Breakout Creek wetlands 1999 to 2010 The development of innovative projects The Adelaide and Mount Lofty 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 Mount Lofty Ranges 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 water quality 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 Tapleys Hill Road, 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 wetland 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 4 | Breakout Creek wetlands Community consultation River Torrens and the Reedbeds Public consultation was a major feature of the planning process for this project. Opinions were canvassed from a range of stakeholders and partners over more than a decade. Prior to the commencement of detailed planning for Stage 2 of the project, a Social Impact Assessment was conducted. This ensured that the issues and ideas of the community were identified, explored and documented, particularly the impact on horse agistment in the area. Feedback garnered from the community mostly centred on themes such as recreation, walkways and viewing platforms, and a bridle path linking the Lockleys Riding Club with the horse agistment areas between Tapleys Hill Rd and the sea. Where possible, the feedback and ideas were incorporated in the final plan. The Torrens and the Reedbeds At the time of European settlement, coastal sand dunes formed a barrier that prevented water from the River Torrens flowing out to sea. During rainy seasons, floodwaters filled a series of linked wetlands from Grange to Glenelg. This area of wetlands was known as the Reedbeds. Breakout Creek was originally a small channel dug by a Fulham landholder to divert water south towards the Patawalonga River during floods. During the 1930s, a deeper, wider, straighter channel was dug through the sand dunes to the sea to alleviate seasonal Note: Suburbs, roads, railways and topography as existed in July, 1882. flooding issues. Source: Adapted from South Australian Department of Mines, This diversion of water away from the area, coupled with housing Bulletin 46, 71-835 developments, land clearance and grazing over many years Legend destroyed the natural wetland system. Linear park The River Torrens boasts Australia’s earliest and largest hills- to-coast linear park along 30 kms of its length. The park offers bicycle and walking tracks as well as playgrounds and other recreational facilities dotted throughout. Contact us Eastwood E: [email protected] T: (08) 8273 9100 www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/adelaidemtloftyranges Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au Copyright owner: Crown in right of the State of South Australia 2014 05/15.