The entire Breakout Creek redevelopment stretches from Tapleys Hill Road in Lockleys to the Torrens Outlet in West Beach, a total of 2.7 km of river.
Stage 3 has created wetlands to capture and clean stormwater, removed weeds, planted native vegetation to slow and treat water coming down the river and opened the fenced-off space for people to enjoy with trails, picnic areas, signage and art.
It involved working with the Traditional Owners of the land, the Kaurna people, to acknowledge the significance of the area, as well as create healthy habitat for fish and bird species, and improve the water quality of the Torrens.
A message from the Kaurna Nation: Karrawirra Pari is a point of shared connection. With your participation and continuous support we can rejuvenate the spirit of the river and build a sense of cultural connection to this landscape for us all to enjoy.
Breakout Creek construction update – 11 October 2023
Work is beginning this week to install the elevated boardwalk between Linear Park and Apex Park. While these works are underway over the coming months, access to the nearby trail and staircase might be temporarily impacted.
Breakout Creek construction update – 15 September 2023
The construction fences have been removed from the Breakout Creek redevelopment, which means you can safely enjoy this beautifully transformed space. Find out what to expect when you visit.
Breakout Creek construction update – 31 August 2023
Our most recent update earmarked an August reopening but the fences are now expected to come down in September after the final safety and asset checks have been thoroughly completed. Meanwhile, the site’s construction compound is now in the process of being dismantled, which signals that the construction works are complete.
Breakout Creek construction update – 28 July 2023
Breakout Creek construction works are on the home stretch, with the site just weeks away from re-opening and having public access restored. Find out what’s been happening, when the gates are likely to come down, and what’s still to do afterwards.
Breakout Creek construction update – 5 June 2023
Works are nearing completion for the Stage 3 redevelopment of Breakout Creek. Find out how some of the key elements are coming together.
Breakout Creek construction update – 9 March 2023
The redevelopment is tracking along nicely. See how the site has transformed and how it’s set to be a new nature haven for people and wildlife.
Breakout Creek construction update – 19 December 2022
Work is continuing on the Breakout Creek Redevelopment Stage 3. Find out how the project has progressed and see a rare bird's-eye view of the site.
Site compound move – 28 October 2022
There will be some movement on the construction site over the next few days while the site compound is relocated to assist with construction activities.
Breakout Creek construction update – 10 October 2022
Construction began in February to transform the western end of the River Torrens/Karrawirra Pari into a healthier, more natural environment. Find out how it’s going and when you’ll be able to enjoy this new community space.
River Torrens Linear Park Trail closure – 1 August 2022
From Monday 1 August, the northern and southern sides of the River Torrens Linear Park Trail between Seaview and Tapleys Hill Road will be temporarily closed to enable work to take place on the redevelopment. The horses have been temporarily relocated until their new permanent areas have been established.
The River Torrens used to flow through sprawling reed beds towards the Port River in the north and the Patawalonga Creek in the south. When the western suburbs of Adelaide were being built, Breakout Creek was dug out as a channel in the 1930s to stop flooding in the area.
Stage 1 of the redevelopment involved redeveloping a 500m section of Breakout Creek (upstream of Henley Beach Road in the suburbs of Fulham and Lockleys) from an artificial channel to a more natural one in 1999.
Stage 2 of the redevelopment saw about 700m between Henley Beach and Tapleys Hill roads continued to be opened up for community use with access to blue and green spaces with high biodiversity value in the urban landscape.
It was completed in 2010 and included widening and deepening the channel, removing weeds and planting more than 200,000 native seedlings.
Stage 3 of the redevelopment is the final stage of works. It has:
Still to come is a fully accessible elevated boardwalk that links the redeveloped area with the recently transformed Apex Park, as well as the installation of 9 stunning artworks representing Kaurna history and culture.
The community was involved in developing 9 key design principles that were used to develop the concept plan and draft designs for the redevelopment.
After extensive community feedback and engagement with local residents and stakeholders, the final designs were released in June 2021. These design also took into account the redevelopment of Apex Park (including a new arena for the Lockleys Riding Club).
The emphasis is on habitat creation and supporting continuity from Breakout Creek stages 1 and 2.
Construction began in February 2022 and the Linear Park was reopened in September 2023.
Construction of the new elevated boardwalk between the Linear Park and Apex Park commenced in October 2023 and is expected to be completed in early 2024.
Stage 3 works created 6 hectares of new garden beds, 2 new habitat pools and 2 new wetlands, which are home to 245,000 new native plants and newly seeded grassed areas.
Weeds are commonly found on newly disturbed ground but will gradually be outcompeted by new plantings as they establish. Until this time, these areas require ongoing maintenance.
As part of the project, landscape contractors will undertake weed management and other works for the next 3 years to keep these garden beds and wetlands healthy.
This includes watering, hand weeding, brush-cutting and using sensitive herbicide applications as required, as well as replacing plants that didn’t survive in the first year.
Landscapers are paying particular attention to castor oil (Ricinus communis), soursob (Oxalis pes-caprae), common nettle (Urtica dioica), thistle (Cirsium arvense), burr medic (Medicago polymorpha), wire weed (Polygonum erectum), dock (Rumex obtusifloius), and mallow (Malva parviflora), which require management at various points throughout the year.
Landscapers will be careful to avoid disturbing the new native hollyhock (Malva preissiana) plantings, which are easy to mistake for the weedy mallow (Malva parviflora).
The project is an $18.7 million partnership between Green Adelaide, the City of Charles Sturt, the City of West Torrens, the South Australian Department for Trade and Investment through the Planning and Development Fund, the Australian Government through the Environment Restoration Fund, and SA Water. The project is committed to working with the Traditional Owners of the Adelaide Plains, the Kaurna people.
The third stage of the revitalisation of the western end of Adelaide’s River Torrens / Karrawirra Pari is now open to the public. Here’s what to expect when you visit.
Works are nearing completion for the Stage 3 redevelopment of Adelaide's Breakout Creek. Find out how some of the key elements are coming together.
The Breakout Creek Redevelopment Stage 3 is now on the home stretch. See how the site has transformed and how it’s set to be a new nature haven for people and wildlife.
Work is continuing on the Breakout Creek Redevelopment Stage 3. Find out how the project has progressed and see a rare bird's-eye view of the site.
Construction began in February on a project to transform the western end of the River Torrens/Karrawirra Pari into a healthier, more natural environment. Find out how it’s going and when you’ll be able to enjoy this new community space.
