Northern Lefevre Open Space

In 2010 a master plan was completed for an approach to develop the open space network to include conservation areas, recreation facilities, pedestrian and cycling trails and playgrounds.

In early 2011 design work commenced around the five priority precincts:

• Lady Ruthven Reserve, formerly referred to as ‘North Haven’, located on Lady Ruthven Drive adjacent to the overseas passenger terminal and South Australia One Drive
• Kardi Yarta, formerly referred to as ‘Lefevre Cultural Park’, located on the eastern corner of Victoria Road and Pelican Point Road Osborne
• Falie Reserve, formerly referred to as ‘The Link’, located on Mersey Road North, north of the Osborne Naval Shipbuilding Precinct
• Biodiversity Park, located on the western corner of Victoria Road and Pelican Point Road Osborne
• Mutton Cove Buffers, located north, west and south of Mutton Cove Conservation Reserve.

Care and control of this project was transferred to Renewal SA in 2012. Construction of all improvement works was completed in 2013.

Lady Ruthven Reserve

Lady Ruthven Reserve is a part of the initial gateway experience for visitors to our state from ocean liners, as well as a destination point for the coastal park walk, cycle path network, local residents and fishing enthusiasts.

Improvements delivered across the site included:

• Bicycle and pedestrian paths linking to adjacent path networks
• An upgraded viewing/fishing platform
• Additional viewing platforms
• Installation of picnic tables, seats, bins, a BBQ and bike racks
• Installation of signage
• New play equipment
• Grassed and landscaped areas (including trees, shrubs and ground covers)
• Additional landscaped car parking areas.

Biodiversity Park

This site is primarily for the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity, including fauna and flora species and sustained habitats, with walking and cycling limited to defined path networks. The concept for the site is closely associated with the idea of ‘walkabout’ for the local Kaurna people. Embracing nature is expressed through all landscape interventions allowing contemplation and reflection at key points.

Areas of high and medium biodiversity are protected and supplementary plantings and pest plant management enhance the biodiversity and habitat values.

Improvements in delivery across the site included

• Infill biodiversity planting (including trees, shrubs and groundcovers)
• Shared paths along the southern edge of the site
• Links across Victoria Road into the existing cycle and pedestrian network
• Limited and well-defined pedestrian access through the site
• A shared path along the eastern fence line
• Installation of signage
• Installation of seats and an 'emu' shelter.

Kardi Yarta

Kardi Yarta means “emu country” in Kaurna language. The concept for Kardi Yarta was about embracing Aboriginal dreaming stories which are significant to the area while providing a natural play space for children to explore.

Essential to this site was the management and detention of stormwater runoff from future adjacent industrial areas. A series of interconnected basins manages these flows and provides for establishing extensive biodiversity and habitat networks.

The stormwater management areas, through a series of mounds and swales, were designed to be reflective of the dune system that once occurred through this area. The basins and swales are dry the majority of the time and only contain water in large storm events.

The hub of the site is a play area bordered by the shared path network and gathering space, seating, shelters and BBQs.

Children from North Haven Primary School helped design the play node. An artist team was engaged to design interactive features that brought elements of First Nations peoples dreaming stories relevant to the local area to life.

Improvements delivered across the site included:

• Shared bicycle and pedestrian paths linking to adjacent path networks
• Picnic tables, seats, bins, a BBQ and bike racks
• Entry and interpretative signage
• Play equipment
• Rock-lined swale with interactive water tap play element
• An amphitheatre suitable for community events
• Toilets
• Seated rest points and shelters
• Grassed and landscaped areas, including trees, shrubs and groundcovers and direct seeding to stormwater management areas
• Car parking areas adjacent to Pelican Point Road
• Shared connections across Pelican Point into the Biodiversity Park cycle and pedestrian network.

Falie Reserve

Named after the Falie, an historic trading vessel, Falie Reserve was designed for informal recreation, stormwater management and planting of local endemic species.

Located on Mersey Road North in Osborne, the site is opposite the Mutton Cove Conservation Reserve.

Falie Reserve reflects the landscape and functions of the nearby sites, and links to path networks and stormwater managements systems. Landscape treatments were incorporated to reference styles and patterns used in adjacent areas.

Improvements delivered across the site included:

• Shared bicycle and pedestrian paths linking with adjacent path networks
• Shared links across Mersey Road to Mutton Cove Conservation Reserve into the adjacent industrial areas
• A small, grassed area for passive recreation
• Seating and a sheltered rest area
• Extensive biodiversity-focused planting (including trees, shrubs and groundcovers)
• Formal planting of local endemic species along road edges.

Mutton Cove Reserve and Mutton Cove Buffers

This site essentially forms a buffer between two different land uses - conservation and industry. The aim of the Mutton Cove Buffers was to protect and enhance biodiversity and support existing recreational activities. Mutton Cove is a very significant conservation area, under the care and control of the Department for Environment and Water (DEW), with an established management plan. The Mutton Cove buffers provides protection to Mutton Cove through profiling, mounding and landscape treatments that contribute to the control of dust, noise and stormwater and are provided in three areas.

The northern buffer is particularly important for the stormwater management approach providing a swale along the northern edge of the buffer connecting Mersey Road North to the Port Adelaide River. The northern buffer provides an access point to the Port Adelaide River.

Improvements delivered across the site included:

• A shared path crossing point and pedestrian refuge on Mersey Road North
• Secondary walking paths to connect Mutton Cove to the river and surrounding areas
• Raised and landscaped earthwork mounds along Mersey Road North providing screening, stormwater management, dust control and noise control from adjacent industrial areas
• Rest points adjacent to the Port Adelaide River
• Formal planting of local endemic species along Mersey Road North
• Plantings of local species inside the mound along Mersey Road North near the Mutton Cove boundary fence
• New main pedestrian entry point into Mutton Cove including signage
• A car park for Mutton Cove off Mersey Road North
• Additional parking along the southern buffer to cater for recreational fishers and visitors.