The Para Paddocks - Saved by the People

Bob Giles was instrumental in campaigning for sustainable development in 1972 which led to South Australia's City of Salisbury being world leaders in wetland technology.

The SA Housing Trust had planned to build housing on land known to be subject to flooding, but the community, led by Bob, said 'No'. He successfully proposed an innovative alternative that achieved more housing than the original plans with the land released from housing becoming available for recreational sporting fields and passive recreation opportunities such as wetlands that absorb urban run-off, settle out pollutants and attract and sustain aviculture and urban forest.

Bob is using the Land & Water Australia Community Fellowship to write a book about how the Para Paddocks were rescued by citizen intervention and his role in inspiring community support.