ACT Basin Priority ProjectImproving long term water quality in the ACT and

the Murrumbidgee River System

Briefing to Woden Valley Community Council4 March 2015

Project Background

• WMPA: Basin States to undertake one or more Priority Projects that will:o Substantially contribute to

improved efficiency of rural water use

o The sustainability of water use

o Overall health of the Basin

ACT Basin Priority Project

• February 2014: the ACT Government signed a funding agreement with the Commonwealth of up to $85 million for the ACT Basin Priority Project.

• The Project will Improve the Long Term Water Quality in the ACT and the Murrumbidgee River System

• The Project will be delivered in two phases with a focus on six priority catchments

ACT Basin Priority Project

• Catchments selected to achieve representation of the broad variety of catchment types and land development across the Territoryo Yarralumla Creek –Mature catchment flowing into Molonglo Rivero Lake Tuggeranong – Mature urbanised catchment flowing into Lake

Tuggeranongo Upper Molonglo – Semi-rural catchment flowing into Lake Burley

Griffino Fyshwick – Industrial catchment flowing into Lake Burley Griffin and

Jerrabomberra Wetlandso Lower Molonglo – Developing catchment flowing into Molonglo o Riverview (West Belconnen) – Greenfield development flowing into

Murrumbidgee River

Governance Structure

Joint Commonwealth/ACT Steering Committee

Joint Commonwealth/ACT Steering Committee

BPP Management TeamBPP Management Team

ACT and Region Catchment

Management Coordination

Group

ACT and Region Catchment

Management Coordination

Group

Senior Executive Water Group

(ACT Government)

Senior Executive Water Group

(ACT Government)

Project Advisory Group – Technical

Experts

Project Advisory Group – Technical

Experts

Project Advisory Group –

Community Stakeholders

Project Advisory Group –

Community Stakeholders

Future Delivery TeamDesigners/Construction Contractors

Phase 2

Future Delivery TeamDesigners/Construction Contractors

Phase 2

Phase 1 – to Feb 2016

Pre-feasibility: Gathering data on existing conditions & infrastructure• Audit of WQ Data and establish data

management framework• Water quality monitoring in 6 catchments. • Pre-feasibility identification of options (GHD Synthesis

report)• Audit of existing water quality infrastructure assets

Phase 1

Six catchments project – completed March 2015

Objective:

• Water quality database• Design and implement a water quality

monitoring framework for the six catchments• Preliminary recommendations on

appropriate interventions (GHD Report on six catchments)

Phase 1

ACT wide monitoring project – to June 2015

Framework for surface water and ground water based on water quality objectives for the ACT. Options include:

• Bathymetry • Sediment sampling• Micropollutants

Phase 1

Audit of Infrastructure project – to June 2015Objectives: • Audit a representative selection of existing stormwater assets;• Advise on performance, efficiency and effectiveness,

maintenance and measures to improve performance; • Options for the type and placement infrastructure assets

within the ACT.• Looks at gross pollutant traps, rain gardens, swales, water

quality & settlement ponds and wetlands plus..

Phase 1 – To Feb 2016

Final Options Identification – April to September 2015

• Identification of treatment train options across 6 catchments and in-lakeo Establish key environmental, social, economic criteriao Develop investment framework and MCA tool

• Community engaged in option identification

Phase 1 – to Feb 2016

Business Case

• Ranked options to Cabinet – Sep 15

• Draft business case to Commonwealth – Dec 15

• Final business case to Commonwealth – Feb 16

Phase 2 -To be completed by March 2019.

• Will involve the construction or augmentation of water quality infrastructure.

• Is subject to the Commonwealth Government’s final assessment and agreement.

• A supplementary report to the initial business case utilising information from Phase One will inform Phase Two.

Phase 2- Design and ConstructionMay 2016 to March 2019

• Design of approved treatment train infrastructure • Development application approvals• Construction• Need to manage risk of short timeframe

Yarralumla Creek Catchment

The Yarralumla Creek system

• Yarralumla Creek the main drainage line

o Length 10 km

o Catchment 30 km2

• Drains from the south to the north, to

the lower Molonglo River

• Tributary Long Gully Creek drains the eastern part of the

catchment

The Yarralumla Creek system

• Established catchment• Intensively urbanised

o 83% of catchment is utilised for ‘urban intensive uses’

• ‘Flashy’ o Increase of 0.9 of a meter within 5

mins at Curtin

The Problem – Yarralumla Creek

• High sediment and nutrient loads entering the Molonglo

• Poor quality into Murrumbidgee River• Steep, flashy system - erosion• High flows and hydraulics limit

options available• New development and shifts in

climate likely to place further pressure on system

Flow Debris Up stream of Cotter Road

21 Feb – 3 monthly rainfall event.

Water level and flow response significant

Organic load

BPP: Holistic Management

• Infrastructure proposals within catchment• Management options in catchment (street sweeping)• Practice change (leaves and clippings in open space)

and domestic)

Composting grass clippings, garden waste and leaves helps keep our waterways cleaner.

Yarralumla Creek Catchment

Catchment infrastructure options1. Wetlands – low in the system on main drainage line2. Naturalisation/riparian revegetation3. Bio-retention (rain gardens) to remove

contaminants from stormwater runoff4. GPTs – low in the system

Next Steps

Establish Multi-Criteria Investment Framework

End Assignment Catchment Options

Catchment Options to cabinet – End September

Assess and Rank Options across Catchments

March April May June July August September

Catchment Options Analysis & Assessment

Start Assignment Catchment Options

Community expectation

research

Community consultations on

infrastructure options

Comments

Thank you...

Basin Priority Project justin.foley@act.gov.au

http://www.environment.act.gov.au/water/act-basin-priority-project

Community Engagement

• Targeted engagement on:– community expectations of water quality and waterways– infrastructure options analysis– design process

• Briefing to catchment and community groups• Open house, factsheets and website• Behaviour change campaign on catchment friendly behaviour• Quarterly meetings of Project Advisory Groups – Community

Stakeholders

Community Engagement – Beyond 2015

• Consultation with community about successful infrastructure proposals

• After construction, opportunity to become part of a supported Parkcare Group assisting in caring for infrastructure

Proposed Infrastructure and Management Options

• rea• et / Management Option

Treatment / Management Options Bio-retention system (aka bio-filtration system or raingarden) Buffer Strips Gross Pollutant Traps Infiltration systems (also including porous pavements) Media Filtration systems Ponds Rainwater tank Sedimentation basins Vegetated swales Wetlands Naturalisation of channel Riparian revegetation Floating wetlands

Evolution of water management

Waste-water

Water supply Drainage

Water-ways

Water cycle

Water sensitive

Drivers

Management responses

Population growth

Public health Population growth and

development

Social amenity; environmental

health

“Limits to growth”

Intergenerational equity, resilience to climate change

Supply hydraulics

Separate sewerage schemes

Drainage/flood

protection

Point source and

stormwater pollution

management

Diverse, fit-for-purpose water supplies linked with waterway

protection

Adaptive and multi-functional

infrastructure and landscapes

Based on T. Wong and R. R. Brown 2009 The Water Sensitive City: Principles for Practice. Water Science and Technology 60(3):673-682

Liveable

Quality of urban

environment

Integrated solutions, built

in to urban form