The current set of design objectives for urban stormwater quality management in South East Queensland aim to reduce the mean annual loads of TSS by 80%, TP by 60% and TN by 45% (relative to unmitigated development). These design objectives have been derived based on a principle of economic best practice, defined by identifying the point of diminishing return above which increases in treatment measure size result in marginal improvements in water quality performance.  MUSIC Version 3 was used to determine treatment performance for the purposes of deriving these design objectives.

MUSIC Version 4 was recently released and includes several major improvements, including significant changes to bioretention treatment algorithms which result in different predictions of treatment performance to the earlier versions of the software.  The significance of the change in predicted treatment performance is influenced by bioretention treatment node configuration and rainfall patterns.

The implications of this change are currently being investigated in order to determine the appropriate response.

As an interim position until further guidance is provided, the Water by Design Steering Committee has recommended that when modeling bioretention systems, an interim bioretention node is used (available for download below). This interim bioretention node delivers comparable predictions of treatment performance to MUSIC Version 3 but will simulate higher TP removal where a submerged zone is used compared to a MUSIC Version 4 bioretention node where a submerged zone is used.

All other aspects of the model should be used in accordance with the MUSIC Modelling Guidelines (Water by Design).

Note that due to the range of improvements with the software, it is recommended that MUSIC Version 4 be used in preference to MUSIC Version 3. The interim node is likely to be superseded once MUSIC Version 4.1 is released late this year.

Instructions for use:

1. To use the node, dowload the file and save it to your desktop or other convenient location.
2. Open up MUSIC Version 4.0, then load the file
3. When prompted, select the box next to Retain Version 3 Treatment Node and click Finish (IMPORTANT STEP!)
   
4. You will now see a node named “Interim Bioretention Node – V3″.  Do not close this window or minimise it.
5. To use this node in your own models, create a new project (File -> New), or open an existing one (File -> Open).
6. Go to the window with the Bioretention Node – V3, select it by clicking on it, then copy it (Ctrl C, or Edit -> Copy).
7. Go to a new MUSIC template you have created for your project, and paste the node in (Ctrl V, or Edit -> Paste).
8. Change the sizes as appropriate for surface area, filter area, filter depth etc., but be sure to remain consistent with the advice provided in the MUSIC Modelling Guidelines (Water by Design).

Download:

You must be logged in to download guidelines.

Interim MUSIC Bioretention Node.

Trouble downloading? Try right click on the above link (ctrl click on Mac) and select ‘Save Target As’ then select the preferred download destination.

The Deemed to Comply Solutions – Stormwater Quality outline a series of ‘off the shelf” stormwater solutions for meeting stormwater quality design objectives for small scale development. The solutions are intended to reduce the reporting and assessment requirements for developments – particularly stormwater management plan reporting requirements.

The solutions include:

• the appropriate size of various treatment measures to ensure compliance with stormwater quality objectives (taking into account land use and climate region)
• a step by step process for selecting and designing the appropriate solution
• reporting requirements for development applications (a checklist is provided for development applications/assessment)

The Worked Solutions and Examples present the solutions in illustrative form, show how the checklists should be used and demonstrate the kinds of supporting plans which should be lodged with applications.

Availability of the Solutions

1. South East Queensland – the Deemed to Comply Solutions – Stormwater Quality (South East Queensland) are available for download below.
2. Other parts of Queensland – Deemed to Comply solutions have been prepared for all the climatic zones of Queensland and are available to local authorities upon request.

Preview Table of Contents and Introduction:Deemed to Comply Preview

Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) is the preferred approach for mitigating the impacts of urbanisation on the natural water cycle and is used to reconnect communities with the landscape and management of local water.  Physically integrating WSUD elements into the surrounding landscape usually requires space. In urban developments, WSUD elements often compete for space with other demands such as additional housing lots, roads, pathways, service corridors, environmental reserves, open space and flood management.

This discussion paper explores the issues and opportunities associated with integrating WSUD into multiple-use open spaces. Traditional stormwater management infrastructure has been seen as compromising the functions of public open space because its purpose was only the rapid conveyance of water with little consideration for amenity or environmental impact. However, WSUD and public open space have a number of common objectives.

The findings in this discussion paper show that public open space is not necessarily compromised by incorporating WSUD and that WSUD inclusions can actually enhance public open spaces. Similarly, using public open space for WSUD infrastructure also provides incentives to promote higher standards of WSUD.  A proposed framework is presented which presents design standards for different types of open space. This has been developed based on research, case studies, and stakeholder consultation.

Download the Discussion Paper

Trouble downloading? Try right click on the above link (ctrl click on mac) and select ‘Save Target As’ then select the preferred download destination.

