$2 million project to transform New Town Rivulet estuary
Published on 24 February 2025
Work has started on a ground-breaking $2 million project that will transform the badly degraded mouth of the New Town Rivulet into a natural, estuarine environment.
A joint collaboration between the City of Hobart and Glenorchy City Council, the project is expected to take six months to complete and will involve major earthworks and landscaping.
As part of the project almost 45 000 native trees, shrubs, water plants and grasses will be planted.
The current concrete walls lining the rivulet are failing and will be replaced with large boulders and stabilising water plants.
The current weir will remain, and its structure improved to prevent bank erosion.
The weir serves to reduce sediment build-up at the rivulet mouth in New Town Bay.
The project page can be found here.
Quotes to be attributed to Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds:
"This is a game changing project for our city’s waterways. Returning the New Town Rivulet outlet from a concrete drain to a natural river water mouth is such an exciting project.
"Over three hundred metres of the rivulet from the Queens Walk Bridge to the mouth will be transformed into a beautiful, natural estuarine environment. We are removing the cracked and damaged 60-year-old concrete walls and replacing them with 45 000 plants lining the embankment and esplanade.
"This will be one of the largest mass plantings ever undertaken in Hobart and will include over 30 different native species going into the ground as part of the project.
"More than half of the plants have been grown at our own nursery, and some of the plants we will be planting are rare in Tasmania and have been grown from seed collected from the area.
“We've listened to community feedback, which was overwhelmingly positive and included suggestions to widen new gravel paths to ensure they are accessible for people of all abilities.
"I can’t wait to see the completed project. It will be a beautiful natural area for the community to enjoy, improve the water quality and increase biodiversity."
Quotes to be attributed to Glenorchy Mayor Sue Hickey:
"We regularly hear from our community how much they value natural areas where families can connect, play and unwind.
"The New Town Rivulet Project will upgrade this space to a recreational area that all local residents can enjoy.
"The improvements will also have benefits for our aquatic and bird wildlife.
"I’m excited that work has started and look forward to watching the progress on this important project."