A $5 million project to rehabilitate and ecologically restore 5.3 kilometres of much-loved yet degraded creeks in southern Adelaide has begun in the City of Onkaparinga.

Funded by the federal government through its Urban Rivers and Catchments Program, the five-year council project aims to restore the health of several creeks and tributaries to benefit native plants, animals and local communities.

The Urban Creek Resilience and Recovery Project will focus on Panalatinga Creek, Serpentine Creek and some of their tributaries.

It will address common challenges posed by urban development including pollution, erosion, silt deposits, localised flooding, loss of native vegetation and exotic weeds.

Technical experts, Traditional Owners and the community will be invited to join forces with the City of Onkaparinga to plan and design nature-inspired solutions for the creeks, which are popular with the local community and provide a refuge for native wildlife.

City of Onkaparinga Mayor Moira Were says Onkaparinga’s communities cherish their local environments, which is why the council wants to work with them to restore these special creeks to their former glory.

“Activities we expect to undertake over the next five years include removing exotic weeds, litter, debris and silt; improving stormwater infrastructure; installing sedimentation ponds; revegetation with local native species; removing concrete channels; and facilitating greater community involvement through planting events, signage and improved access points.

“Improving the health and function of these watercourses will provide better habitat for local plants and wildlife, and more inviting spaces for our community to connect with nature.”

Onkaparinga Council says the creeks are part of the Field River catchment and are connected to the Byards and Candy Road wetlands and nearby conservation reserves.

This makes them important habitat corridors for many threatened species.

Key project objectives include:

• Establishing and improving riparian and aquatic habitats to benefit native species, including threatened species.
• Improving water quality, hydrology, or in-stream connectivity to benefit native and threatened aquatic species.
• Improving urban green space, providing community access to nature, and helping reduce heat-related impacts in urban areas caused by climate change.

Amanda Rishworth, federal Minister for Social Services, says the project is informed by community needs. 

“The local community were involved in the design phases and there will be many more opportunities for people to get outside and get involved with this project.

“This funding is part of the Australian Government’s broader Nature Positive Agenda which aims to leave Australia’s environment in a better state and help protect communities from the heat-related impacts of climate change.”

To find out more about the project and to get involved visit the City of Onkaparinga website.