Feedback

We are seeking your feedback on this discussion paper.  A feedback form is available to be completed and returned to Water by Design by the 21st June 2010.

The Water by Design Program in association with the Queensland Division of the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia (IPWEAQ) has prepared a set of standard drawings for water sensitive urban design infrastructure.

The Standard Drawings are intended to inform detailed design, standardise common design requirements (wherever possible) and reduce design and assessment costs and timeframes.

Two Example Project Drawings are also available which demonstrate how the Standard Drawings can be applied to project-specific operational works plans.

Benefits of using Standard Drawings include:

• improved design standards
• design consistency across jurisdictions
• reduced design and assessment timeframes and costs
• increased quality of infrastructure delivered to local authorities and asset owners

The following Standard Drawings are now available:

WSUD001: Bioretention Standard Profile – Overflow Pit
WSUD002: Bioretention Saturated Zone – Overflow Pit
WSUD003: Bioretention Standard Profile – Underdrain Cleanout
WSUD004: Bioretention Saturated Zone – Underdrain Cleanout
WSUD005: Bioretention Basin Large Coarse Sediment Forebay
WSUD006: Bioretention Basin Weir Details
WSUD007: Bioretention Pod Kerb Cutout
WSUD008: Bioretention Swales Flush Kerb Set down
WSUD009: Constructed Wetland Outlet Riser Pit A
WSUD010: Constructed Wetland Outlet Riser Pit B
WSUD011: Constructed Wetland Outlet Riser Pit C (for very flat sites)
WSUD012: Constructed Wetland Inlet Zone Weir Details

These Standard Drawings form part of the IPWEAQ Standard Drawings and can be purchased in PDF format via www.standarddrawings.com.au.  The Example Project Drawings are offered as free guides with any purchase of the Standard Drawings.

Users are encouraged to leave comments for future revisions via the standard drawings website or the Water by Design forum.

This discussion paper explores the issue of verification and certification for the design and delivery of water sensitive urban design (WSUD).

Regulatory and policy requirements for compliance with water quality and stormwater management objectives for urban developments are strengthening. Implementing WSUD within urban developments is an effective way to ensure water quality and stormwater management objectives are met. However, WSUD practitioners are not achieving a consistent quality level across projects, and it has been suggested that a certification scheme may be needed.

We are seeking feedback on this discussion paper.

Responses to this discussion paper should consider
the following questions:

• Considering both the likelihood and consequences, how significant is the risk associated with poor
• water sensitive urban design outcomes? How does this change from the development scale to the regional scale?
• In your experience, how effective are existing verification or certification schemes?
• What schemes are most effective and what are the key attributes of effective schemes?
• What factors contribute towards ineffective schemes?
• Is a verification scheme needed for water sensitive urban design?
• If so what do you consider to be the preferred model for this?
• Who should administer the scheme?
• How could the scheme address the interdisciplinary nature of water sensitive urban design?

First round of feedback is sought by 30th April 2010.

Download the Discussion Paper

A Business Case was prepared to determine if the benefit of applying water sensitive urban design techniques to achieve the stormwater management design objectives proposed through the Draft State Planning Policy for Healthy Waters are likely to outweigh the costs for typical development types. It considers quantitative and qualitative values of financial, environmental and social benefits and costs to determine the outcome on society as a whole.

Data was drawn from literature, semi-structured interviews and six case study assessments of typical development types in Queensland, including low density residential, high density residential, commercial and industrial . Each case study was analysed over four geographic regions – South East Queensland, Townsville, Cairns and Mackay.

This report provides the outcome of the Business Case, specifically:

• important contextual information, including the need for urban stormwater management, an explanation of WSUD and a brief overview of the draft policy (Section 2)
• an explanation of the assessment method (Section 3)
• an overview of the costs and benefits (Section 4)
• key findings from the assessment, including populated cost–benefit frameworks that communicate the social, environmental and financial costs and benefits of meeting the stormwater management design objectives for residential, commercial  and  industrial case studies (Section 5)
• a summary and conclusion (Section 6)

Click here to view the Queensland Government’s Draft State Planning Policy for Healthy Waters and supporting documentation.

