Karkarook Park wetland, flood detention basin and recreational lake, Heatherton, Victoria. Our staff when at URS (formerly Woodward-Clyde) were engaged as project managers and principal design consultants for the design and construction of a wetland, flood detention basin, litter traps and recreational lake, on a 38 hectare site in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne. As a requirement for a sand mining approval CSR was contracted to construct the wetlands and lake to progressively rehabilitate the site. The project had several objectives, to provide a sand resource, then to be developed into a public park with wetland and lake, to improve stormwater water quality via gross pollutant, oil and nutrient removal, act as a retarding basin for 100 year ARI storm events and form part of a belt of recreational parks through the South East Melbourne area.

The detailed design has included a comprehensive groundwater and surface water study and engineering and landscape design. The groundwater study included assessment of pollutant loads and groundwater movement in 2 separate aquifer systems, and modelling for potential lake filling water. Surface water modelling was undertaken for the upstream catchment for events up to the 100 year ARI storm. Water quality assessment, design of gross pollutant and oil removal facilities, an assessment of groundwater impacts, 3 dimensional modelling of the landscape for visual presentation, volume balances and modelling using a mining based computer application (Surpac-Entec) and water balances for the system as a whole in a variety of meteorological conditions were also carried out.

Geotechnical studies have included slope stability of excavations above and below water, management of soft compressible materials.

Investigative models of the pollutant load assessment included the design, installation and monitoring of automatic stormwater samplers.

The Karkarook Park Wetland and Lake was awarded 2002 Case Earth Award for the Victorian Division.

Fisher & Fisher have project managed the project to practical completion in 2005. Works include contract management of the lake aquatic planting margins and preparation of an operations and maintenance manual.

Fisher & Fisher prepared award submissions for the Department of primary Industry Awards 2005 and the Banksia Environmental Foundation Awards 2005.

Karkarook Park was awarded 2005 Victorian Department of Primary Industry Awards – Highly Commended in Industry Best Practise, Gold Award for Management of the Natural Environment and Platinum Award for Excellence in Sustainable Development.

Karkarook Park was a finalist for the 2005 Banksia Environmental Foundation Awards for Environmental Leadership in Infrastructure and Services.

CSR READYMIX, BORAL, PARKS VICTORIA AND MELBOURNE WATER

Melbourne , Victoria