The ACT Healthy Waterways project started with the selection of some 500 sites. From that point, the challenge for the project team was to identify those that would provide the best water quality outcomes in the most cost-effective way.
Thirty-six projects were presented for community consultation in August 2016 after which a managing contractor was appointed and detailed design undertaken.
As expected, further investigation as part of detailed design revealed issues with some sites that affected either the water quality outcomes or the cost. Feedback from the community also influenced final decisions. As a result, there were changes to the final list of construction projects.
Projects not progressed
The following projects, included in the list initially presented for community consultation, were not progressed:
| Project ID | Project | Location | Why is it not progressing? |
|---|---|---|---|
| LM004 | Rain garden | Adjacent to the Centre for Teaching and Learning, Fremantle Drive | ACT Healthy Waterways Project budget fully allocated |
| LM008 | Rain garden | Adjacent to Streeton Drive, to the south of the Archery Club range | ACT Healthy Waterways Project budget fully allocated |
| TG003 | Rain garden | Lake Tuggeranong | ACT Healthy Waterways Project budget fully allocated |
| UM015 | Wetland | On the reserve adjacent to Morrisset St, Queanbeyan | Posed significant risk for bird-strike at Canberra Airport. |
| FW021 | Pond | Adjacent to Jerrambomberra Creek, Symonston | Posed significant risk for bird-strike at Canberra Airport. |
| FW020 | Pond | Adjacent to Jerrambomberra Creek, Symonston | Posed significant risk for bird-strike at Canberra Airport. |
| FW001 | Rain garden | Gladstone St, Fyshwick | Posed significant risk for bird-strike at Canberra Airport. |
| TG023 | Rain garden | North of Isabella Dr, near Kirkcaldie Circuit, Fadden | Need to relocate services (eg stormwater pipes, utilities) meant project no longer cost-effective. |
| TG003 | Rain garden | Chirnside Circuit, Kambah | Located in an overland flow. Redesign required. Currently on the reserve list. |
| YA012 | Rain garden | Reynolds St, Curtin | Close to homes. Not going ahead due to community concerns. |
| YA025 | Pond | Corner Wilkins and Beasley Sts, Mawson | Need to relocate services (eg stormwater pipes, utilities) meant project no longer cost-effective. |
| WB008 | Wetland | Corner Krefft and Barnard Circuit, Florey | Need to relocate services (eg stormwater pipes, utilities) meant project no longer cost-effective. |
Projects added from the reserve list
Four projects from the reserve list were added to the list of construction projects:
- Waterway restoration upstream of the confluence of the Queanbeyan and Molonglo Rivers, Oaks estate (UM001)
- Wetland, corner of Ginninderra Drive and Copland Drive, Evatt (WB004)
- Waterway restoration, Tattersalls Cres, Florey (WB010)
- Waterway restoration, McCulloch St and Cotter Rd, Curtin (YA002)
- Rain garden, Gowrie Playing Fields, between Bugden Ave and Castleton Cres, Gowrie (TG017)
See the Completed Infrastructure.
Research
Two research projects were proposed right at the beginning of planning.
One of these was to be conducted in Jerrabomberra Creek. However, investigations by the project team determined that the waterway in Fyshwick did not represent a typical urban stormwater system.
Now called the Urban Stormwater Pond Research Project, it will focus on ponds in North Canberra, Dunlop and Coombs.