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Home , River Torrens

Breakout Creek 1999 to 2010

The development of innovative projects The and Ranges Natural Resources to restore damaged watercourses, prevent Management Board (then the Torrens Catchment Water Management Board) and the City of West Torrens developed pollution and provide habitat to native flora a concept plan in consultation with the local community and fauna is a major priority for the Adelaide to achieve these improvements. and Natural Resources The concept plan was delivered in two stages and completed Management Board. in 2010. The aim was to create a viable ecosystem that offered recreational facilities that could be enjoyed by the local community, while delivering improvements and Breakout Creek, located at the coastal end of the River Torrens, maintaining flood protection. has been the focal point of a long-term watercourse rehabilitation project for over 10 years. Stage one, completed in 1999, centred on the 500-metre stretch of the river upstream of Henley Beach Road. Stage two focused The rehabilitation involved widening and deepening the existing on the 700-metre stretch downstream of Henley Beach Road, waterway, constructing viewing platforms and public access paths, to , and was completed in 2010. removal of weeds and extensive planting of native vegetation. During construction, sections were drained and temporary Breakout Creek now offers an attractive space for the community weirs constructed upstream while excavating the deep pools. to enjoy a range of recreational activities. Different species of native fish and birds have been spotted since the project commenced, clearly finding appeal in the range of new habitat Benefits available in the area. • improvements in the biodiversity of the riparian and aquatic habitats Project history • increased public access to the site through the addition of The project dates back to the mid-1990s when the Breakout viewing platforms and shared-use paths through the Creek section of the River Torrens was identified as having • significant enhancement in potential for recreation use potential for riparian and water quality improvements. • creation of a variety of habitats for fauna, including birds, frogs, fish and macroinvertebrates • fish passage and habitat to facilitate the migration of fish Breakout Creek now offers habitat and along the river for breeding safe breeding grounds to native fauna • maintained flood management of the River Torrens as well as providing a shared recreational • improved water quality during low flow conditions. space for the local community. 2 | Breakout Creek wetlands

Breakout Creek wetlands and watercourse restoration project

Tapleys Hill Rd 3 | Breakout Creek wetlands

h rt No Facts and figures Legend

• Stage 1 total cost – $550,000 – 1999 Path • Stage 2 total cost – $3.4 million – 2010 North

• Excavation of 60,000 cubic metres of material Open water to shape the wetlands

• Construction of concrete weirs, a footbridge, Sedges bridle path and viewing platforms • Planting over 200,000 indigenous plants Shallow reedbeds representing dozens of different species • Removal of over 30 weed species. Mown parkland

Native grasses

Woodland

Woodland with understorey

Riparian fringe

Weir

Horse bridal path

River Red Gums

Viewing platforms

Catchment of the River Torrens – Breakout Creek location Henley Beach Rd shown in red Linear park Linear system. wetland natural the destroyed years over many grazing and clearance land developments, housing with coupled area, the away from water of diversion This issues. flooding seasonal alleviate to sea the to sand the through dug was channel adeeper, wider, straighter 1930s, the During floods. during River Patawalonga the towards south water divert to landholder by aFulham dug channel asmall originally was Creek Breakout Reedbeds. the as known was wetlands of area This Glenelg. to Grange from wetlands linked of aseries filled floodwaters seasons, rainy During sea. to out Torrens flowing River the from water prevented that a barrier formed dunes sand coastal settlement, European of time the At The Torrens and plan. final the in incorporated were ideas and feedback the possible, Where sea. Tapleys the and Rd Hill between areas agistment horse the with Club Riding Lockleys the linking path abridle and platforms, viewing and walkways recreation, as such themes on centred mostly community the from garnered Feedback area. the in agistment horse on impact the particularly documented, and explored identified, were community the of ideas and issues the that ensured This conducted. was Assessment Impact aSocial project, the of 2 Stage for planning detailed of commencement the to Prior adecade. than over more partners and stakeholders of arange from canvassed were Opinions project. this for process planning the of feature amajor was consultation Public consultation Community 4 |Breakout Creek wetlands recreational facilities dotted throughout. throughout. dotted facilities recreational other and playgrounds as well as tracks walking and bicycle offers park The length. its of kms 30 along park linear to-coast hills- largest and earliest ’s Torrens boasts River The

River Torrens andtheReedbeds Copyright owner: Crown in right of the State of 2014 Australia South of State the of right in Crown owner: Copyright www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au License Australia 3.0 Attribution Commons Creative under Licensed 71-835 46, Bulletin Source: Note: Legend www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/adelaidemtloftyranges T: E: Eastwood us Contact (08) 8273 9100 (08) 8273 [email protected] Suburbs, roads, railways and topography as existed in July, in 1882. existed as topography and railways roads, Suburbs, Adapted from South Australian Department of Mines, Mines, of Department Australian South from Adapted

05/15