Water Management Action Plan 2014 - 2019 · 2014. 12. 9. · Initiatives (ICLEI) Water Campaign, and focussed on a five step project management approach that included investigation,

1 Water Management Action Plan 2014-2019 | Community Consultation Draft

Water Management Action Plan 2014 - 2019 Draft for public consultation


Kaurna Acknowledgement

The City of West Torrens acknowledges the Kaurna people and their descendants are still, and will always be, the first peoples of the land. The City of West Torrens commits to valuing and supporting the Kaurna people's inherent relationship to the land.

Production Acknowledgement

This document was produced by the City of West Torrens, with valuable assistance from those who contributed during consultation, including community members, Elected Members and staff of the City of West Torrens.

Access to Document

This document has been prepared by the City of West Torrens. You may access copies of this document from Council's website at www.westtorrens.sa.gov.au. You may download and print this document in unaltered form, only for your personal use or use by your organisation.

Copyright

This document is based on work by Council and other authors as cited. Apart from any permitted uses under the Copyright Act 1968, the work may be reproduced for study or training purposes, provided the source is acknowledged. Reproduction for commercial use requires written permission of the Council and the various sources cited.

Disclaimer

While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the contents of this document are factually correct, the City of West Torrens does not accept responsibility for its accuracy or currency. As information is subject to change, the City of West Torrens shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may occur through the use of, or reliance on, the contents of this document.

Front Cover

Apex Park Wetland

Document History

Version Date Details Author Approver 1.0 30/9/2014 Draft for internal review Belinda Dohring Project Manager 2.0 16/10/2014 Draft to Executive Suzy Stiles Manager 3.0 22/10/2014 Draft for public consultation to Council Declan Moore GM


Message from the Mayor

In 2009, the City of West Torrens developed a Water Management Action Plan (Water MAP 2009-14).

This was the City of West Torrens's first attempt to strategically drive corporate and influence community outcomes to minimise the consumption of and dependence on potable (drinking) water for non-potable needs, such as open space irrigation and building service amenities, and to improve the health of watercourses and quality of stormwater discharges to Gulf St Vincent.

Some achievements since our first Water MAP was adopted include:

Upgrades to more efficient irrigation systems and practices at park and reserves to reflect the Irrigated Public Open Space Code of Practice (IPOS);

Retrofitted water sensitive urban design installations such as raingardens;

Installations and plumbing of rainwater tanks at Council owned buildings;

Rainwater tank rebates and water efficient product distribution to residents; and

Continued expansion of the pipe network for recycled wastewater irrigation from the Glenelg Wastewater Treatment Plant to Council open spaces.

The City of West Torrens is now well positioned to further develop integrated water cycle management to drive adaptations and enhancements in:

Water resource demand and supply; Diversifying water resources; Greening open spaces sustainably; and Improving stormwater management through water sensitive

urban design (WSUD).

The community of West Torrens has also embraced opportunities for assistance to reduce their own water consumption through plumbed rainwater tanks and install more efficient household water infrastructure such as low flow showerheads and tap aerators.

The DRAFT Water MAP 2014-2019 proposes to consolidate the corporate and community efforts made to date and reinvigorate the focus of our water management planning. It investigates what local alternative water source opportunities exist, and outlines strategies with multiple benefits for liveability, reducing environmental degradation and economic sustainability.

Becoming a water sensitive city is our overarching goal. To succeed we will need to work together to drive collaboration, greater efficiency and innovation.

Hon. John Trainer Mayor City of West Torrens October 2014


Table of Contents

Message from the Mayor ................................................................................. 3

Executive Summary ......................................................................................... 5

Glossary ............................................................................................................ 6

1. Introduction .................................................................................................. 7 1.1 Background and purpose of the plan…………………………………7

1.2 Structure of the plan …………………………………………………....8

1.3 Achievements to date…………………………………………………..9

2. The planning context………………………………………………………...…11 2.1 About West Torrens…………………………………………………...11

2.2 Our Place and the Towards 2025 Community Plan…………….....13

2.3 The Open Space and Public Place Plan........................................14

2.4 Council's Planning Structure………………………………………….14 2.5 Water and the Towards 2025 Community Plan.…………………...17

3 Council’s role ............................................................................................... 19 3.1 Roles and responsibilities in water management..........................19

