Project Background:
Rymill Park is one of Adelaide's most loved and frequently used recreational spaces. Its various areas offer the community and event operators many options to enjoy the park in all seasons.
The lake currently provides park visitors with opportunities to enjoy scenic views, row boats on the water and is frequently used for events with the lake as a backdrop or a focal point, as seen during the recently held Adelaide Equestrian Festival. However, the lake requires renewal to address structural decline, a leaking base and ongoing poor water quality and amenity.
Project Information:
Rymill Park's artificial lake, originally constructed in 1959 and opened in 1960, has been repaired so that it can be enjoyed for years to come. South Australian infrastructure and development contractor, CATCON will be completed important maintenance and upgrade works to Rymill Park’s beloved lake.
The Rymill Park Lake Renewal project is a key deliverable of the Rymill Park / Murlawirrapurka (Park 14) Master Plan and enhances sustainability by introducing a new water source and upgraded filtration system, as well as completing pathway and lighting improvements around the lake.
You can find out more about the Master Plan here:
The Rymill Park Lake Renewal project was delivered through a funding partnership between the State Government and the Council. The City of Adelaide has successfully secured $2.581 million (Ex GST) in funding through the State Government's 2021-22 Open Space Grant Program, as part of their Planning and Development Fund. The Council acknowledges the State Government's ongoing support in the development of Rymill Park into a world-class, high-quality, open, and accessible park.
We're excited to share the latest developments in our ongoing efforts to rejuvenate Rymill Park's lake, which remains at the heart of our community. As we move through the final stages of this significant project, here's what has been achieved in April:
Completion of Lake Works: We successfully completed the lake works in mid-April, just in time for the Adelaide Equestrian Festival. This milestone marks a significant achievement in our project timeline.
Collaboration with the Adelaide Equestrian Festival: Our project team has collaborated closely with the Adelaide Equestrian Festival organisers. We provided them access to the site, allowing for the setup of jumps and other necessary infrastructure for the festival, especially in the southern portion of the lake where the water level was strategically lowered to support event activities.
Turf and Site Preparation: At the request of the festival organisers, certain sections of the turf were deliberately left as bare earth. This approach was intended to minimise potential damage and reduce restoration costs post-event. We plan to lay turf in these areas in early to mid-May.
Post-Event Restoration: Following the festival, which took place from 18th to 20th April, the event team will depart from the park. The area will then be officially handed back to Council control. Subsequently, our project team will oversee the return of contractors to complete the final works around the lake.
Minimal Impact Operations: The park remains open and accessible to the public. Our contractors are committed to managing the ongoing works with a minimal site footprint, ensuring that the park's visitors can still enjoy the majority of its facilities without disruption.
Final Stages of the Project: The remaining tasks include plumbing, electrical works, landscaping (inclusive of the turf installation mentioned earlier), and the construction of paths around the lake perimeter. These are scheduled to be completed over May and into June.
We are committed to not only enhancing the beauty and functionality of Rymill Park but also to ensuring that it serves as a sustainable and inviting space for all visitors. We thank the community for their ongoing support and patience as we near the completion of this transformative project.
Stay tuned for further updates as we continue to bring our vision for Rymill Park to life.
We are pleased to share the February progress update on our ongoing endeavour to renew Rymill Park's iconic lake. Since our last update in October, our dedicated team has been hard at work, achieving significant milestones to bring our vision to life.
Here are the key highlights of our progress:
Heavy Vehicle Haul Road Relocation: We have successfully relocated the Heavy Vehicle Haul Road from the north of the project site to Bartels Road in the south. This strategic move enhances connectivity for the project while minimising disruptions to major park events.
Access Path Upgrades: In December, we completed the upgrade and realignment of access paths, ensuring safer and more efficient passage for park visitors.
Lake Reshaping and Releveling: Following extensive bulk excavation, we've reshaped and re-levelled the lake, installing new retaining walls to create a more uniform and deeper northern portion. This redesign promotes cooler water temperatures, reducing evaporation, and enhancing circulation for a cleaner, healthier lake environment.
Rain Garden Development: To the north of the lake, two expansive rain gardens are taking shape. These gardens will serve as natural filtration systems, cleansing the water by removing excess nutrients and providing a habitat for diverse plant life.
Underground Water Storage Tanks: Investigations have concluded for the excavation of two large water storage tanks. These tanks will capture and store salvaged stormwater, ensuring a sustainable water supply to keep the lake replenished with clean water.
Stormwater Pipeline Installation: In collaboration with the Rymill Park Lake Renewal project, a project is underway to install a 1.7km stormwater pipeline is being installed from the Victoria Park (Pakapakanthi) Park 16 wetlands to the location of the new underground storage tanks. This innovative solution will redirect stormwater, which would otherwise be lost downstream, to Rymill Park, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the lake.
Other works include the installation of inground plumbing, electrical, and stormwater infrastructure, which are now ready for final commissioning. A new 'lake walk' pedestrian access paths have been prepared, and irrigation is being installed in readiness for turf installation. Additionally, a new deck near the kiosk is being prepared to provide a great new vantage point and boat launching point, while weirs are being installed to allow the north and south of the lake to be isolated for events and maintenance.
With the above progress, we remain confident in our commitment to deliver a renewed Rymill Park lake experience by our targeted completion date in April.
Stay tuned for further updates as we progress on this transformative journey.
We are pleased to share the latest developments on our project since its establishment in late August to October. The contractor has been hard at work, making significant progress in creating a secure project boundary and initiating crucial enabling works.
Key Activities and Achievements:
We are happy of the achievements thus far and appreciate the collaborative efforts of our project team and stakeholders, with the works on track for a April completion. 
Rymill Park Lake Renewal Map
The below plan shows the contractors site and boundary
