The River Torrens Linear Park and Flood Mitigation Scheme stretches
for 32 kilometres from the Adelaide Hills to St Vincent’s Gulf. In
1975 Hassell Landscape Architects were commissioned to prepare a
Master Plan for the corridor.
The team was faced with a polluted Torrens River and catchment degraded
from years of poor land management practices. A plan was prepared
to create a linear park which would act as a wildlife corridor and
provide recreation opportunities for the community. Wetlands
were introduced to filter water entering the river from surrounding
developments.
The diverse environments and land uses along the river were integrated
by plantings of Eucalyptus camaldulenis (River Red Gum)
and locally occurring native riverine species.
The project’s significance is described below :
“From living next to a stinking stormwater drain, people are
now adjacent to a major park providing connection through the city
with a grade-separated cycle and pedestrian connections at all intersections,
and a primarily passive recreation park of national and international
quality.” (Dexter 1997, p 349).
Prepared by Edwina Richardson (AAILA) 2006
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