Sustainable Water (S1-05) | City of Greater Geelong

Armstrong Creek Town Centre Precinct Sustainable Management Plan

Sustainable Water (S1-05)

Sustainable Water for Armstrong Creek town centre would mean management of limited water sources to ensure that water demands for the area are met without compromising future water supplies.

Vision

Sustainable Water for Armstrong Creek town centre would mean management of limited water sources to ensure that water demands for the area are met without compromising future water supplies.

Strategies for achieving sustainable water use include reduced water consumption of the development maximised water efficiency of appliances and equipment infrastructure for captured rainwater and recycled water and water sensitive urban design.

Sustainable Water means preserving this resource for the future

Benefits

The developer	Community / Residents / Commercial tenant	Environment
Smoother approvals process by ensuring that the application addresses the objectives and guidelines of the Precinct Structure Plan A development that meets best practice standards and community expectations	Future-proofed development that is resilient to both droughts and major storm events Lower costs associated with water consumption Careful water use supports urban greenery to improve amenity and reduce urban heat	Long-term sustainability of potable water supplies Reduced environmental damage from stormwater run-off during major storms Potential biodiversity benefits through native drought-resistant plants

Guidelines

All development in Armstrong Creek Town Centre should:

S1-05.G1 Minimise the percentage of non-permeable surfaces for mixed-use and commercial development particularly where large areas of at-grade car parking are required

S1-05.G2 Demonstrate an integrated stormwater management approach inclusive of WSUD treatments and/orother stormwater capture initiatives

S1-05.G3 Minimise construction impacts on waterways

S1-05.G4 Source 100% of water for landscape irrigation from on-site rainwater collection or recycled water

S1-05.G5 Encourage WSUD initiatives within landscaped environments

S1-05.G6 Consider the use of underground tanks for water capture and storage to minimise the encumbrances on groundlevel land

S1-05.G7 Consider the use of rain-gardens and bio-retention systems particularly within large areas of at-grade car parking

S1-05.G8 Provide visual demonstration of water conservation and re-use

S1-05.G9 Communicate innovative approaches to stormwater management in public areas

S1-05.G10 Provide drought tolerant/water-saving landscape plantings

Case Study – Caroline Springs

The Urban Wetland is a series of artificial pools that were constructed as part of the Caroline Springs development in Victoria. The pools form part of a stormwater retention and treatment system that collects stormwater run-off from the Caroline Springs area and provides filtration before it flows into natural water bodies.

Wetland areas provide a natural filter to remove pollutants and nutrients from the stormwater. After filtration the stormwater flows into Lake Caroline.

As well as removing pollutants from stormwater the Urban Wetland retention pools also relieve stress on central stormwater infrastructure that could overflow during large storm events.

What do the ‘sustainable water’ guidelines mean in practice?

	Residential	Commercial
Water efficiency Reduced running costs with no additional upfront costs	Specify drought-tolerant landscape design and plant species Where appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines are supplied (or offered) maximise water and energy efficiency. Ensure all fittings and fixtures achieve the highest WELS rating possible	Maximise water efficiency of HVAC system Specify drought-tolerant landscape design and plant species Maximise water efficiency of commercial kitchens Ensure all fittings and fixtures achieve the highest WELS rating possible
Rainwater and recycled water Recycled grey water can contribute up to 50 L per day for toilet flushing in a typical home	Connect to the Third Pipe network for recycled water New public spaces created as part of residential development could include a designed water feature showcasing the town centre’s recycled water supply while incorporating a functional irrigation element	Connect to the Third Pipe network for recycled water New public spaces created as part of commercial development could include a designed water feature showcasing the town centre’s recycled water supply potentially incorporating a functional irrigation element
Water sensitive urban design Effective management of stormwater reduces flood risk during storms	Use tools such as STORM MUSIC Urban Developer tools or Green Star Utilise permeable pavements and other systems to maximise permeability.	Minimise the percentage of nonpermeable surfaces for mixed-use and commercial development particularly where large areas of at-grade car parking are required Consider the use of rain-gardens and bio-retention systems particularly within large areas of at-grade car parking Use tools such as STORM MUSIC Urban Developer tools or Green Star

The table above summarises some of the practical initiatives that can significantly improve the sustainability of different development types and an indication of the costs and benefits. Further guidance on how to respond to all the guidelines is provided in the Reference Matrix.