Plans for a proposed $2.6 million upgrade of Onkaparinga River Recreation Park in Seaford Meadows have been agreed between the City of Onkaparinga, Hickinbotham Group and the Department for Environment and Water (DEW).

The plans will see a major overhaul of the wetlands adjacent to the site of Hickinbotham’s proposed residential development on Commercial Road. 

The area targeted for redevelopment is bounded by the popular walkway known as the Pingle Farm Trail, Commercial Road and the Onkaparinga River.

An agreement was recently signed between the parties and follows a collaborative effort over the past 12 months on the draft design for this multi-million dollar improvement. 

“We’ve worked hard to achieve better integration between the Hickinbotham development and the Recreation Park,” says Onkaparinga Mayor Erin Thompson.

“Importantly, the new design has been carefully prepared in line with the best water-sensitive urban design principles to make sure it works in terms of stormwater management, but also looks great and will be a place people love to live and visit.”

Funded by the Hickinbotham Group and DEW, with the council accepting responsibility for maintenance, the proposed park upgrade will involve:

· Filling in and revegetating two existing water basins in the Park.

· Building a large new wetland constructed to the south and east of those two basins.

· Upgrading walking paths and boardwalks.

· Completing new landscaping featuring local provenance species.

Plans for the park upgrade will be released to the public through a formal community engagement program to be undertaken by Hickinbotham, DEW and the council.

“We will invite community feedback on the proposed design for the park upgrade and we can’t wait to get this project underway,” Mayor Thompson says.

The announcement follows an in-principle agreement between the council and Hickinbotham Group in 2019, on revised plans for the entire 42-hectare, 644 allotment Hickinbotham development, to deliver a better outcome for the community. 

Under the revised plans for the Hickinbotham development, a significant amount of additional open space will be provided within the development site for public and community recreational use, with improved connection to the Onkaparinga River Recreation Park, improved environmental outcomes and better traffic safety.

The revised plans for the Hickinbotham development will soon be considered by the State Commission Assessment Panel.

“We successfully negotiated out of court to deliver a better outcome for our community regarding the entire development site and the bonus is an exciting upgrade for the Onkaparinga River Recreation Park,” Mayor Thompson says.

Image by Siggy Nowak from Pixabay