This Windermere Bay Foreshore Reserve project is a passive stormwater treatment wetland.
Location: Claremont, Tasmania
Client: Glenorchy City Council
Time frame: 2012 – 2016
Services provided by Syrinx
Bioengineering; Ecological Engineering, Graphics and Signage; Specialist Construction; Sustainable/Green Infrastructure; Sustainable Masterplanning; Water Sensitive Design
Project Phases Delivered
Project Phases Details
This Windermere Bay Foreshore Reserve project is a passive stormwater treatment wetland
The site is located on the Derwent Estuary within the municipality of Glenorchy City Council. It is a public reserve approximately 5.5 ha in size which sits within a sheltered part of Windermere Bay, on the western shore of the Derwent Estuary.
The reserve was identified by the Derwent Estuary Program (DEP) as a high profile site for the implementation of best practice Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) measures to treat stormwater from the surrounding 10.51 ha commercial and residential catchment (72% imperviousness) before entering the Derwent. Syrinx was initially engaged to design the project. Following a successful tendering process, Syrinx was additionally engaged to construct the system.
Incorporating a vegetated ephemeral wetland (an alternating wet and dry system), a sedimentation basin, a leaky wall and a series of rock weirs and vegetated swales, the site now treats stormwater in accordance with the aspirational water quality targets recommended by the DEP. The selected treatment train employs a densely vegetated creek with wetland floodplain. Native species were selected for their ability to treat stormwater, tolerance of seasonal or intermittent flooding and their colour, texture, height and form.
Key outcomes
- Effective treatment of stormwater from the surrounding 10.51 ha catchment in accordance with the DEP’s water quality targets.
- Management strategy for stormwater treatment options.
- Detailed long-term, whole-of-site concept plan to guide future projects. This concept plan was significant in ensuring that the WSUD system was fully integrated with the community park.
- Successful re-establishment of the reserve as an attractive, ecologically important and dynamic recreational node showcasing a healthy saltmarsh ecosystem, beautiful foreshore area and best practice Water Sensitive Design.
- Design and development of educational signage to communicate the system’s processes to the community.