St Clair Wetlands Open Day
21 November 2011
Come along to the Community Open Day on November 27 and get the first glimpse of the new St Clair Wetlands.The Community Open Day will run from 11am to 2pm, and will enable people to view plans for the wetlands, get an update on their progress, provide input into the final design and view some of the other community facilities being developed at St Clair including the new oval and playground.
The day will also feature an interactive aquatic display, free sausage sizzle, kids face painting and basketball demonstrations by the Western Magic Basketball Club.
A new wetlands viewing platform with interpretive signage will be launched at the Community Open Day. The viewing platform will allow residents and the community to monitor the progress of the wetlands while under construction.
The wetlands are set to become one of the largest urban wetlands in South Australia with over 480 Olympic swimming pools of water (1.2 gigalitres) to be collected, stored and recycled every year.
More than 200,000 aquatic plants will planted in the new wetlands, which are at the heart of St Clair, and form part of a network of landscaped gardens, walking and cycling trails, playing fields, green open spaces and an Urban Park.
Twenty-two hectares or one third of St Clair is dedicated to open space –11 times the size of AAMI Stadium. This open space will include new playing fields and playgrounds set amongst 2,000 new trees and 50,000 new plants.
The wetland’s design incorporates 3kms of boardwalks and connecting paths to allow people
to take a closer look at the plant and animal life, and picnic areas surrounding the wetlands where people can relax and unwind with their friends and family.
The new wetlands will provide an outstanding habitat for native birds, frogs, ducks and fish.
Harvested stormwater will be cleansed through a series of reed beds through natural biological processes and the clean water stored in an aquifer.
The clean water will be pumped to the surface and used to water the parklands within St Clair and by local residents for their gardens through the recycled water network.
New homes within St Clair are already being connected to dual-reticulation systems that will have access to the harvested stormwater for non-potable purposes.
The St Clair wetlands form part of Stage One of Water Proofing the West, a partnership between the Federal and State governments, City of Charles Sturt, City of Port Adelaide Enfield Councils and St Clair.