3.2 Opportunities for influence…………………………………………...20

3.3 What does it mean to be a water sensitive city?...........................20

4 Objectives and priorities for water planning ............................................ 21 4.1 The objectives of the Water MAP 2014-19…………………………21 5 Issues driving water planning .................................................................... 24 5.1 City of West Torrens Natural and Built Environment.....................24

5.2 Stormwater and Surface Water Quality.........................................25

5.3 Groundwater..................................................................................27

5.4 Recreation and open spaces…………………………………………28

5.5 Urban heat island..........................................................................28 5.6 Our changing climate…………………………………………………29

6 Water resource use ..................................................................................... 30 6.1 Adelaide's water supply.................................................................30

6.2 Our city's water balance……………………………………….……..31 6.3 Corporate water use......................................................................32

6.4 Community water use…………………………………………………34

7 Developing the Action Plan 2014-19 ......................................................... 35 7.1 Objectives, targets and actions......................................................35 7.2 Resourcing the Water MAP 2014-19……………………………..…36

8 The Action Plan 2014-19 ............................................................................. 37 9 Conclusion ................................................................................................... 41 Appendix 1 A hierarchy for water planning ...................................................... 42

Appendix 2 Existing key plans and strategies .................................................. 43


Executive Summary Water is one of our most valuable resources. It is vital for drinking and health, maintaining vibrant and liveable communities and is essential to protecting our urban ecosystems. Water and our local waterways are also an important part of the cultural heritage of the Kaurna Nation and West Torrens.

The City of West Torrens Water Management Action Plan 2014-2019 is a key strategic document to guide the Council’s water management activities. This plan falls under the Towards 2025 Community Plan, it describes the Council’s water management goals for the next five years as well as how the Council will measure its progress as we plan, deliver and advocate for improved water management.

The plan outlines a framework for prioritising sustainable water management actions. The Council and all sectors of the West Torrens community have a contribution to make to the sustainable management of water resources in the western region of Adelaide.

The Council’s key objectives over the next five years are to:

Increase water security by introducing effective monitoring and control to reduce wasted water, as well as investigating an optimal mix of water sources balancing social, environmental and economic considerations.

Maintain green spaces that contribute to a network of functional, accessible and attractive public places by increasing the amount of alternative water that is available to irrigate green infrastructure and continuing to promote water sensitive streetscapes and reserves.

Support public health by working with stakeholders to prevent pollutants from entering the stormwater system, and investigating techniques for using water sensitive urban design and urban greening to mitigate the urban heat island effect.

Protect waterways and biodiversity by working with residents and developers to reduce peak stormwater flows and pollutants running off hard surfaces into waterways and the Gulf through the use of water sensitive urban design.

Reduce flooding impacts by increasing stormwater harvesting activities and encouraging water sensitive urban design in new developments.


Glossary

This plan uses the following definitions:

ARI Average Recurrence Interval. The long-term average number of years between the occurrence of a flood as big as or larger than the selected event. For example, floods with a discharge as great as or greater than the 20 year ARI flood event will occur on average once every 20 years.

GAP Glenelg Adelaide Pipeline (Recycled Wastewater).

Green walls Walls that have been planted. This is usually made up of sideways pots out of which plants can grow.

Green infrastructure Trees and other vegetation that have community value.

Greywater Water from the shower or laundry. This water can be used within 24 hours of collection to water the garden.

ML Mega litres = 1,000,000 litres.

Optimal water mix

There are a variety of water sources to supply the city’s needs including:

Mt Lofty Ranges catchment water groundwater desalinated seawater stormwater rainwater / roof water recycled water the River Murray

Optimal water mix continued

Determining the optimal mix of these sources is critical to ensure an efficient and sustainable water supply for the City of West Torrens.

An optimal water mix for the City of West Torrens should balance social, environmental and economic considerations, including supply security, cost, community needs and preferences and environmental impacts.

Passive irrigation Watering plants by channelling water from nearby hard surfaces to them.

Rainwater Rain that falls on a roof and is captured for use. This differs from stormwater as it is usually cleaner because it has not been allowed to touch the ground.

