70-hectare sport and recreation area among features proposed for Adelaide’s New Northern Park Lands

The South Australian Government’s proposed new Northern Park Lands will be the most significant investment in public open space in Greater Adelaide.

The Northern Parklands protects the Green Belt between Gawler and the Northern Suburbs and at maturity, the Park Lands will cover almost 1000 hectares of land, which is 39% larger than the Adelaide Park Lands.

Developed as part of the new Greater Adelaide Regional Plan (GARP), the Northern Park Lands will feature natural open space, new sport and recreation facilities, a new railway station as well as three interconnected Linear Parks with shared-use paths that will provide a continuous loop around Gawler.

At the heart of the Northern Park Lands is the proposed 70-hectare Village Green sport and recreation area which will be the equivalent of 31 Adelaide Ovals in size.

The playing fields will include ovals, courts and clubroom facilities and will be home to numerous local sporting clubs. Located along the electrified Gawler Railway line, it will feature public transport connections as well as car parking.

The Northern Parklands Village Green will offer Gawler’s thriving sporting community the space required to support both male and female players across multiple codes - including Football, Netball, Tennis, Cricket - paving the way for greater collaboration in a multiuser sporting precinct.

Preliminary consultation has already commenced with local sporting clubs and the Town of Gawler to ensure the Village Green and Recreation and Sporting area can become a vibrant multi-sport precinct servicing the needs of the growing northern suburbs and greater Gawler region into the future.

More than 760 hectares will be preserved for natural green open space that supports greater biodiversity and increases habitats for native animals.

Located adjacent to the Kulda growth area south of Gawler, the Northern Park Lands will provide an uninterrupted journey from the hills face to the Gawler River, via Karbeethan Reserve and will serve as a vital inter-urban break between new growth areas and more established areas of the Town of Gawler.

It will provide spaces for active recreation, greening initiatives, community respite, and local sports facilities.

The Gawler area will be encircled by three Linear Parks, to be delivered over multiple stages, that will result in 38-kilometres of shared use walking and cycling paths that will provide a continuous loop.

The South Australian Government has committed $53 million towards the first stage of the Northern Park Lands.

Funds generated through future land developments as well as council contributions will help establish and maintain the Park Lands.

Legislation will be introduced to establish a new statutory authority, named the Northern Park Lands Trust, that will establish the new Northern Park Lands.

Legislative change would enable the new authority to operate with a level of independence with the Northern Park Lands Trust to be responsible for the ongoing maintenance and management of the Northern Park Lands once established, including oversight of any development, or leases granted.

It will be similar to the West Beach Trust model which has proven successful in protecting the local environment whilst also creating popular recreation areas.

Following this model, it would be able to establish its own revenue stream, through the creation of a Holiday Park or tourist venture, and employ staff.

The Northern Park Lands will require some land acquisitions and utilise the development of government-owned land for open space with increased vegetation.

Northern Park Lands Statistics:

• Total area of 999 hectares

• 39% larger than Adelaide Park Lands

• 764-hectares of green, open space

• 70-hectare Village Green sport and recreation facilities equivalent to 31 Adelaide Ovals

• 38 km total shared use paths, similar in length to the River Torrens Linear Trail

Image. Sport Oval (illustrative only) Credit: pexels/ mat brown