Greenhill Road Infrastructure Works — Plan Ahead for Disruptions
City of Unley · Council intelligence · Last updated April 2026
“NOTICE OF MOTION FROM COUNCILLOR M BRONIECKI RE: WALKING AND CYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE ON GREENHILL ROAD”
Full Council, 23 March 2026
There's a motion on the table to look at walking and cycling upgrades on Greenhill Road. Nothing's been dug up yet, but when investigations turn into works, contractors hit the road and the footpath — and older service pipes running under the southern end of Unley don't always cope well with the vibration and ground shift.
“Administration work with staff from the City of Adelaide and the City of Burnside to investigate the provision of improved walking and cycling infrastructure along the southern boundary of the Adelaide Park Lands fronting Greenhill Road from Anzac Highway to Fullarton Road.”
Full Council, 23 March 2026
They're looking at the full stretch of Greenhill Road from Anzac Highway to Fullarton Road — that's the boundary running right along Unley's northern edge. Three councils involved means it's a serious investigation. If it gets to construction stage, expect disruption to access and the kind of ground movement that can shift old clay junctions and crack brittle stormwater lines nearby.
“The total cost to Council of maintaining the playing surface at Unley Oval for football and cricket differs from year to year as there are various factors that can impact cost. For the 2024-25 financial year, the total cost to Council was $85,172 (excluding GST). This comprises a cost of $28,372 for football (excluding temporary fencing for Sturt Football Club matchdays) and $56,800 for cricket.”
Full Council, 23 March 2026
Not directly a plumbing issue, but Unley Oval sits in the middle of the suburb and heavy irrigation on a playing surface year-round means the ground around it stays wet. That affects drainage in the streets nearby — if you're getting slow drains or soggy ground around the oval precinct, the water table and soil saturation in that area can be part of the problem.
The City of Unley has infrastructure planning underway along Greenhill Road — the southern edge of the suburb — with investigations into walking and cycling upgrades that'll likely mean ground works at some point. For Unley residents, that's worth knowing. This is a suburb of older homes — plenty of inter-war and post-war stock with clay and cast-iron pipes still in the ground — and any kerb-to-kerb digging near ageing mains or street junctions puts pressure on what's already running close to the end of its life.
If you're in Unley dealing with plumbing that's acting up, you're not alone. The suburb's got some of the oldest housing stock in Adelaide and pipes to match — clay lines from the 1950s, copper fittings original to the build, hot water systems that should've been swapped out years back. When tree roots start blocking drains or a cast-iron main starts leaking, you need someone who knows Unley's infrastructure inside out. We've been working these streets long enough to know which problem's coming next.
- Tree root intrusion into clay sewer pipes — Unley's older streets are lined with established trees and roots go straight for the weaker clay lines
- Collapsed or cracked clay sewer lines in pre-1960 homes — settlement and age catch up eventually
- Failed hot water units in period homes — original or undersized storage tanks struggling with hard water
- Corroded copper pipes in post-war homes — original fittings showing serious age
- Blocked stormwater drains from saturation and old terracotta lines — especially after heavy April rain near low-lying pockets
- Leaking taps and fixtures in older homes — brass and copper components degrading
- Ground saturation issues affecting drainage after rain events — clay soil holding water longer in established areas
- Mains pressure issues during council infrastructure works — Greenhill Road upgrades putting stress on existing lines