Sustainability Snapshot

City of Stonnington Sustainability Snapshot 2015/16

Integrated Water Management

12

Integrated Water Management

03

Key achievements

Water is a finite and vulnerable resource that is increasingly in demand and affected by human activities. With high variability across seasons, water conservation has become an increasingly important issue over the last few years. While water restrictions across Victoria have relaxed since late 2010 with the easing of the drought and

Council » Undertook a review of our existing Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) assets to determine their effectiveness and identify improvements for future asset design, construction, operation and maintenance. » Commenced a review of our current parks and gardens irrigation systems, leading to the replacement and upgrade of irrigation infrastructure across a number of sites. » Implemented system changes to better manage and monitor water use, including upgrading our central irrigation controller to maintain connectivity and allow remote access. » Improved water efficiency at Glendearg Tennis Centre: – installed a rainwater harvesting system to service the toilets and green wall. – upgraded en tout cas court surface with a synthetic surface that has significant water saving properties. » Installed WSUD features to our urban landscape, including strata cells, raingardens and tree pits. » Continued to plant indigenous and drought-tolerant exotic species in our gardens and streets to reduce water use.

» Expanded our mulching program in public open space to reduce evaporation, improve soil conditions and reduce competition from weeds. » Continued to implement onsite best practice stormwater treatment through the WSUD Planning Policy resulting in most new building developments including rainwater tanks. Community » Continued to educate the community on options for onsite stormwater treatment and water efficiency through conversations on planning applications. » Delivered sessions to schools, early learning centres and residents about improving stormwater quality in partnership with Melbourne Water and Port Phillip EcoCentre. » Delivered new environmental education » Installed interpretive signage at Glen Iris Wetlands including a push-button light-up stormwater display that highlights the urban water cycle and explains the impacts of pollution on our waterways and beaches. tours to Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands and the Eastern Treatment Plant. » Install a synthetic grass playing surface at Gardiner Park. » Install rain gardens in Chapel Street as part of the Chapel Street Masterplan redevelopment. » Undertake a detailed assessment of water use on public open spaces to determine best practice and more targeted water use. Community » Explore opportunities to support school water conservation projects. » Continue to educate the community on options for onsite stormwater treatment and water efficiency in planning applications. » Continue to explore opportunities to educate schools, early learning centres and residents about improving stormwater quality.

greater availability of water, there remains a strong imperative for Council and the community to continue to conserve water.

Through the Sustainable Environment Strategy 2013-17, Council has adopted an ‘integrated water management’ approach. This recognises that the supply, storage, use and reuse of water is an interrelated process and is best regarded as a whole system in order to have the greatest effect.

Goals

A

Maintain corporate potable water use through integrated water management to achieve the corporate water target of 60% reduction in water use on 2000/01 levels

Focus for 2016/17

Council » Develop a framework to guide investment in future Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) assets and alternative green infrastructure across Council. » Design a new maintenance regime for Council’s WSUD assets. » Provide input into the Monash University water sensitive urban management tool which aims to improve the implementation process for WSUD. » Continue to explore opportunities to implement and install tree pits, strata cells and structural soils to increase the water holding capacity and improve permeability of our urban landscape. » Continue to improve water use and irrigation systems including investigating opportunities for targeted irrigation of trees and implementing irrigation system upgrades.

B

Improve water management practices and stormwater quality through an integrated water management model to reduce potable water use and enhance the quality of water in Stonnington’s creeks and waterways

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