The City of Darebin's Bundoora Park stormwater project has combined water efficiency measures with alternative water sources to reduce demand on potable water by almost 80 million litres per year - a 96% saving.
2. Bundoora Park
Located on Plenty Rd Bundoora
• 500 acres/180 ha
• Visitation – 750,000 one of most popular
parks in northern Melbourne
• 54,000 rounds of golf played per year
• 50,000 Visitors to Bundoora park children's
farm
3. Park Facilities
• 18 hole public golf course
• Coopers Settlement (Children's farm/ visitors
centre-café/ fauna reserve and heritage
village)
• All abilities play space
• Open space/ picnic areas/ play grounds/ BBQ/
Mt Cooper highest point in Metro Melbourne
• One of the last remaining remnant red Gum
Grassy Woodlands in metropolitan Melbourne
5. The issues
• Golf course
deteriorating due to
drought & water
restrictions
• Player numbers
decreasing due to the
poor condition of the
course
• Water use – pre
restrictions up to 1
meg a day
6. Mt Cooper Housing
Development
Problem & Solution
Urban Land Authority – disposal of storm
water from housing estate
Council hesitant to allow storm water into the
parks wetland system
7. The Process - Partnerships
• Melbourne Water – water rights/ planning
permits
• DSE – Stormwater and Urban Water
Conservation Fund $193,000
• Urban Land Authority
• Golf course users groups
• Local community
• Council $342,000 – (total $535,784)
8. The Process –
WetlandsUrban land Authority
enlarged wetlands
lake installed GPT,
sediment beds and
bio-retention dams to
improve water quality
Process commenced to
convert fairways from
cool season to warm
season grasses
(santa ana couch)
9. The Process – Dam Construction
• Council and DSE
funded the
enlargement of Fauna
Park dam from 8 to 49
Meg as well as the
couch conversion to
fairways
• Photosdam PhotosIMG_0
10. The Process – Fairway conversion
• The project included
conversion of 18
fairways to warm
season grass
• Course never closed
during conversion to
couch
13. Diversion licence Darebin creek
• To take water from
Darebin creek.
• Water can be
extracted from the
Darebin creek when
the flow rate is 12ML
or more.
• Temporary pump
installed.
14. Benefits
• Water saving – 96% reduction 83 meg a yr
• Cost saving – now $83,000 yr. future
$160,000??
• Flood mitigation
• Community value
• Wildlife habitat
• Keep golf course open
• National recognition Finalist National Save
Water Awards 2010 ……….
15. Future Directions and
Learning
• In the process of converting all 18 Greens
surrounds to WST
• Close 9 hole and convert 9 holes in one go
• Looking at other uses in the park for the
water
• Possibility of capturing the rest of the water
from the lower half of the Mt Cooper estate
that currently is drained directly in to the
Darebin creek
Over the last four years, Darebin City Council has embarked on a comprehensive water management project to secure non- potable water supplies to irrigate Bundoora Park’s Public Golf course
Council did not originally want the storm water from the housing estate when it was first suggested (wet lands system already existing at BP) Stormwater harvesting plays a key role in the parks reduced water consumption. Stormwater run off from the adjacent Mt Cooper housing estate is filtered through a gross pollutant trap then channelled through the park's wetland system. The water eventually reaches the 49 mega litre dam and then can be emptied to the lower dam ready for use. The Urban Land Authority met all of the cost to implement this part of the project. Originally 1meg and enlarged to 3 megs. fauna pk dam 8meg - 49meg bottom dam16meg (as is) - Flora and fauna assessment for the enlargement of dams was carried out before construction could be commenced.
During the 5 years that the fairways were converted the course remained open at all times and golfers played over the ground once it was line planted. Weekends staff would have to water fairways with a hand held remote control. This was usually carried out in the afternoons so as the ground would not dry out and often would mean that the irrigation would be activated closely behind the golfers.
Conversion of all greens surrounds is in progress, with 6 to complete. All 18 tees to be converted to couch over coming years. The Children's farm are keen to have access to the water in the dam to water the farm paddocks and play ground areas.
