IWM solutions to solve urban heat island issues: Brimbank City Council
Case Study: Sponge city approach to IWM at Alfrieda Street
In 2021, Wave Consulting Australia was engaged by Brimbank City Council to develop an integrated water management (IWM) solution for the revitalisation of Alfrieda Street in St Albans.
IWM solution
Woiwurung lands, St Albans, western Melbourne
Key facts
Temperatures in western Melbourne are 6°C warmer than eastern suburbs
Alfrieda Street is home to a diverse shopping strip extending to a large residential area and will benefit from most WSUD solutions
The problem
Brimbank City Council came to Wave Consulting Australia due to significant urban heat issues in the local area around Alfrieda Street in St Albans.
A key issue noted was that temperatures in western Melbourne are typically 6°C warmer than in the eastern suburbs.
The solution
Sponge city approach
The final project involved the development of a 'sponge city' approach, which utilises design elements that formed the spine of the Alfrieda Street integrated water solution. These elements included (but were not limited to):
green reserve runoffs
additional trees
flat edge curbs
permeable surfaces for street parking.
The design approach focused on above ground blue/green flow paths rather than traditional below ground pits and pipes.
The core feature was a swale/dry creek bed that flows through the wide central median that spans a third of the length of Alfrieda Street.
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Several new trees to significantly enhance canopy and shade
All flows to be managed above ground (connected with culverts to cross any perpendicular roads)
No above ground power lines
Permeable bike path with edge vegetation
Above ground ephemeral creek is slightly exaggerated in terms of meandering, but demonstrates need to meander around existing trees
Drainage from street flows under gravity to central ephemeral creek
This swale was designed to contain up to a one in 50 year storm event, mitigating any localised flooding concerns. It also allows for the majority of flows to be:
retained in the local landscape
taken up by vegetation and trees to provide canopy cover and urban cooling
or stored at the downstream end of Alfrieda Street to be utilised for active irrigation of activity centre plantings and green walls.
All of this combined will provide further urban cooling for the commercial end of the street.
Wave Consulting Australia predicts that this sponge city design approach will significantly reduce the heat issues in the area. We expect to see better urban cooling, healthier waterways and bays, safer streets, longer asset life and increased economic activity.
The outcome
The final report prepared by our team provided sustainably focused, innovative designs around the implementation of several greenery based approaches. All of these were backed by extensive water studies and multiple site visits.
Further details about the Alfrieda Street Public Realm Masterplan is now available on the Brimbank City Council website.
We look forward to checking in on the Alfrieda Street local area to see how things are improving.
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