Background

River Heart Parklands (River Heart) located along the Bremer River in the heart of the CBD is a widely recognised and commended leisure facility. River Heart Parklands marked the third phase of the ‘River Heart’ vision for the Ipswich city centre at its opening on 03 February 2007.

River Heart is impacted by flooding events of all sizes, from minor to major due to its unique location. The site has experienced seven (7) event impacts since its opening. Following the flood events in both 2011 and 2013, River Heart Parklands was closed for approximately 3 to 4 months as the recovery consisted of a like-for-like replacement. All flooding events are different. The water velocity at River Heart Parklands was faster in 2022 compared to 2011. The damage at River Heart Parklands in 2022 was also compounded by the May flooding event, causing further damage due to the already saturated landscape.

We are focused on making a reserve that is more flood resilient which can be re-opened more quickly and at a lower cost after each flood event. We are now seeking input from the community to understand how the parklands have been used in the past and how the community would like to use it in the future.

Overwater Structures

The overwater structures on the site are exposed to high velocity water flow and also absorb the forces of debris travelling through the flood waters. These structures take repeated damage and are quite costly to repair due to the complexity of the riverbank.

We are focused on making a reserve that is more flood resilient which can be re-opened more quickly and at a lower cost after each flood event. The overwater structures at River Heart have been assessed and a decision has been made to remove specific overwater structures from the site.

The below image shows which structures are planned to stay and which will be removed. To view an image of the overwater structure, please click on the blue icon.

Riverbank Boardwalk

As a result of the repeated flooding events experienced, significant damage within the existing riverbank boardwalks has been identified which will require complex design modifications to ensure that the infrastructure is safe for public use and the site meets DDA compliance.

Currently the boardwalk is closed due to significant corrosion of its structural components. The metal joists used in the construction of the boardwalk have deteriorated significantly overtime due to corrosion. This is due to both environmental factors and the grade of material implemented at time of original construction.

To view images of some of the damage caused by the corrosion, please click on the red icons below.