Download:

Meeting the Proposed Stormwater Management Objectives in Queensland: A Business Case (Draft, Version 1) – 2.9MB PDF

A Review of Water Quality and Maintenance Costs of Constructed Water Bodies in Urban Areas of South East Queensland  Using data collected from a local government survey in late 2006, this report aims to characterise the observed water quality and maintenance requirements of artificial water bodies within SEQ, and to identify the key management issues for constructed urban water bodies in SEQ. Download PDF (1.5 MB)

Discussion Paper – Constructed Waterbodies in Urban Areas of South East Queensland: Maintenance Issues and Costs to Local Government  This brief discussion paper summarises data on water quality and maintenance costs for constructed water bodies under the ownership of local government in urban areas of SEQ. Download PDF (1.8 MB)

Integrated Water Cycle Planning Report v1.1  This reports documents the outcomes from the June 2007 local government workshop that the SEQ Healthy Waterways Partnership hosted. The purpose of the workshop was to assist local government officers’ map their IWCP work within a proposed conceptual framework and to facilitate discussion on the various IWCP approaches adopted. The report includes a description of the conceptual framework that the SEQ Healthy Waterways Partnership developed to enable each local government to map their IWCP activities. Download PDF (1.9 MB)

Water Sensitive Urban Design: Developing design objectives for urban development in South East Queensland  This report provides technical details of studies undertaken to develop a suite of proposed design objectives for WSUD in SEQ. These objectives have been developed through consultation with various stakeholders, as well as a panel of nationally-recognised technical experts. It superseded the October 2006 – Design Objectives for WSUD in SEQ report previously available on the website. Download PDF (11 MB)

June 2006 – Strategy for WSUD in SEQ (2.7MB) This Final Report contains an introduction to WSUD in SEQ, a summary of the major achievements associated with each project activity (as identified in the contract between DEH and MBWCP). Download PDF (2.7 MB)

4 July 2005 – Summary of Barriers to Adoption Report In 2004, the Moreton Bay Waterways and Catchments Partnership commissioned Brisbane consultants Colmar Brunton to undertake a study and report on: ‘Water Sensitive Urban Design: Research into Barriers to Adoption, Opportunities and Stakeholder Needs in South-East Queensland’. This document summarises the report’s findings. It describes how professionals currently view water sensitive urban design, the perceived barriers to adoption as outlined by participants in the survey, suggestions of ways to overcome those barriers, and a summary of conclusions and recommendations outlined in the report. Download Report Summary

GUIDELINES FOR SOIL FILTER MEDIA IN BIORETENTION SYSTEMS (Version 2.01) Facility for Advancing Water Biofiltration, March 2008 The Facility for Advancing Water Biofiltration (FAWB) has released a new version of the Guidelines for Soil Filter Media in Bioretention Systems. Key developments in this revision include a tightening on the total fraction of clay and silt (to less than 3%) and recommendation of an ASTM method for the lab testing of hydraulic conductivity (ASTM F1815-06). There is also a useful discussion on expected changes in hydraulic conductivity during the establishment of a bioretention system. A copy of the guideline is now accessible through the FAWB website. LINK

Advancing the Design of Stormwater Biofiltration Facility for Advancing Water Biofiltration, June 2008 This document provides a summary of FAWB’s findings to date on biofiltration technology. It includes a brief outline of the typical design of biofilters, the program research methodology and a summary of key findings. Download PDF

Transition to WSUD: The Story of Melbourne, Australia This report, released by the Facility for Advancing Water Biofiltration (FAWB) in association with the National Urban Water Governance Program, presents the findings of social research focused on identifying the key institutional change ingredients that will lead to the mainstreaming of the WSUD approach. That is, a transition from traditional to sustainable urban water management. Download PDF (1.4 MB)

Lifecycle Costs of Water Sensitive Urban Design Treatment Systems (Draft Nov 2007) This draft report was prepared for Brisbane City Council, and presents lifecycle costs on a range of stormwater quality management systems. It is important to read ‘Chapter 4: Summary of Data and Recommendations for Use’ prior to using the information for planning purposes. Note that further costing data will be available through the Business Case for WSUD being developed by Water by Design (in press). Download PDF (1.3 MB)

Poorly managed construction sites can result in highly damaging sediment loads being delivered into receiving waters.

Erosion and Sediment Control (ESC) is an integral part of achieving WSUD outcomes during the construction phase of urban development and redevelopment projects.

Key Resources for Erosion and Sediment Control

Regional Design Guidelines
Best Practice Erosion and Sediment Control (International Erosion Control Association, November 2008)http://www.austieca.com.au/BestPracticeESCDocumentInfo/tabid/69/Default.aspx

Factsheets
The local governments of South East Queensland have developed the Erosion and Sediment Contol Kit available from www.waterbydesign.com.au/content/factsheets

Training Courses
Erosion and Sediment Control Courses are offered through the International Erosion Control Association. These courses contribute to the Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC) qualification.  http://www.austieca.com.au/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx

Localised Guidance

Local design guidance has been developed by some SEQ local governments:

Brisbane City Council
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:BASE:1302690446:pc=PC_2944 (refer Chapter 12 and Appendix 2 of the Land Development Guidelines)

Sunshine Coast Regional Council
http://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/sitePage.cfm?code=erosion-sediment-control