What are the expected impacts of the work?
Waterway health in these catchments will be improved. There may be opportunities to explore additional seating, picnic or nature play areas.
The works all support a balanced ecosystem and the stormwater treatment areas will look like natural, planted vegetation.
Some impacts are expected during construction, such as noise and vehicle movements.
How will the stormwater treatment affect the presence of mosquitos and other insects?
Stormwater treatment areas create a balanced ecosystem. Most treatment areas are designed to dry after rain so insect presence will be low. It will also be balanced by the attraction of frogs and dragonflies to these spaces, limiting mosquitos.
In periods of heavy rain, we can manually drain the areas to reduce the presence of mosquitos.
What happens if the water in the treatment area becomes stagnant?
The water won't be stagnant as we use gravity pipes to maintain the flow of water across the treatment area and out to the catchment.
Treatment areas may sometimes be dry as the system is designed to drain after rain.
During periods of rainfall, the water may reach a shallow depth of 30 centimetres.
How many trees will we remove during this work?
These projects involve thousands of native plantings to create the new stormwater treatment area, which will greatly improve the overall environmental health of the ecosystem.
We’ll only remove specific trees if it's really necessary. We always do a case by case assessment of what's needed and always avoid removing trees. If we do need to remove a tree, we'll always try to replace it.
How can we prevent weeds growing in the area?
As part of our planning process, we choose native plants to ensure our natural vegetation can thrive. Once the treatment area is planted, the community will need to avoid dumping garden waste or rubbish into the area, as this contaminates the water and can damage native plants and waterways.
When will the work happen?
We're likely to start construction over the next 2 years, but this depends on the outcome of consultation with the local council and the community.
Who will be responsible for the areas once they're built?
We'll be responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the stormwater treatment system. The reserve and open space next to the stormwater treatment area will continue to be maintained by the council.
How will rubbish and litter be captured?
Rubbish and litter will be captured in an underground tank which has a screen to capture any litter.