Willawong Bus Depot
The Willawong Bus Depot is an excellent example of integrated water cycle management. It includes water conservation strategies, utilises a diversity of water sources including roofwater, stormwater harvesting and recycling, as well as stormwater treatment through bioretention systems and wetlands.
Potable water: potable water used for: Sinks, eye-wash areas, fire fighting, cold water to showers and basin and back-up supply
Stormwater: Stormwater runoff from the site is treated via bio-filtration and stored in wetlands for use. A monitoring station has been set up to test wetland water quality – results show no risk to human health. Water used for subsurface irrigation.
Roofwater: All roofwater is filtered and UV disinfected prior to use to ensure low risk to human health, and is used for hot water supplied to showers and basins, as well as vehicle washing.
On-site Recycling: Harvested roofwater is used for bus wash-down with mains back-up. Dirty wash-down water is then recycled through an extensive treatment system to achive ‘Class A equivalent’: 1) Screened for solids 2) Four stages of biological treatment 3) Micro-filtration 4) UV disinfection. Treated and harvested water runs through a separate plumbing system to that of mains potable water, so that there is no chance of crosscontamination, and signs are displayed saying ‘Recycled water being used – Do not drink’.
Results: (from year 1) Recycled water usage of 1.76 ML; potable water usage of 0.16 ML or 92% reduction in potable water demand compared to a traditional design.
- Mr Greg Stanford / Mr Brian Mahon
- Commenced February 2009 and Completed April 2009
- South end Sherbrooke Road Willawong
- Approximately $41m (ex GST) including construction, consultant’s fees and non-construction costs.
- Brisbane City Council
- Brisbane City Council, Corporate Services, City Property
- Brisbane City Council - City Design
- Laing O’Rourke
- Provision of new 200 bus depot to accommodate expanding Council bus fleet to service the travelling public
- On low contaminated uncontrolled landfill site within remediated Willawong waste precinct with EPA and City Council strict environmental guidelines and requirements in place. Site has to be reengineered and stabilised and building piled and new road an infrastructure provided (including reticulated compressed natural gas supply. Require Impact approval for Development.
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This was the first new Council depot 1994 (Garden City Bus Depot) so new generation of depot required. This was a significant learning curve and was very successfully implemented.
There was some interesting feedback provided in the Post Operational Review. Several issues across functional units suggest that a more integrated approach to design could improve both water management and depot operations.
Some of the most pertinent feedback is summarised here:
In the Equipment Tyre Bay the pit jacks sump does not drain. There should never be any place for water or other fluids to accumulate without drainage.
Waste Oil storage is only accessible from a single point. Presently waste oil is transferred through the garage on trolleys. Oil needs to be drained to storage at the point of drainage.
The reclaim water pump is undersize. There is a need to ensure that requirements for future depots are understood.
In the Water Treatment Plant the Bus Wash is too small resulting in oily water ending up in the holding tank and the pump wearing out prematurely.
Shutoff taps and drip trays should be installed for each reel and accessible from the floor.
The pre-maintenance cleaning bay is currently incorporated into the auto bus wash negatively impacting on the water treatment plant and equipment. There should be a dedicated bay within the refuel shed for the purpose of high pressure pre-maintenance cleaning facility.
Drainage cannot cope with amount of runoff - the vendors must understand the requirements. There is also a lack of drainage in the rota wash area and water accumulating in and around the toilet. This was recognised during construction but unable to be rectified.
Swales are expensive to maintain and take up valuable footprint.
There is a need for an underground holding tank that can be pumped out. -
• Winner of the National Stormwater Industry Association Award for Excellence in Stormwater Management & Initiatives (2009)
• Winner of the Southern Pacific Sands Water Sensitive Urban Design Award at the Healthy Waterways Awards (2009)
• Winner of the Stormwater Industry Association of Queensland Award for Excellence in Integrated
• Water Cycle Management (2009) Brisbane Regional Commendation at the Australian Institute of Architects Queensland Chapter, 2010 Queensland Architecture Awards
- Built on difficult remediated capped waste site. Uses materials that can be recycled and/or is made form recycled material. Major water management systems in place meaning very little mains water draw down – mains water only used for drinking the rest is harvested / recycled.
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Adjacent methane flare form biomass site soon to be converted to energy production with aim of green power buy back by Council meaning the depot would be 100% energy self sufficient and virtually entirely water self sufficient.
The Willawong Integrated Water Cycle complies with the:
• Queensland Water Recycling Guidelines (2005) Queensland Environmental Protection Agency;
• Water Quality Guidelines for Recycled Water Schemes (2008) Queensland Natural Resources and Water;
• Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling: Managing Health and Environmental Risks (Phase 1) (2006) Environmental Protection and Heritage Council, the National Heath Medical Research Council and the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council; and the
• Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling: Managing Health and Environmental Risks (Phase 2) Stormwater Harvesting and Reuse (Draft 2008) Environmental Protection and Heritage Council, the National Heath Medical Research Council and the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council