Stormwater Rain that touches the ground and/or ends up in the stormwater drain. This water can carry anything that is left on the ground into the stormwater drain and so can get dirty.

Urban heat island When building materials such as concrete and bricks absorb heat during the day and slowly release it at night causing urban areas to be warmer than the surrounding rural environments.

Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD)

An approach to urban planning and design that integrates the management of the total water cycle into the land use and development process. When drinking water, stormwater, groundwater and wastewater are all included in the planning process to protect the environment and improve liveability. Source: Stormwater Strategy – the Future of Stormwater Management. Government of South Australia, 2011.


1. Introduction

1.1 Background and purpose of the plan

Water is one of our most valuable resources. It is vital for drinking and health, maintaining vibrant and liveable communities and is essential to protect our urban ecosystems. Water and our local waterways are also an important part of the cultural heritage of West Torrens and the Traditional Owners of the Kaurna Nation.

Historically governments have planned their stormwater drainage systems, drinking water supply systems and wastewater (sewerage) treatment systems separately. This doesn’t necessarily produce the optimum benefits from the finite water resources that are available.

In 2009 Council adopted its first Water Management Action Plan, which set out to deliver a sustained shift in the management of water resources by Council and its community. The plan was prepared in partnership with the International Council for Local Environment Initiatives (ICLEI) Water Campaign, and focussed on a five step project management approach that included investigation, analysis, planning, implementation and review.

This document, the Water Management Action Plan 2014 - 2019 (Water MAP 2014-19), builds on the foundations of the 2009 plan, and outlines a vision to implement an integrated water management approach that considers all aspects of the water cycle.

It sets targets and actions to enable the Council to use less water, use it more efficiently and effectively, and improve the quality of local recreational areas, the natural environment, local waterways and the Gulf St Vincent.

The Water MAP 2014-19 is based on the water-related community aspirations, long-term and five-year strategies contained in the updated Towards 2025 Community Plan that was adopted by Council in September 2014, and has been developed with consideration of current water management issues and directions, community views and the local, state and federal water policy environment.

The extensive 'Our Place' program of community consultation and engagement conducted in 2013-14 by Council to inform the update of the Community Plan has been used to better understand current community needs and priorities. Identified priorities included maintaining high quality, usable green public spaces, and increasing tree canopy cover, vegetation cover and soil moisture to ameliorate the impact of urban heat.

To realise these outcomes, the City will need a sustainable, secure water supply using an optimal mix of sources. The Water MAP 2014 - 19 aims to deliver this.


1.2 Structure of the plan

This plan outlines the issues driving water planning in West Torrens, and provides a strategic approach for integrated water management over the next five years.

Section one explains the background and purpose of the Water MAP, and achievements in water management in the City of West Torrens to date.

Section two describes the West Torrens planning context and addresses the aspirations and strategies related to water management included in the recently revised Towards 2025 Community Plan.

Section three outlines Council’s role, responsibilities and scope of influence in relation to the sustainable management of water, including: leading by example; promoting integrated water management planning in new developments; working with local communities; and explores what it means to be a water sensitive city.

Section four establishes five key objectives for the Water MAP 2014 - 2019 and provides a prioritisation system to guide Council’s water management decisions.

Section five of the plan explores the issues that impact on water planning and the drivers of our deliberations about water.

Section six discusses the condition of the city’s water resources, detailing what we use, its quality and the health of our waterways. This helps us to determine where and how finite budget resources are best used.

Section seven explains the development of the five objectives, targets and actions in the Water MAP 2014 - 2019, and discusses resourcing of the plan.

Section eight provides the Action Plan which sets out the Council’s targets and actions for sustainable water management.


1.3 Achievements to date

Since the adoption of the first Water MAP a number of key outcomes has been achieved to June 2014, including:

The 2020 corporate water conservation goal was met in 2009, (primarily as a result of enforced water restrictions due to the millennium drought).

The 20 per cent reduction target for community residential water consumption by 2020 is still on track.

