasised cultural accuracy, ongoing consent, and Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) protections, ensuring cultural material was used ethically and collaboratively.

Key Outcomes and Themes

The consultation and design collaboration produced several important outcomes and recommendations, including:

• Cultural Pillars: Expressed through Dharug language and storytelling.
• Cultural Landscape Design: Use of endemic species such as mangroves, turpentine forest, and saltmarsh; integration of Sky Country references like the Emu in the Sky in lighting and shelters.
• Public Art and Interpretation: Opportunities for Dharug artists to lead public art concepts referencing eel traps, fish nets, and weaving forms; inclusion of Dharug language and QR-enabled digital storytelling.
• Design Guidance: Avoiding coastal or non-local references; using recycled sandstone and natural materials; and incorporating motifs such as shells and middens beneath bridge structures to reflect the layered history of place.

Legacy and Next Steps

The process established a strong foundation for cultural leadership and long-term engagement in the delivery of Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2.

Ongoing collaboration with Muru Mittigar and Dharug representatives continues to guide:

• Landscape planning and naming processes
• Cultural heritage induction and education
• Inclusion of Dharug language, art, and design motifs in the final built environment

By embedding First Nations knowledge from the earliest stages, the PLR2 project demonstrates how large-scale transport infrastructure can respond to Country - not only as a route of movement, but as a living cultural corridor that acknowledges and celebrates Dharug identity.