These draft development conditions are for bioretention systems given the large number of systems being designed and constructed.

Download Draft Development Conditions: Engineering
Download Draft Development Conditions: Landscape

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)

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.

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).

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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 Framework for the Integration of Flooding and Stormwater Management into Open Space details best practice approaches for integrating water sensitive urban design (WSUD) elements into multiple use open space. The intent of the framework is to enhance public open spaces and provide incentives for higher standards of WSUD.

Best practice stormwater management objectives are set out in the South East Queensland Regional Plan 2009–2031 Implementation Guideline No. 7: Water Sensitive Urban Design and the State Planning Policy 4/10 Healthy Waters. To comply with these objectives, land is needed to accommodate the treatment measures, such as bioretention systems and wetlands. In an urban development, the physical integration of WSUD systems into the surrounding landscape competes for space with additional lots, roads, pathways, service corridors, environmental reserves, open space and flood management.

The Framework includes:

• design principles and objectives for different types of public open space and a comparison with WSUD objectives
• issues and opportunities for incorporating water sensitive urban design into public spaces
• performance criteria and acceptable solutions for including WSUD elements in creditable public open space.

The Urban Land Development Authority Guideline NO. 12: Park Planning and Design (Draft for consultation) refers to the document as “Framework for Multiple Use Public Open Space for WSUD”.

The framework was developed based on research, case studies, and stakeholder consultation which are presented in the Multiple Use of Open Space Discussion Paper.

Download

Version History: Version 1.1 – Catchment area has been removed as a criteria from sections 4.2.1, 4.2.2, 4.2.3 and 4.2.4

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.

Standard Drawings help deliver more effective stormwater management at lower community cost by:

• improving design standards and improving consistency across councils
• reducing the cost and time involved in design and assessment
• improving the 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.engincom.com.au. The Example Project Drawings are offered as free guides with any purchase of the Standard Drawings.

We welcome your feedback on the Standard Drawings and can provide it via the contact page.

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?

Download the Discussion Paper

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 contains:

• 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 typical residential, commercial  and  industrial case studies (Section 5)
• a summary and conclusion (Section 6)

Click here to view the Queensland State Planning Policy 4/10 Healthy Waters and supporting documentation.

Detailed case study information is documented in a companion Case Study Report, which is available for download below.

Download:

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

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

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 Control 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