by Emma Moss
Water management is a pivotal part of the development and upkeep of your Adelaide Park Lands.
In recent years, efficient water distribution systems have sustained some (but not all) of your Park Lands, including many landscaped gardens and recreational spaces.
In response to water scarcity challenges, particularly during the millennium drought, SA Water and the City of Adelaide implemented sustainable water management practices to maintain your Park Lands.
The most significant initiative, by far, was the Glenelg to Adelaide Park Lands Recycled Water Scheme (GARWS), completed in 2010.
This $76 million project involved constructing a recycled water treatment facility and a 42-kilometer pipeline network (the Glenelg-Adelaide Pipeline, or “GAP”) to transport high-quality treated wastewater from the Glenelg North Wastewater Treatment Plant to various locations across Adelaide, North Adelaide, as well as locations in the City of West Torrens and the City of Unley.
Laying the “GAP” 2008 to 2010. Pic: “Water Sensitive Cities”
The Scheme supplies approximately 3.8 billion litres of recycled water annually for irrigating over 163 hectares of your Park Lands, thereby reducing reliance on mains water and promoting environmental sustainability.
The transition to using reclaimed water has significantly enhanced the greenery and health of your Park Lands, contributing to public enjoyment and the city's liveability.
But not all parts of your Park Lands are irrigated with recycled water through the GAP or irrigated at all. Some parts, managed as various types of native vegetation communities, are left to survive, like National Parks, Conservation Parks and other bush reserves; as best they can without watering, even during drought.
City of Adelaide map of irrigation sources, biodiversity and vegetation communities
This policy has its critics. Park Guardian Jude Grimmett has raised awareness on social media about the challenges facing new native saplings in Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi (Park 16) and other non-irrigated areas.
"If you have large expanses of natural bushland with no supplemental water supply” Jude argues, “then it needs emergency strategies to protect them in a drought.”
“If the state government can recognise drought conditions, then the City of Adelaide should be able to do so," she said.
Jude has taken it upon herself to hand-water young trees to prevent losses.
She’s urged the City of Adelaide to adopt a drought management plan, specifically for the bushland sectors of your Park Lands.
Left: Young eucalypts planted in September 2024, dead in 2025.
Right: New growth on small eucalypt that has been hand-watered since January. Previously burnt leaves are still showing. Pics: Jude Grimmett
Shane Sody, outgoing President of the Adelaide Park Lands Association, acknowledged Jude Grimmett’s concerns, and added:
"It’s a choice to water formal gardens, sports fields, flower beds etc, and not to water areas that are intended to replicate the type of vegetation that would have existed pre-European settlement."
He stressed the importance of educating the public on the benefits and limitations of the GAP, and the role of natural bushland resilience.
“The idea that all of your Park Lands should be lush and green all year is a commonly-held but persistent myth” he said.
The City of Adelaide says it’s working to address the pressure on water resources. A City spokesperson told us that:
“The City's Integrated Climate Strategy 2030 and Adelaide Park Lands Management Strategy – Towards 2036 both recognise the increased water demands arising from climate change.”
“The City of Adelaide is currently undertaking a study (jointly funded by the Capital City Committee and CoA) to gain a strategic understanding of opportunities to maintain and potentially expand greening of the Adelaide Park Lands using sustainable water supplies, including GAWRS and other alternative water sources so that integrated water resource planning for the Park Lands meets the needs of all stakeholders.
“A report, incorporating the study findings, will be presented to the Kadaltilla / Adelaide Park Lands Authority and Council later this year.”
The author of this article, Emma Moss, is a volunteer writer for the Adelaide Park Lands Association’s monthly newsletter.
With a professional background in Learning and Development, Emma is passionate about education, clear communication and community engagement.
Outside of work, she is a dedicated artist and an advocate for animal and wildlife conservation.
