Celebrating a new era for St Morris Reserve

“The Council is very proud of the redevelopment of St Morris Reserve, which was delivered as part of Stage 4 of the $20 million Trinity Valley Stormwater Drainage Upgrade,” says Mayor Robert Bria.

“The transformation of the reserve is nothing short of amazing and is another example of the Council’s ongoing commitment to providing quality infrastructure across the City that meets the social and cultural needs of our community whilst also addressing an important environmental imperative.”

A contemporary play space and social hub

At the heart of the upgrade is a brand-new playground, replacing equipment that was well and truly at the end of its useful life.

The new playground includes multi-age equipment and integrated shade sails for sun-safe play. Families can also enjoy a dedicated picnic shelter, BBQ facilities, accessible toilet facilities and improved park furniture, all connected by a network of accessible paths.

Active recreation and greener landscapes

For those seeking an active leisure lifestyle, the reserve now features a multi-purpose court and a dedicated hit wall for basketball and other activities.

The reserve has been revitalised with extensive irrigation and landscaping, including new trees, shrubs and water-sensitive urban design (WSUD) elements such as a landscaped swale which collects stormwater runoff and serves as natural irrigation.

While the redevelopment of the reserve required the removal of some trees within the basin area, 148 new trees have been planted which will significantly enhance the local tree canopy cover and create a greener, cooler space and neighbourhood.

Dogs can continue to enjoy St Morris Reserve with off-leash times remaining between 5pm and 8am, seven days per week.

Building a resilient city

The redevelopment of St Morris Reserve is a cornerstone of the broader Trinity Valley Stormwater Drainage Upgrade project, a $20 million investment designed to reduce flooding risks across the suburbs of St Morris, Trinity Gardens, Maylands and Stepney.

Stage 4 of the Trinity Valley Stormwater Drainage Upgrade involved the installation of new pipes and pits within the roadway of surrounding streets such as Glynburn Road, Third Avenue, Green Street, Seventh Avenue and Gage Street.

A vital part of this essential upgrade of the City’s stormwater infrastructure has been the construction of an open detention basin within the reserve, creating a dual purpose for the site.

This basin has been engineered to increase capacity of stormwater drainage infrastructure during one-in-100-year storm events—that is, a severe storm or flood that has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year.

With more frequent intense rain events occurring throughout the year, there is a need to improve the capacity of the City’s stormwater drainage system.

During such an event, the basin is designed to fill over approximately three hours and hold water for up to eight hours before slowly discharging it back into the stormwater system. Outside of these rare major events, the basin remains a grassed, open green space for the community to enjoy.

Delivering the redevelopment of St Morris Reserve and Stage 4 of the Trinity Valley Stormwater Drainage Upgrade involved significant engineering hurdles, including integration of new infrastructure into existing networks and managing major earthworks within narrow residential streets. Careful planning was undertaken to minimise—as much as possible and practicable—disruption to local residents during the construction phase.

Informed by the community

The redevelopment of St Morris Reserve was informed by the community with more than 150 submissions received during the consultation in early 2023. The final design incorporated suggestions offered during the consultation to ensure the new reserve meets expectations of the local community.

Two tiers of government partnering for community

The broader $20 million project represents a landmark investment by the Council in the City’s infrastructure to reduce the risk and impacts of flooding and is supported by approximately $9.9 million from the Federal Government’s Preparing Australian Communities Local Stream Program. This funding has enabled the completion of all four phases of the Trinity Valley project, with the final stage of construction anticipated to commence in Maylands and Stepney this year.

Mayor Robert Bria acknowledges the support of the community in the delivery of the St Morris Reserve Upgrade.

“The St Morris community and residents from nearby suburbs deserve a facility of this standard and the Council thanks them sincerely for their patience and understanding during the construction phase.”

Join us for the official opening of St Morris Reserve!

To celebrate the transformation of this much-loved local space, the community is invited to join us for an official opening celebration:

Sunday 8 February 
11am – 1pm
Seventh Avenue, St Morris

Hear from Mayor Robert Bria, enjoy a barbecue, coffee, sweet treats and entertainment. And explore the new playground!

 Find out more: Major Projects