Calls for State Government to begin extension of the River Torrens wetlands at Breakout Creek

THE time to move forward with the extension of the River Torrens wetlands to the sea is now, a local residents’ group says. Here’s why the time is right.

Calls have been made to extend the wetlands along the River Torrens between Tapleys Hill Rd and Seaview Rd in West Beach. Picture Campbell Brodie.

THE time to move forward with the extension of the River Torrens wetlands to the sea is now, a local residents’ group says.

Western Adelaide Coastal Residents’ Association president Jim Douglas is calling on the State Government to begin community consultation on a concept plan for an extension of the Breakout Creek Wetlands.

The concept plan for the $10 million project was released almost two years ago but consultation has been held up by delayed redevelopments of Lockleys Oval and Apex Park.

Mr Douglas said the residents’ association first started knocking on the government’s door about Breakout Creek five years ago – and it’s time now to bring on the project.

“The reason the concept plan hasn’t been taken out for community consultation has been held up by the Lockleys Oval and Apex Park redevelopments,” he said.

“Now that plans for Lockleys Oval have progressed, there is nothing holding it back.”

The Western Adelaide Coastal Residents’ Association says the time has come to progress with plans to extend the Breakout Creek Wetlands. Pictured in 2016 are Paul Laris, Chrissy Schultz, president Jim Douglas and Peter Schultz. Picture Campbell Brodie.

The wetlands venture is a joint initiative involving the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board, SA Water, Charles Sturt Council and West Torrens Council.

Plans for the final stage of the Breakout Creek wetlands included space for horses, picnic tables and walking trails.

The Lockleys Riding Club is set to move its clubrooms from Lockleys Oval to Apex Park along the banks of the River Torrens, where the club agists its horses.

The Lockleys Riding Club has had its horses at Breakout Creek for more than 60 years. Picture: Luke Hemer

But delays over a funding agreement between West Torrens and the Federal Government have held up the redevelopments.

Nevertheless, Natural Resources water projects manager Steven Gatti said progress has been made and consultation is not far away.

“We expect that an updated plan will be available for further community feedback in the near future,” he said.

“A number of additional investigations needed to progress the proposal have now been completed.

“They included a survey, a geotechnical and soil contamination report, hydraulic modelling and service-depthing.”

Construction of the Breakout Creek concept plan is estimated at around $10 million – but there is currently no funding allocated to the project.

It represents the third stage of creating the wetlands, aimed at extending them from Tapleys Hill Rd to the Torrens outlet at West Beach.

The government created the wetlands from Lockleys to Henley Beach Rd in 1998, before adding the Henley Beach Rd to Tapleys Hill Rd section in 2008.

The aims of the overall project are to:

IMPROVE water quality and wildlife habitat;

ENCOURAGE fish migration and breeding;

ENSURE River Torrens flood management and

INCREASE public access in and around the wetlands.