by Shane Sody

Silt being dredged from the River Torrens / Karrawirra Pari is taking a detour before being removed from your Adelaide Park Lands.

Since 29 November, City of Adelaide contractors have been dredging a bend in the River near the Adelaide University footbridge.

Silt and rubbish has accumulated in the river bend over many years, creating a silt island that is regarded as unsightly, but nevertheless has been colonised by water birds.

Pics: 7 News Adelaide

As much as 1,000 tonnes of silt is expected to be removed by mid-December.

The material is being temporarily stockpiled next to the river, to allow for some water to drain off, before being trucked to this large fenced location in John E. Brown Park (Park 27A) where it will dry out.

The site in John E Brown Park (Park 27A) where the silt will be dumped to dry

*Location of the temporary silt dump site in J.E. Brown Park (Park 27A)*

Once dry, it will be transported to Soil Bank, a State Government facility on the Grand Trunk Way, Port Adelaide, where it will be re-purposed.

The City of Adelaide has advised us that these fences in your Park 27A will only be up while the mud dries out.

The exact timeframe is yet to be confirmed.

Approvals granted by the Department for Environment and Water and Environmental Protection Authority are providing direction and clarity on how the works are required to proceed.

Here’s how 7 News Adelaide covered the story on 1 December 2023:

This is not a new problem for the City of Adelaide.

Almost ten years ago, the same dredging process was used at the same site in the River Torrens / Karrawirra Pari.