Connections to the Glenelg Adelaide Pipeline (GAP) were installed at Richmond Oval, Lockleys Oval, Western Youth Centre Golflands, Montreal, St Andrews, Lindfield, Baroda and Florence (Elsie) reserves, thereby replacing drinking quality water with more fit-for-purpose alternative recycled wastewater.

Over 90 water sensitive urban design devices, such as rain gardens, have been installed throughout the city.

Long-term turf watering efficiency has been improved with 49 irrigation systems at parks and reserves upgraded to Irrigated Public Open Space (IPOS) Code of Practice standards.

Installation of an overhead hydrant point at Richmond Oval supplying GAP water to Council’s watering trucks.

An estimated 545,000 litres of mains drinking water has been saved through the plumbing of rainwater tanks at Council buildings.

More than 829,000 litres of rainwater tank capacity has been plumbed into homes as part of the Residential Rainwater Tank Rebate Scheme.

An estimated 15,781,000 litres of drinking water has been saved by the distribution of water efficient showerheads and taps to residents.

The map on the next page (figure 1) provides an overview the City of West Torrens’ integrated water management achievements to date.

INSERT IMAGE


Figure 1 - Integrated water management achievements to date in the City of West Torrens


2 The planning context

2.1 About West Torrens

The City of West Torrens is an attractive metropolitan location given its close proximity to the Adelaide Central Business District (CBD) and the coast, and easy access to a vast range of retailing opportunities and employment.

The West Torrens region was originally part of the Kaurna territory. The area that was to become West Torrens formed only a small part of the Kaurna homeland, but it possessed valuable resources in the River Torrens and the Patawalonga River.

Among South Australia’s first settled regions, scattered communities developed within the area during the mid-nineteenth century and united to form the District Council of West Torrens in 1853. In 1883, following demands from the residents adjoining Adelaide, the Town of Thebarton was recognised as a separate local government area. The reunification of the local governments of Thebarton and West Torrens occurred on 1 March 1997.

The City of West Torrens now comprises 36 square kilometres of Adelaide’s western metropolitan area. It is bounded by the Torrens River to the north, Port Road, East Terrace, the railway line to the east, ANZAC Highway, South Road, the Glenelg tramway and local streets around the Sturt River to the south and Gulf St Vincent and local streets to the west.

Our local government neighbours are the City of Charles Sturt to the north, the Cities of Adelaide and Unley to the east and the Cities of Marion and Holdfast Bay to the south.

Figure 2 - Map of West Torrens

Our City includes the suburbs of Ashford, Brooklyn Park, Camden Park, Cowandilla, Fulham, Glandore (part), Glenelg North (part), Hilton, Keswick (part), Kurralta Park, Lockleys, Marleston, Mile End, Mile End South, Netley, North Plympton, Novar Gardens, Plympton, Richmond, Thebarton, Torrensville, Underdale, West Beach (part) and West Richmond.

The greatest percentage of the land area is dedicated to residential development while the commercial areas comprise a range of industrial, logistic, distribution and retail establishments. Adelaide Airport Limited is a significant land holder within the City, taking up approximately 20% of the City’s total land area.


Approximately 6% of the total land area within the City is dedicated to public open space, including the River Torrens Linear Park, local and neighbourhood parks, and other public open space such as public ovals and sporting grounds.

Council manages and maintains more than 530km of footpaths and shared paths and nearly 300km of road network. Its assets are valued in the order of $573 million. This includes infrastructure such as roads, footpaths and stormwater drainage, land and buildings including the Hamra Centre Library, St Martins aged care facility, community centres, parks, gardens and sporting facilities and plant and equipment.

Major landmarks and attractions of the City include the River Torrens, River Torrens Linear Park, Adelaide Airport, Santos Stadium, ETSA Park Netball Stadium, Adelaide Shores, the Richmond and Thebarton Ovals, and the Australian National Rail Passenger Terminal. Primary shopping centres are located at Kurralta Park, Torrensville and Hilton with other key retail outlets including the Mile End Homemaker Centre and Harbourtown.

At the last census in 2011, the City of West Torrens had a higher proportion of people aged in the independent, tertiary, and young workforce category (18-34), and a slightly lower proportion of couples with/without children and single parent families compared to Greater Adelaide. Correspondingly West Torrens has a lower proportion of children aged under 17.

