Wetland at Kensington Gardens Reserve opens to public

A thriving new wetland with a nature play space has replaced a “polluted” artificial lake – and it’s the first of many such developments in the suburbs.

A wetland complete with a nature play space and Kaurna reflection area has opened to the public in the eastern suburbs.

And as other wetland projects edge closer to completion, experts have lauded their contribution to Adelaide’s environment.

Burnside Council, with more than $4m of federal and state funds, has replaced what it says was a “polluted and unsafe artificial lake” with a wetland at Kensington Gardens Reserve to treat stormwater flows from the Wattle Park catchment.

More than 10,000 new wetland plants and at least 40 trees were planted to improve the quality of water flowing into Stonyfell Creek.

The public opening, ahead of an official launch, comes as the huge Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi wetland project in Adelaide’s south Parklands nears completion.

And wetlands in the third and final stage of the Breakout Creek / Karrawirra Pari redevelopment are taking shape on the Torrens River.

Councils are increasingly working with nature to capture and clean stormwater, boost water security, cool suburban areas and provide habitat for wildlife in constructed wetlands.

MAPPED: Water Sensitive SA has developed an interactive online map that can be used to reveal all of the wetlands in South Australia (select “wetland” from the “WSUD Element Type” dropdown menu)

TEN OF THE BIGGEST AND BEST ADELAIDE WETLANDS 

Stebonheath Park wetland, Andrews Farm – originally constructed in 1990 for flood mitigation, upgraded in 2000 and 2009 for stormwater harvesting through managed aquifer recharge. Wetland area 4ha and now harvesting up to 571ML a year. cleans stormwater so it can be recycled or discharged safely.

Greenfields Wetlands, Dry Creek – assembled in three stages between 1989 and 1995. Initially for flood control, then stormwater harvesting. Total area 114ha, harvesting 1050ML/year.

The Paddocks Wetlands, Pooraka – wetland covering 6ha completed in 1990, innovative design includes natural creeks, mounds, grassy swales, floodways, ponds and flood storage. Receives stormwater from a 60ha residential area through a fully piped drainage system. Up to 200ML of stormwater treated per annum. Aquifer storage and recovery well added in 1994 for irrigation of playing fields and landscaped areas. Overflow from the pond eventually drains into the Barker Inlet. 

Urrbrae Wetland, Cross Road, Netherby – constructed in 1996-97 to reduce flooding on Cross Road and Urrbrae Agricultural High School, and reduce pollutants within stormwater entering the Patawalonga basin. Area 1.5ha, treats stormwater from a 375ha catchment area, accepting 380ML/year. Research and education.

First Creek Wetlands, Adelaide Botanic Gardens – Drawing water from First Creek, for aquifer storage and withdrawal for reuse. Predicted to harvest 100ML/annum, to make the Adelaide Botanic Garden self-sufficient for water, but experienced technical issues during the settling in phase. Completed 2013. 

Hart Road wetland, Aldinga Beach – Completed 2013 at a cost of $30m, receives and treats stormwater run-off, which is then injected into the underlying aquifer system where it is kept until needed to irrigate parks and reserves, sports fields and schools along with meeting construction, industrial and municipal demands. Capacity of 45 ML/annum.

Warriparinga Wetlands, Sturt – Completed 1998 to improve water quality in Sturt Creek. Located on a 3.5ha reserve on the corner of Sturt and Marion Roads, Sturt (commonly known as Laffer’s Triangle). The wetland is a series of ponds that diverts and filters water from the Sturt River, before releasing it back.

Oaklands Park, Oaklands – Stormwater treatment wetland of 2.2ha integrated into urban parkland that contributes to an aquifer storage and recovering scheme, which supplies water for irrigation of local parks and sporting fields. Completed 2013. At full capacity the scheme is expected to provide up to 200ML of stormwater for irrigation of up to 31 council reserves replacing mains or groundwater use, or creating new irrigated areas.

Laratinga Wetlands, Mount Barker – accepts partially treated wastewater from the Mount Barker wastewater treatment plant. Within the wetlands, reed beds and aquatic plants continue the filtering process, and water is circulated throughout wetlands using dams and pumps. A natural ecosystem has developed; on processing, water is used for irrigation in parks, gardens and industry.

Felixstowe Reserve, Felixstowe – the Eastern Regional Alliance of the six councils (Norwood Payneham and St Peters, Walkerville, Campbelltown, Burnside and Port Adelaide Enfield) constructed these wetlands in 2017. Captures, treats and stores stormwater in aquifers then distributes recycled stormwater for irrigation.

Source: Water Sensitive SA 

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Green Adelaide urban water team leader Dr Nadine Kelly, an ecological engineer, said wetlands were critically important to the future liveability of the city as the climate changed, bringing warmer weather and more intense downpours.

Dr Kelly said that was because they both captured and treat stormwater, using carefully selected plantings and design features, while greening and cooling the surrounding area.

Water could be stored for later reuse, or sent downstream and out to sea, she said, as well as providing treasured “blue and green” spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy.

Dr Kelly said in the early 2000s, around the time of the millennium drought, governments and councils began to seriously invest in alternative water sources, after early experiments in stormwater and wastewater reuse.

A new wetland and nature play space, Kensington Wama Mukangka within Kensington Gardens Reserve. Dr Nadine Kelly, with (from left), Misha, 11, Tilda,13, Pippa, 9 and Ishya,11. Picture Dean Martin

Water Sensitive SA was established to support councils, offering access to extensive resources and training courses, with funding from the NRM levy through Green Adelaide.

The newest wetlands have also been recipients of water sustainability grants available to councils (the latest grant round closes at the end of January).

Dr Kelly said Adelaide was “quite well known for the larger scale wetlands” that capture, treat and store water underground in aquifers, known as aquifer recharge.

Dr Peter Dillon, honorary research fellow at CSIRO Land and Water, has co-authored a UNESCO book on acquifer recharge that featured Salisbury Council’s groundbreaking scheme among 28 case studies from around the world.

“The wetlands themselves allow the detention of the water and then give time between storms to recharge the aquifer and then you’ve got something that you can recover in the following summer,” he said.