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wetland was constructed in 1993 at the downstream end of Breakout Creek wetland and receives
stormwater from the suburb of West Beach. (Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources
Management Board, 2010,
Breakout Creek Wetlands
)
The 100 year ARI flood maps for the City of Charles Sturt show that here is a potential for widespread
flooding in the suburb of Henley Beach and some areas of Fulham Gardens, particularly in the southern
parts.
12.3.1. Climate Change Implications for Catchment Management
The streamflow of the River Torrens is regulated by various weirs along its reach. The reduction in
average rainfall could result in lower water levels in the River Torrens and the need to reduce diversions
to allow for environmental flows through the system. As the river health is already severely degraded,
reductions in streamflow could result in undesirable further degradation.
The Apex Park wetlands are located 1km upstream of the mouth of Breakout Creek. As such, it is at risk
of seawater inundation in increased seawater level scenarios. This could have adverse impacts on the
wetland ecology. Conversely, the capacity of the wetlands will act as a buffer to prevent seawater
inundation of the adjacent suburbs.
Breakout Creek Weir provides protection from storm surge (E Pikusa, pers com, 19/07/12).
12.4. Patawalonga Creek
The Patawalonga Creek catchment covers an area of approximately 235km
2
. Like the Torrens River
catchment, the Patawalonga Creek catchment varies from rural to urban developments. The main sub-
catchments in the Study Area of the Patawalonga Creek catchment include Brown Hill Creek, Keswick
Creek, Adelaide Airport, Patawalonga coastal and Patawalonga local.
The major waterways within the Study Area’s component of the Patawalonga Creek catchment are Brown
Hill Creek, Keswick Creek and the Patawalonga Lake. Brown Hill Creek and Keswick Creek remain
predominantly unlined. The Sturt River also lies within the Patawalonga Creek catchment and meets the
Patawalonga Creek prior to discharge to the sea. These water courses are all gauged.
Stormwater drainage within the catchment predominantly consists of underground street drainage
networks. Only a third of the stormwater drainage network within the City of West Torrens was found to
meet the desired capacity of 5 year ARI. (City of West Torrens Council, 2008,
Stormwater- Infrastructure
and Asset Management
Plan). A stormwater detention basin was constructed at Lew Street in Netley,
next to Brown Hill Creek in 2004. The Lew Street Basin has a capacity of 1ML and receives stormwater
from 17ha of the adjacent suburbs. Water sensitive urban design features such as a 195kL groundwater
infiltration trench and stormwater swales have been installed in Underdale.
Stormwater reuse projects are to be implemented at Kooyonga Golf Course and Glenelg Golf Club, with
an MAR scheme at the Glenelg Golf Club. Additional community stormwater reuse opportunities will also
potentially be implemented at the Adelaide Shores.