West Torrens also has higher proportion of seniors aged 70+ compared to Greater Adelaide and the trends from 2006-11 show that our seniors are now moving into the elderly category (85+).

Analysis of the household/family types in 2011 showed there were a higher proportion of lone person households compared to Greater Adelaide, with two persons the common household type.

This is also matched by a higher proportion of one and two bedroom dwellings compared to Greater Adelaide, although three bedroom dwellings are still the most common type.

Looking at the growth in household types between 2006 and 2011, growth is coming from couples with/without children and group households, and a decrease in lone person households. Some of the couples without children are pre-retirees, but most are younger, with numbers of children beginning to grow.

Approximately 30% of the population of the City of West Torrens was born overseas, and 30% of our residents speak a language other than English at home. More people of non-English speaking ancestry and a larger percentage of overseas arrivals live in West Torrens compared to Greater Adelaide, with the largest groups being from India, Greece, China and Italy as well as those born in the United Kingdom.

Many residents of European heritage migrated to Australia in the second half of the twentieth century, whereas the past few years have seen many new migrants from non-European countries such as India, China, the Philippines, Malaysia and Bangladesh.

The overall picture is of a culturally diverse council undergoing population renewal, where our existing senior citizens are transitioning into the elderly category and younger populations are moving into the area.


2.2 Our Place and the Towards 2025 Community Plan

In 2013-14 the 'Our Place: Share your Story. Shape Your Future' program of comprehensive community consultation and engagement asked residents, community groups, institutions, and agencies what they liked about our city, what could be improved, what they'd like to see in the future, and how together we could go about making this a more enjoyable and accessible place to live.

Approximately 1,350 comments and conversations were received or recorded, the majority of which were positive and constructive. The feedback from Our Place was used to inform and update a number plans, including the Towards 2025 Community Plan, Council's key strategic management plan, as well as this Water Management Action Plan.

A number of issues were raised by residents with bearing on this plan.

The community’s appreciation of parks and gardens was made very evident - scoring the most ‘likes’ overall as part of the Our Place public process. There were nearly 100 suggestions about how to improve parks, both specific parks and overall, including better maintenance of reserves, cutting of lawns and watering in summer (including advertising which parks are connected to recycled water).

People saw parks as having both aesthetic and cooling properties as well as being instrumental in the push to tackle obesity. Some respondents noted that they would like to be more involved in the design of parks near them but have found it difficult to get involved.

Trees and streetscapes also received a large number of comments. For reasons of aesthetics, climate control, and some thought

property values, the community wanted Council to plant trees, trees and more trees. However there was a not a clear agreement on species, with opinions ranging between ‘more natives’ vs ‘more deciduous’.

Stormwater management was an issue viewed with urgency by many in the community, with exhortations to ‘fix’ Brownhill Creek and cleaning to prevent streets/drains blocking. There was a demand for more frequent street sweeping (particularly after windy periods) to prevent leaves going down stormwater drains.

Another issue raised was the desire to see less site coverage for new developments to minimise runoff and penalties for people who put lawn clippings etc in drains.

There was also support for collecting and re-using storm water and advertising Council’s use of environmentally sustainable practices. Some wanted Council to reinstate incentives for people to install rainwater tanks.

Appreciation was expressed for Council's environmental programs e.g. green waste bins, worm farm rebates and native plant giveaways. Some respondents felt there was a need for more community education on climate change and incentives offered by Council to get people on board. Issues raised included ‘drought proofing’, promoting electric cars and ‘thinking long term’.

Some respondents wanted Council to promote active travel as a sustainability initiative; especially walking, cycling and car-share schemes, and reduce car usage. Others wondered how landlords could be encouraged to adopt environmental technologies so that renters can live sustainably.


2.3 The Open Space and Public Place Plan The Water Management Action Plan 2014-19 is aligned to, and is intended to work in conjunction with, Council’s Open Space and Public Place Plan 2013. It too sets specific actions for biodiversity, stormwater management, water sensitive urban design, health and wellbeing and climate change adaptation.

Both these plans grapple with the competing social, environmental and economic demands inherent in providing and maintaining green spaces. They attempt to provide a balanced approach designed to address community needs/ expectations and take into account environmental considerations (water use, heat island effect etc) within budgetary constraints.

