More than 500 tonnes of concrete have been ripped out from the mouth of Hobart’s New Town Rivulet and replaced with 30,000 native plants, in what officials say is one of Tasmania’s largest urban rewilding projects.
The $2 million restoration – a joint venture between the Hobart and Glenorchy councils – was officially opened this week by the cities’ mayors.
The project has transformed what was once a concrete wasteland into a thriving natural estuary.
“We have removed all the broken concrete and restored the rivulet to a natural haven for birds, created a fabulous walking and community area and planted over 30,000 native plants,” Glenorchy mayor Sue Hickey said.
In total, 530 tonnes of concrete were removed and recycled, with the hard embankments replaced by gentle, sloping banks planted with native species such as Tasmanian blue gums, silver banksia and flax-lily.
All plants were sourced, propagated and grown by Glenorchy’s nursery team.
The councils plan to add another 15,000 plants over the next year and are calling on community volunteers to lend a hand.
“This will be one of, if not the largest tree planting initiatives [that] we’ve ever undertaken,” Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said.
“But we still hope to plant another 15,000 over the coming year with the community.”
New gravel paths now follow the rivulet’s natural contours and the Hobart City Council says native birdlife, fish and eels are already returning.
