The St Peters Billabong is found on the eastern side of St Peters River Park and forms part of the River Torrens Linear Park. The park also contains the L G Perriam Memorial Oval, barbeques and public toilets.
This page contains documents related to the St Peters Billabong that provide reference information about the St Peters BIllabong which is part of the St Peters River Park.
Many of these documents were first obtained in response to Freedom of Information Requests submitted by Ralph Bleechmore. It is possible that council staff are withholding additional documents that should have been released under the Freedom of Information Requests.
This is the second April 2026 newsletter for the St Peters Residents Association, representing the Residents of St Peters, College Park, Hackney, Stepney, Maylands, Evandale & Joslin.
Items that we hope you will find of interest include: -
THE BILLABONG is part of the St Peters River Park and its purpose, as stated in the NPSP Community Land Management Plan (2021) is to, inter alia
Council’s closure the track at the top of the Billabong prevents not only the wider community from accessing a beautiful part of the Billabong, but also the Friends’ volunteers from accessing the area to continue their important work. They have spent hundreds of hours over the years planting locally native plants and weeding.
This is a special newsletter focused on the fence recently erected at the St Peters Billabong by the council. SPRA do not approve of this action and support the motion raised by Cr Moorehouse. Included is a letter from the Co-convenor of the Friends of the Billabong.
We urge readers to contact councillors to express their concern.
NPSP have decided to block access to the top of the billabong and have begun erecting a fence. SPRA do not support this action and believe that residents and visitors should be able to take in some of the best views of the billabong.
The Integrity State Corruption prevention recommendations report authored by the Hon. Ann Vanstone KC, Commissioner and published in September 2023 on page 20 has a section titled Risks associated with enforcement powers which focused on failures at the City of Norwood, Payneham and St Peters.
Mistakes of this nature raise suspicion.
The Advertiser has published an article by Darren Chaitman titled If you can’t play nice … Backyard billabong brawl backfires.
After SPRA became aware of the issue and verified using a council boundary identification survey part of documents obtained via a Freedom of Information request by Ralph Bleechmore that the fence appears to extend onto onto the Linear Park.
Part 7A of the Real Property Act 1886 deals with adverse possession claims.
If Council, as the registered proprietor, lodges a caveat forbidding the grant of the application pursuant to s.80F(1), then S.80F(3) of the Act provides that the Registrar-General must refuse the claim. That section effectively gives council an absolute or unconditional right of veto.
Claims of adverse possession are notoriously difficult, lengthy, and the onus of proof is on the claimant.
The St Peters Billabong is the largest community reserve in the council and is classified as ‘regional open space’. The park is zoned as part of the Linear Park (River Torrens). It is home to many species of native flora and fauna.
Since starting the petition, I have spoken with people of differing viewpoints. leading to more questions than answers. Tonight I will ask some of the most pressing questions.
In 2018, Barrister Ralph Bleechmore, a former St Peters councillor, Vietnam War Veteran and formerly active member of the Friends of the Billabong raised concerns with council about encroachment by houses along the top of the billabong. Thanks to Ralph’s efforts through Freedom of Information requests, 4 reports were released by the council. Reading the agenda tonight I note that it quotes from an unreleased Golder 2020 report. Why has this not been released to Mr Bleechmore?
For several years SPRA have had concerns about encroachments and stability of the north-eastern bank of the billabong in the St Peters River Park. We are particularly concerned at the lack of any effective action by Council to address these concerns. This petition highlights some of those concerns and suggests some of the actions we would like to see taken. Council should proceed with the quantitative geotechnical survey to select an engineering solution that preserves the native flora and fauna.
