Australia's National Local Government Newspaper Online

Carrara Catchment urban stormwater initiative

Water flowing into the Nerang River on the Gold Coast in Queensland will be far clearer thanks to extensive improvements in the catchment area. The $1.5m Carrara Urban Stormwater Initiative Project is an innovative, whole of catchment pilot project involving a series of best practice stormwater quality improvement devices developed by Gold Coast City Council.

Environmental Engineer – Waterways, Kendall Bott, said devices have been placed at various points along the waterway to clean out or filter the river of pollutants.

“At the broad catchment area, filters take out large rubbish such as cans,” Kendall Bott said. “At the lower reaches of the system, special biofiltration systems eliminate heavy metals and other wastes.

The project comprises:

• a waterbird park sedimentation lake and constructed wetland
• a reconfiguring and revegetating of a lake and wetland area in Nerang to improve sedimentation and biological treatment of stormwater
• a biofiltration system
• construction of two parallel gravel biofiltration trenches where stormwater pollution is treated by microbes, including bacteria, fungi and algae
• revitalising and stabilising the banks of a major tributary draining into the Nerang River.

Kendall Bott said the whole of catchment approach was rare in developed catchments because of the cost and space restrictions involved.

“Until recently, the impact of the systems could not be seen as there has been little or no rainfall,” he said. “However, with recent heavy rain, we have anecdotal evidence that shows a clear improvement.”

For details contact Kendall Bott on (07) 5581 6473.

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