Urban Lakes Discussion Paper
South-East Queensland (SEQ) now has a large number of artificial waterbodies or “urban lakes” which were designed and built to support new urban development. A growing body of knowledge amongst local government authorities (LGAs) in SEQ indicates that urban lakes experience water quality problems often leading to excessive algal growth or blooms, particularly of cyanobacteria. This is often a major management issue for constructed urban lakes and maintenance and rectification places a significant burden on LGAs in SEQ. This document provides a review of the potential effectiveness of manipulating lake retention times to reduce the risk of cyanobacterial growth in freshwater urban lakes.
Interim MUSIC Bioretention Treatment Node
The implications from the changes in treatment performance predictions between MUSIC (Model for Stormwater Improvement Conceptualisation) Version 3.01 and Version 4.0 are currently being investigated. In the meantime, the Water by Design Steering Committee has recommended the use of an interim MUSIC bioretention treatment node.
Deemed To Comply Solutions
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.
Multiple Use of Open Space Discussion Paper
This discussion paper explores the issues and opportunities associated with integrating WSUD into multiple-use open spaces.
Standard Drawings for water sensitive urban design
The Water by Design Program in association with the Queensland Division of the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia (IPWEAQ) has completed a set of standard drawings for water sensitive urban design. The drawings are intended to inform detailed design, standardise common design requirements (where possible) and reduce design and assessment costs and timeframes.
Certification Discussion Paper
This discussion paper explores the issue of verification and certification for the design and delivery of water sensitive urban design (WSUD).
A Business Case for Best Practice Urban Stormwater Management
A business case was prepared to determine if the benefits of applying water sensitive urban design practices to achieve the stormwater management design objectives in the State Planning Policy 4/10 Healthy Waters
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)
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: Comparing Local Government Approaches in South East Queensland v1.1
This reports documents the outcomes from the June 2007 local government workshop that Healthy Waterways 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 Healthy Waterways 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)
Strategy for Water Sensitive Urban Design in SEQ – Final Report to the Department of Environment and Heritage
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)
Water Sensitive Urban Design – Barriers to Adoption and Opportunities in SEQ
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.
External Publications
- Guidelines for Soil Filter Media in Bioretention Systems (Version 3.01)
- Advancing the Design of Stormwater Biofiltration
- Transition to WSUD: The Story of Melbourne, Australia
- Lifecycle Costs of Water Sensitive Urban Design Treatment Systems (Draft Nov 2007)
Erosion and Sediment Control
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.
