Artist impressions show how new wetland for River Torrens at West Beach, will look
It might become your new favourite spot in Adelaide – a planned wetland, where the Torrens meets the sea at West Beach, will include trails and picnic areas. See the images.
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A vital wetland that will help threatened fish and birds and create a haven for visitors is being planned where the River Torrens / Karrawirra Pari meets the sea at West Beach.
The development, the final stage of the $12m Breakout Creek project, is being created in a 2.7km stretch from the sea to Tapleys Hill Rd in Lockleys.
The area, which is currently fenced off, will be opened up for visitors to enjoy trails and viewing platforms, picnic areas, interpretative signage and art.
The design also includes a smaller fenced area for horses agisted along the river at Lockleys.
“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,” Environment Minister David Speirs said.
He has released artist impressions of the development “to help people to better envision the space, and how it can be enjoyed in the future”.
The 30-year project has been a partnership between all three levels of government.
The plan means the Lockleys Riding Club will have to reduce the number of horses that can be agisted.
“Our horses get to stay … which is great,” club president Megan Eastaughffe said.
“We will finish up with around a third of the agistment area we have now and the horses will only be kept on the southern bank. As it will be much smaller, we are reducing the number of horses to a maximum of 14.
“No horses will be required to leave, we have already reduced numbers through natural attrition.”
Viewing areas will enable the public to see the horses. The club will continue to access the riding arena at Apex Park, but the riding arena in Henley Beach South will go, Ms Eastaughffe said.
“Green Adelaide and West Torrens Council are working closely with us to ensure we have all the facilities we require in Apex Park to assist us with the loss of the Henley arena,” Ms Eastaughffe said.
Green Adelaide Board chairman Professor Chris Daniels said locals had enjoyed revamped sections of the creek that were completed in the 1990s and 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,” he said.
“There is a strong population of native water rats, or rakali … at the revamped sections of Breakout Creek, which demonstrates the healthier river environment.
“So … if the River Torrens ecosystem is supporting these mammals already, platypuses may have a good life in the river, too.”
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