Subdivision Stormwater Management Strategy

Mount Duneed is one of Australia’s fastest growing suburbs and a major focal point for Melbourne’s development and growth. A large rural property in the area was being developed, with the potential to accommodate more than 150 residential lots in future.

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New homes result in changes to the quantity and quality of stormwater runoff which enters our streams, wetlands, lakes and coasts. As such, a Stormwater Management Strategy (SWMS) is an essential part of the planning process, especially considering the floodway overlay on the site.

This development was for a proposed low density residential subdivision, and our client required a SWMS to be developed to proceed. This management strategy included a reticulation layout, overland flow alignment and stormwater treatment sizing.

A SWMS provides recommendations for stormwater management including evidence the proposed development will meet the Stormwater Best Practice Environmental Guidelines and show that any stormwater discharges will comply with Melbourne Water drainage requirements, including flood protection, waterway and water quality protection standards.

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With these validated, and with additional site-specific inputs, our engineers investigated the impact of potential flooding, conceptualised stormwater drainage alignments and screened new opportunities to integrate water sensitive urban design such as passive irrigation into the proposed site.

Stormwater Management Strategies such as these, help:

• Improve water quality in streams and in groundwater

• Protect stream and riparian habitats for native plants and animals

• Prevent erosion of banks along our waterways

• Reduce flooding risk

• Protect the scenic and recreational values of streams

• Conserve potable water by providing an alternative water source for uses such as irrigation and toilet flushing

Our team supports with stormwater strategies for council applications, while ensuring that developments are equipped to predict and prevent damage to property, people and our environment.