Local gardens to showcase stormwater solutions


Released 15/08/2017

Joint media release: ACT Minister for Environment and Heritage Mick Gentleman MLA and Zed Seselja, Senator for the ACT

More than $55,000 in grants has been awarded to provide innovative stormwater solutions at 15 residential homes in the ACT and region.

Senator for the ACT, Zed Seselja, and ACT Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Mick Gentleman, today announced the successful grant recipients who will implement best practice solutions for managing and treating stormwater on their block.

“As part of the H2OK: Keeping our waterways healthy education program, the Australian and ACT Governments are committed to improving water quality in the ACT and wider Murray-Darling Basin,” Senator Seselja said.

“We know contaminated run-off from our streets and blocks is the biggest source of water pollution, which is why it is so important for people to do what they can at home on their blocks and in their street to protect the health of our waterways.

“We received a positive response to our grants program from the community with more than 60 applications submitted. Each application was thoroughly assessed, including site visits, before the final 15 projects were selected.

“Geographically spread across the ACT and region, the grant recipients will deliver projects such as rain gardens, mulching systems, downpipe disconnection, nature strip treatments and, for rural areas, erosion control as demonstrations of best practices others can learn from.

“The successful applicants will receive up to $3,000 for urban blocks and up to $7,500 for rural residential blocks.

“The Australian Government is placing the emphasis firmly on building more modern and efficient water infrastructure to improve water quality in the ACT. That is why we are contributing up to $76 million for the construction of priority water infrastructure like ponds, wetlands and rain gardens, and we’re asking everyone in the region to do their part,” said Senator Seselja.

Minister Gentleman said the 15 successful project sites will provide practical examples of how others can implement simple solutions for managing stormwater on their block.

“Through a partnership with Open Gardens Canberra, people will be able to visit the sites to see first-hand how others are re-designing their gardens to make better use of water, minimise contaminated run-off and ensure only rain goes down the stormwater drain,” Minister Gentleman said.

“Successful applicants have 12 months to complete their projects before the sites join the Open Gardens Canberra program; in time for viewing in spring 2018. In addition to this, the H2OK program team will run ‘how to’ workshops at a number of the sites.

“I look forward to seeing how the 15 project sites progress over the next year and thank all applicants for being ambassadors for good stormwater management at home,” Minister Gentleman concluded.

The H2OK: Keeping our waterways healthy education program is part of the broader ACT Healthy Waterways initiative to construct new water quality infrastructure in the ACT. For more information visit www.act.gov.au/h2ok

Details of the successful demonstration sites are below.

H2OK Demonstration Sites
Burra, NSW

Install improved stormwater management treatments on a predominantly natural bush rural residential block. The treatments will address overland flows and rainwater storage using swales, an infiltration raingarden and an additional rainwater tank.
Carwoola, NSW
Undertake erosion control and overland flow management on a newly established rural residential block which has also been recently affected by bushfires.
Charnwood, ACT
Install additional swales, water storage capacity, a rain garden, an enhanced composting system and wicked garden beds to transform an older suburban garden into a more productive water effective and catchment friendly garden.
Chisholm, ACT
Refurbishment of an established garden to reflect better management of water, including rehabilitation of an artificial creek, conversion of an existing nature strip to a more water friendly treatment and an upgrade of the existing irrigation system to better connect to new and existing rainwater storage.
Coombs, ACT
Constructing a water and catchment sensitive nature strip at a newly established residence, incorporating raingardens and pervious paving elements.
Curtin, ACT
As part of redevelopment of the existing block to build two compact units, flo-cell units will be installed to support lawns fed by below ground water storage beneath the turf. The new gardens will be designed to reflect water and catchment friendly principles.
Flynn, ACT
This project will enhance the water holding and infiltration of a common use area to the front of a complex of townhouses, using swales and terracing.  A new planting scheme will be installed that complements the restructured bank. The nature strip will also be rehabilitated and planted to remove bare ground.
Hackett, ACT
Enhancement of an establishing water and catchment sensitive garden by additional rainwater capture and improved swale designs.
Hoskingstown, NSW
Restoration of an erosion gully by construction of three rock groins, complemented by a range of other fencing, off stream watering points and other elements to reduce erosion on the property.
Flynn, ACT
Continuing conversion of an older urban garden to be water and catchment friendly as well as supporting sustainable living. Treatments include use of swales, raingardens, pervious paving and nature strip rejuvenation.
Uriarra, NSW
Restoration of eroding streambanks, including removal of weeds, fencing, encouragement of regeneration, new plantings and construction of new water sources to remove grazing pressure on the stream.
Wamboin, NSW
Continuing the conversion of an established rural residential block to be more water and catchment sensitive, using additional swales, a rainwater tank and keyline infiltration systems.
Waramanga, ACT
Continue to improve the capacity of an older urban residential block to manage stormwater by installation of extra rainwater storage, swales and a wicking garden bed. Composting of organic matter from the site will be enhanced by a compost tumbler and pervious paving will enhance water infiltration.
Watson, ACT
Disconnection of downpipes, improved rainwater storage capacity and construction of swales are proposed to improve the water and catchment friendly characteristics of this property.
Watson, ACT
Conversion of an established older urban garden to be water and catchment friendly, as well as supporting sustainable living. Treatments include the use of swales, dry creeks, enhanced rainwater storage and permeable paving.

- Statement ends -

Mick Gentleman, MLA | Media Releases


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