Concerns

For several years SPRA have had concerns about encroachments and stability of the north-eastern bank of the billabong in the St Peters River Park. We are particularly concerned at the lack of any effective action by Council to address these concerns. This petition highlights some of those concerns and suggests some of the actions we would like to see taken.

The petition can be signed at the:

• FIX. Speciality Coffee shop, 27 Torrens Street College Park
• The Avenues Barber in the Avenues Shopping Centre, Corner of Payneham Road and Nelson Street, Stepney.

It would help if you could share the facebook petition post.

Alternatively, the petition can be downloaded and returned. Please email petition@stpeters.asn.au to arrange collection.

If you would like more information or have questions, please email petition@stpeters.asn.au.

Petition

Part 1: The petition of:

The concerned residents of River St, St Peters and visitors to the St Peters River Park on behalf of all who use the River Torrens Linear Park.

Part 2: Matter of concern to petitioners

The encroachment of properties along Eighth Avenue and River St onto the north eastern portion of the bank and lack of action by the council since first informed of this matter in 2018 by Ralph Bleechmore. In particular we draw the attention of the council to the construction of fences blocking access to public land and the removal of native vegetation as evidenced by aerial photography.

We are concerned about the stability of the billabong bank as noted in the 2024-2025 Draft Council budget (Council Meeting 8 April 2024, pages 23, 86-87) where it describes the receding of the bank by up to 1m in the past 20 years leading to potential for significant impact to citizens, private property & assets.

We note that the NPSP Parks and Reserves Community Land Management Plan applies to this land and that the St Peters River Park is zoned as part of the Linear Park (River Torrens), meaning that the Linear Park Act (2006) applies.

The St Peters Residents Association website contains additional information regarding the history of the St Peters River Park. After initial refusal by NPSP council, this was obtained by a Freedom of Information request submitted by Ralph Bleechmore.

Part 3: The petitioners request / submission is that the Council:

We request that the council undertake enforcement to protect the St Peters River Park.

We request that council direct landowners at their own expense to rectify the situation by:

1. Remove structures (e.g. fences) that have been illegally erected on public land
2. Remove non-native landscaping that has occurred within the St Peters River Park and return it to native vegetation
3. As part of the restoration, the landowners plant appropriate native plants to stabilise the banks.

We request that the council proceed with the quantitative geotechnical survey proposed as part of the 2024-2025 budget and implement the appropriate engineering solution to stabilise the bank. We request that in selecting the engineering solution that the preservation of the native flora and fauna is of the highest priority.

Background

This is a photograph from the billabong looking towards River St, showing an area of erosion raised in this petition.

These are some aerial photographs, showing some of the vegetation concerns raised in this petition.

These are some aerial photographs, showing some of the encroachment concerns raised in this petition.