Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
Key
site specific
region wide
Stormwater project to reduce pressure on drinking supplies
This 'rain garden' at Hobart Botanical Gardens helps retain and re-use stormwater.
These plants were carefully chosen to filter and slow down water.
This Tall Sword-sedge is a locally native species.
Many people may be unaware that Hobart is the second driest city in Australia. Despite its rainy reputation developers, engineers, designers and planners in Southern Tasmania are looking at re-using stormwater to reduce demand on drinking water.
Stormwater is now viewed as a resource, not an overflow. This new concept is being tapped into via the Water Sensitive Urban Development (WSUD) project, which is supervised by the Southern Natural Resource Management Regional Committee.
Funding
The project, funded with $186,000 from the Australian Government and contributions from the State Government, published new guidelines for developers and planners to manage erosion and pollution in stormwater runoff.
Activities and achievements
Derwent Estuary Program Acting Director, Ursula Taylor, said town planners are now minimising impacts on natural waterways and using stormwater to their advantage.
"These guidelines show developers and councils how to treat and reuse stormwater, and this information is urgent with the recent building boom in Tasmania," she said. "On the east coast, Glamorgan Spring Bay Council doesn't even allow further development unless water tanks are incorporated into the design."
If a site is suitable the guidelines provide directions for building artificial wetlands for stormwater treatment and bio-filtration systems, such as garden beds, with stormwater drainage underneath.
Grassed open channels are another option to move stormwater and allow it to filter through plants, which clean the water and slow it down to avoid urban flooding. This method captures and re-uses the water, relieving pressure on the system.
Another suggestion is urban ponds or sedimentation basins, which allow sediment to fall out and clean water to flow back into creeks and rivers. Sand filters allow water to soak into the ground to help protect downstream waterways and conserve water. And the simplest concept yet - installing rainwater tanks in every household.
Achievements
"This information has flowed on to state and local governments, consultant engineers and architects, developers and the building industry," Ursula said. "Around 200 copies were distributed at a 100-strong forum in 2005 and workshops were organised at councils in Southern Tasmania.
"The response has been really positive. People are referencing the guidelines and it's increasing, which is why we'll soon be adapting them for statewide use. We're encouraging infrastructure managers to change the way they've traditionally built stormwater structure - it's a pretty significant change."
More information
- Regional NRM Faciliator: (03) 6208 6101 or regional.facilitator@nrmsouth.org.au
See also
Key
Links to another web site
Opens a pop-up window