Water Sensitive Urban Design The Waterside Development near Penrith Lakes

Water Sensitive Urban Design The Waterside Development near Penrith Lakes

Water Sensitive Urban Design The Waterside Development near Penrith Lakes

Stocklands Waterside

Stocklands Waterside Waterside will include over 680 dwellings, a recreation centre and a commercial and retail precinct providing services and amenity to the growing Penrith community. The development will include a total of 10 hectares of lakes and waterways; four kilometres of continuous wetland boardwalks and 10 hectares of publicly accessible open space. It is situated on the Farrell’s Creek catchment that drains into the Penrith Lakes Development.

Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) Water-sensitive urban design is the integration of urban planning and development with the management, protection and conservation of the water cycle as a whole.

Key Principles of WSUD Protect natural systems Protect water quality Integrate stormwater treatment into the landscape Reduce runoff and peak flows Add value while minimising development costs Reduce potable water demand

Raingardens Raingardens resemble a regular home garden with one major difference - they have rainwater directed into them from your downpipe or paved area.

Raingardens Raingarden vegetation soaks up rainfall. In doing so, raingardens reduce the amount of stormwater that would otherwise wash large amounts of pollutants quickly into the stormwater drain and into your local stream.

Raingardens Raingardens also treat the quality of rainfall runoff whilst providing habitat for native fauna such as birds, butterflies and even frogs.

Raingardens Keeping rain where it falls by putting it into a raingarden is a simple solution to stormwater pollution and is part of making your home stormwater sensitive.

Rainwater Tanks

Rainwater Tanks Rainwater tanks use stormwater as a resource around the home as well as reducing urban run-off. All homes at Waterside have underground stormwater tanks and a RainBank® device A RainBank device is used for: Rainwater harvesting Stormwater calming

Rainwater Tanks RainBank is a simple, self-contained controller for rainwater harvesting systems. It manages the supply of stored rainwater to appropriate applications in your house automatically. It can provide water for: up to 4 toilets a washing machine two external taps

Housing Layout

Housing Layout A water sensitive housing layout integrates residential blocks with the surrounding drainage function and open space. Such housing layouts often include a more compact form of development, which reduces impervious surfaces and help protect the water quality and health of urban waterways.

Road Layout and Drainage

Road Layout and Drainage A water sensitive road layout implements the practice of locating roads beside gardens or open space. Run-off is directed onto porous surfaces for watering purposes and to reduce stormwater flow. Drainage from roads goes to one side and roads tend to be narrower (decreasing impervious surfaces).

Road Layout and Drainage A major advantage, apart from reducing flows, is the reduced cost by minimising amount of piped network and area of road surface.

Recirculation Waterfall

Recirculation Waterfall Water flows from the upstream catchment are collected in a Gross Pollution Trap. Water can be stored in underground tanks where pollutants are extracted. Pumps then carry the water to this waterfall which has two major functions : Circulate water too prevent stagnation Add oxygen to the water as indicated by the white bubbles

Rip Raps and Fish Ladders

Rip Raps and Fish Ladders The lake is divided into sections. The contours fall from west to east which create water flows. In between each section are rock piles known as “rip raps”. The water movement over rip raps oxygenate the water. At Waterside all weir structures (rip raps) have fish ladders incorporated into their design to allow fish movement.

Buffer Zones (Vegetated strip on banks around lakes )

Buffer Zones (Vegetated strip on banks around lakes ) Water sensitive urban design should include natural habitats and buffer zones adjacent to watercourses Waterside’s buffer zones are made up of native trees, shrubs, herbs and grasses. These zones slow down the water flow and allow infiltration. Excess nutrients are taken out of the water by the plant’s root systems. Sediment is held back by buffer zone.

Macrophyte Zone

Macrophyte Zone This area is usually occupied by emergent and submerged aquatic plants. The plants plus the sediments in which these plants grow, take up or convert the nutrients (phosphates and nitrates) and thus assist in the treatment of stormwater. Other pollutants, taken up by plants include suspended solids, heavy metals, organic material and even oil.