Walker accelerates housing delivery with $6M infrastructure investment

As featured in The Advertiser

Walker Corporation are fast-tracking housing delivery with a $6 million investment in South Australia’s largest Wastewater Pump Station, unlocking close to 2,000 new homes at Riverlea.

The Wastewater Pump Station is key to unlocking new homes, with the critical infrastructure driving the safe collection and treatment of wastewater before being transported 6km underground to SA Water’s Bolivar plant.

Walker Senior Construction Manager Chris Emsley said the project demonstrates how innovative engineering can help fast-track land supply to support Adelaide’s growing housing needs.

"The Wastewater Pump Station creates a sustainable and efficient wastewater management system to help bring nearly 2,000 homes online over the coming years, this is a major milestone for our team and will unlock all kinds of housing options here at Riverlea,” Mr. Emsley said.

L to R: Walker senior construction manager Chris Emsley, Riverlea resident Chloe and Walker Community Engagement Manager Michaela Keirl

"Walker is working closely with SA Water and key authorities to speed up the delivery of the vital infrastructure needed to get land ready for construction, helping more South Australians achieve their dream of home ownership.”

Construction on the Wastewater Pump Station has now begun and is on track for completion in April 2025. Once finished, the asset will be handed over to SA Water for ongoing management.

Already home to over 1,000 residents, Riverlea is playing a vital role in meeting the demand in Adelaide’s northern growth corridor, with the City of Playford's population projected to grow by approximately 62% between 2025 and 2046, increasing from 113,167 to 183,894 residents.

The next batch of lots benefiting from this accelerated infrastructure will be released in stages throughout the year, offering land for house and land packages, townhouses and affordable homes for essential workers.

For Emma and Jordan Bristow, moving to Riverlea was an easy decision driven by Jordan’s experience landscaping the community’s grand entry lakes. 14 months after building their dream home, the couple couldn’t be happier, recently welcoming their baby boy, Leo.

“My husband did a couple of jobs in Riverlea and knew it was a special place. He said to me, ‘Emma you’re going to love it’ after buying a block of land, so I didn’t see the area before getting the land but there was a lot of trust,” Ms Bristow said.

Riverlea residents Emma and Jordan Bristow with son Leo and dogs Ziggy and Murphy. Image credit: Newspix

“The blocks are big and quite affordable. We are so happy, we just love it and feel so excited for the future here with all the new community facilities like the schools, shops and more parks.”

“You know, everyone says it takes a village to raise a baby, and we feel so lucky to be surrounded by great neighbours around our age who we see for dinner sometimes a couple of times a week, it’s a fantastic community here.”

Current infrastructure underway includes the $100 million The Palms Shopping Village which will include Coles, Priceline Pharmacy, Anytime Fitness and Paisley Park Early Learning Centre among its 25 specialty stores, along with an alfresco dining precinct and parking for over 400 cars on the corner of Central Drive and Riverlea Boulevard.

A new school, delivered in partnership with Catholic Education South Australia, is set to open at the start of the 2027 school year, catering to students from Reception to Year 6 before expanding to accommodate up to Year 12 as well. The first stage of the project is expected to create approximately 1,300 local construction jobs, driving education and employment opportunities for the region.

Riverlea will eventually be home to 40,000 residents, with the community delivered in stages over the next 20 years.

Since 2021, Walker has invested more than $71m in essential infrastructure at Riverlea.

As part of a 10-year public transport partnership with the SA government, Walker invested $3m in 2023 to extend two Adelaide Metro bus routes to Riverlea Park, bringing early transport connectivity which it says can require wait times of more than a decade in other masterplanned communities.

Riverlea bus

All residents have high-speed internet access and the development has delivered the Port Wakefield Road Intersection and more than 20km of new roads and footpaths.

Kapinka Reserve, spanning 5000 sqm, opened in April 2024. The playground designed for adventure and accessibility features state-of-the-art play equipment, large lawn areas, picnic shelters, barbecue facilities and space for community fitness classes.

Milner Place Reserve has become a popular gathering spot for residents.

Adelaide 36ers visit Milner Place Reserve for a community ball skills workshop

Walker has invested more than $50m in the entry lakes, pedestrian pathways and landscaping, including hundreds of palm trees, more than 40,000 plants and 70,000 m2 of turf.

Riverlea will eventually be home to 40,000 residents under a $6bn investment, delivered in stages over 20 years, with plans for four schools and retail centres.

Walker managing director and chief executive David Gallant said, “Our delivery of infrastructure upfront at Riverlea replicates the same successful formula we have implemented across our masterplanned communities throughout Australia over the last 50 years like Hope Island Qld, Banksia Grove WA, and Rhodes Peninsula NSW.

“We deliver infrastructure upfront to create connected, house proud neighbourhoods.”

“We want our residents to have a great lifestyle close to home, so by creating that environment from the beginning, we can elevate quality of life which in turn helps people feel part of a great community, which they also want to contribute to.”

L to R: Walker Chief Operating OfficerChief Operation Officer Nathan Campbell and Walker Managin Dorector and CEO David Gallant at The Palms Shopping Village