Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) Demonstration Site
Guidelines
case-study / project / guide / case-studies
Planning
- Locate Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) precinct within existing urban area.
- Consult with surrounding residents and local schools about their vision for the site.
Landscape Design
Water Treatment
- Aim to restore the natural hydrological processes to the site – filtering nutrients, sediments and litter and slowing down the passage of stormwater.
- Showcase a series of water harvesting interventions including rain water tanks, grey water recycling, reed beds, off-line, on-line wetlands, swales, rain gardens and dry creek beds
- Maximise site permeability. This will also assist the local catchment by reducing peak flows and nutrients entering local creeks and drains.
- Refer to ACT Planning and Land Authority (2006)draft Water Sensitive Urban Design: guidelines for sustainable development in Canberra.
Landscape Materials
- Incorporate sustainable landscape materials wherever possible. This will reduce the ecological footprint of the project. Ensure materials are used which encourage water permeability.
- Showcase a range of different permeable paving products and monitor their effectiveness over the life of the project.
Site Ecology
- Aim to restore original plant communities to the site, including wetland, grassland (grasses, lilies, orchids, peas) and woodland species.
- Choose plants sourced from local seed stock (within 10km radius) where possible.
Pathways
- Ensure provision of wheelchair and stroller accessible pathways throughout the precinct.
- Ensure pathways are adequately lit for safe night time use.
Signage
- Ensure well placed interpretive signage is used throughout the precinct.
Education
- Involve local schools in designing the precinct into their environmental education curriculum.
Artwork
- Engage local artists to provide site appropriate artwork for the site.
Monitoring
- Involve Waterwatch and local residents in watering quality monitoring before and after the development of the precinct to establish reliable data on the effectiveness of the project.
Maintenance
- Ensure funding set aside for well considered landscape maintenance plan plus ongoing costs for regular maintenance.
Planning for climate change
- Ensure precinct will be shaded by appropriately selected trees, which will provide shade. The majority of plants selected need to be able to cope with a hotter and drier climate, grouped according to their water needs and not require mains water for irrigation.
Case Study
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Cotton Tree WSUD precinct, Maroochydore, Queensland |
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Sustainable Water Challenge Projects
and Other WSUD Case Studies in NSW and Australia |
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South East Queensland Site Register and Case Studies |
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WSUD Key Principles
Melbourne Water |
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WSUD Case Studies
Melbourne Water |
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Water Sensitive Planning Guides and Practice Notes
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case-study / project / guide / case-studies
sustainable-canberra-home-page
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