New Town Rivulet Outlet Renewal Project

The City of Hobart, in partnership with Glenorchy City Council, has completed the design stage of a project to renew the New Town Rivulet outfall.

This project will make the outfall a more natural, environmentally responsive site with improved public amenity.

Community feedback on the draft designs were accepted through the Your Say Hobart website. Submissions are now being reviewed.

The project builds on a concept described in the New Town Rivulet Sediment Weir Removal Feasibility Report prepared by Dryside Engineering in October 2021, and complements the Selfs Point Masterplan (2009).

Opportunities to re-establish wetland species to trap sediment naturally, re-establish estuarine foreshore habitat, improve site aesthetics and recreational appeal has been explored.

The project aims to:

Renaturalise the rivulet by removing unsightly and degrading concrete and re-establish more natural rivulet banks with native vegetation and habitat.
Stabilise historical contamination in existing sediments.
Provide improved access for safe sediment removal.
Improve the environment, amenity, recreational use and functionality of the area.

Extensive hydraulic modelling has been completed and confirms the works will not increase flood levels downstream of Queens Walk Bridge.

The project consists of two distinct phases:

Stage one: Design, investigations, approvals and stakeholder relations.

Stage two: Construction of the approved design solution.

Extensive site investigations were conducted as part of stage one, including:

detailed site survey
geotechnical assessment of site stability
assessment of legacy contamination from past land management practice
flora and fauna assessments, including arboreal assessment of existing mature trees.

Stage two, the construction phase, will involve some disruption to public access of the area. Surrounding residents and organisations will be kept informed of project developments.