Urban water-sensitive design award for South Bank

A stormwater harvesting and re-use project in Brisbane has won the 2011 eWater - Water Sensitive Urban Design Award at the Healthy Waterways Awards ceremony.

South Bank Corporation’s project, Rain Bank, is the first large-scale stormwater harvesting project to be developed in an inner-city catchment and was designed in collaboration with principal consultants Bligh Tanner to improve water efficiency and secure an alternative to mains water.

Rain Bank will divert stormwater run-off from a 30-hectare catchment across West End to a large underground storage tank located just next to the Wheel of Brisbane.

An estimated 77 megalitres of stormwater per annum will be harvested, stored, treated and re-used within the Parklands, South Bank providing up to 85% of the precinct’s irrigation water requirements.

South Bank Corporation (the Corporation) General Manager, Projects and Planning, Paul Herd said the innovative design was the outcome of a fruitful collaboration which highlights the corporation’s commitment to sustainability and water conservation.

“During the five years or so of drought between 2005 and 2010, South Bank Corporation management became acutely aware that we would need to secure an alternative water source to mains water in order to future-proof the Parklands from long-term drought,” said Herd.

“Being a statutory authority charged with the responsibility of delivering a quality public realm to the people of Brisbane, we take our role as environmental leaders extremely seriously. We hope that the creation of Rain Bank, our exemplar water project, will not only service the Parklands’ water needs in the long term but also inspire others in the creation of water-sensitive urban design.”

The corporation worked closely with principal contractors Stirloch and principal consultants Bligh Tanner and Gamble McKinnon Green to deliver Rain Bank.

The Healthy Waterways award recognises innovation and collaboration as well as alignment with the Healthy Waterways vision.

The finished plant includes an educational animation display and viewing deck area, looking into the treatment plant. This aspect of the project will provide year-round learning opportunities for visitors to help them understand more about stormwater harvesting and water conservation.