The vision for a landmark environmental project along the River Torrens is now clearer with the release of artist’s impressions for the final stage of the Breakout Creek redevelopment.
The artist’s impressions show what the final stretch of Breakout Creek, where the River Torrens meets the sea, will look like once transformed from an artificial channel into a healthier creek system.
Minister for Environment and Water David Speirs said the artist’s impressions reveal the new-look of the community space in Adelaide’s west, with construction expected to start in early 2022.
“The Breakout Creek redevelopment has been a 30-year environmental project, transforming a total of 2.7 kilometres of river stretching from upstream of Henley Beach Road to the Torrens Outlet on the coast,” Minister Speirs said.
“The project will see 15 hectares of public land unlocked for community use, while delivering significant environmental benefits including improved water quality and wildlife habitat and support job creation.
“The final stage of this transformational $12 million environmental project has been made possible thanks to a partnership between the Marshall Liberal Government, Commonwealth and local councils.
“Delivering projects like this will further enhance Adelaide’s reputation as the most liveable city in Australia and third in the world, as well as Adelaide’s global status as a National Park City.”
“Earlier this year we released the final designs of the redevelopment, and I hope these new artist’s impressions help people to better envision the space, and how it can be enjoyed in the future.
“Not only will the works create a healthier river and habitat for threatened fish and birds, it will also create an improved place to visit, with new paths and river crossings, picnic areas, as well as viewing decks and places for learning about biodiversity and the local environment.”
Green Adelaide Board Presiding Member Professor Chris Daniels said that we know locals of the area enjoy the sections of the creek that were revamped in the 1990s and early 2000s.
“Since those sections have been improved, we’ve seen more native fish, more native birds and better water quality across the River Torrens system,” Professor Daniels said.
“The completion of the Breakout Creek redevelopment is a big rewilding milestone for Adelaide’s much-loved river.
“We know that the Torrens is and always will be brownish, like most of Australia’s rivers, because of the tannins in our vegetation and soil.
“We also know that there is a strong population of native water rats, or rakali, along the Torrens today, particularly at the revamped sections of Breakout Creek which demonstrates the healthier river environment.
“So, we are now thinking that if the River Torrens ecosystem is supporting these mammals already, platypuses may have a good life in the river too.
“That’s why Green Adelaide is now leading the development of a scoping study to better understand the possibility of bringing platypus back to the River Torrens / Karrawirra Parri.
“This potential reintroduction is an exciting next step in continuing the improvement of the Torrens we all love so much.”
The final design was developed with the community and traditional owners of the land. For more information on Breakout Creek (including copies of the artist’s impressions) and platypus scoping study visit www.greenadelaide.sa.gov.au/projects.
The project is around $12 million partnership between Green Adelaide, the City of Charles Sturt, the City of West Torrens, the South Australian Attorney-General’s Department through the Planning and Development Fund, the Australian Government ($2 million from the Environment Restoration Fund) and SA Water. The project is committed to working with the Traditional Owners of the Adelaide plains, the Kaurna people.