The Open Space and Public Place Plan sets five objectives:

1. Healthy Spaces and Places

2. The Open Space We Need

3. Making Connections

4. Vibrant Public Places

5. Caring for Our Open Space

Related actions from the Open Space and Public Place Plan are outlined in Appendix 2 Existing Key Plans and Strategies.

2.4 Council’s planning structure The Local Government Act 1999 identifies that one of the objectives of a council is to ‘be responsive to the needs, interests, and aspirations of individuals and groups within its community’ and ‘seek to provide services, facilities and programs that are adequate and appropriate’.

In particular, section 122 requires councils to ‘develop and adopt plans for the management of its area, to be called collectively the strategic management plans’.

Strategic planning establishes the future direction for the entire council. It provides an opportunity for Council, in consultation with the local community and various other stakeholders, to determine its long-term objectives, evaluate its operations, including provision of services, and develop strategies to address the unique issues of the local area.

This forms the basis for the Council’s Mission, Vision and Values. It also enables Council to identify opportunities to contribute to the achievement of State Government objectives, as outlined in South Australia’s Strategic Plan (SASP) and explore the potential to work in partnership with other government organisations in service delivery and participate, where appropriate, in activities on a regional basis.

The Water MAP is an example of such an opportunity.

The Towards 2025 Community Plan Community Plan is the overarching document in Council’s suite of strategic management plans, which also includes;

the 10-Year Financial Management Plan;

the Strategic Directions Report (Planning);

and Council's Asset Management Plans (Buildings, Roads, Footpaths, Stormwater).


These are supported by a number of Corporate Plans including: • Animal Management Plan • Climate Change Action Plan • Community Land Management Plans • Flood Management Master Plan for Brown Hill & Keswick

Creeks • Open Space and Public Place Plan • Public Health Plan • Strategic Bicycle Plan • Transport Strategy • Vision 2025 Strategic Directions Report • This Water Management Action Plan

Our Community Plan has six broad themes, four are community focused and two corporate focused. Under each theme, aspirations reflect the key issues identified through community consultation. These are displayed in Figure 5. Long-term strategies have been identified to work towards achieving these community aspirations, as well as addressing challenges and opportunities that impact on Council’s operations. Five-year strategies support the long-term strategies, and are implemented throughout the organisation via annual departmental service plans, employee job descriptions and performance agreements

The implementation, monitoring, review, reporting and modification of plans is also managed in the context of Council's corporate planning framework, which is described in Figure 4. Figure 3 - Corporate Planning Framework Hierarchy


Figure 4 - Themes and Aspirations in the Community Plan


2.5 Water and the Towards 2025 Community Plan

Community aspiration Long-term strategies Five-year strategies Success indicators

Active, healthy and learning communities

Foster health, wellbeing and safety within the community.

Design, manage and maintain public spaces with community safety as a key priority.

Community perception of personal safety and security within the Council area is greater than, or equal to, the State average.

Environmentally sustainable development

Encourage new and existing development to incorporate environmentally sustainable designs and principles.

Review Council's Development Plan policies so they reflect environmentally sustainable development principles.

Increase in the number of developments incorporating water sensitive urban design

Demonstrate leadership in sustainable design principles through maintenance and development of Council's own assets.

Implement water sensitive urban design in city-wide master planning.

Reduction of our ecological impact

Create a water sensitive city.

Develop stormwater management plans (SMPs) for city catchments which take an integrated urban water cycle approach.

Increase the volume of stormwater captured and reused

Improvement in the physical, biological and chemical quality of stormwater.

Increase the proportion of water supplied from alternative sources.

Investigate the use of alternative water resources by Council and the community, including storm, surface and wastewater. Investigate an optimal water-supply mix across the city. Protect stormwater quality so that it is a suitable resource for reuse.

Manage current water resources efficiently.

Minimise mains water consumption in Council's buildings and operations. Decrease in mains water used in

Council buildings and operations. Community mains water consumption is

less than, or equal to, the metropolitan average.

Encourage water-sensitive behaviour in the community. Work in partnership with state and federal governments and other organisations on water resource management projects.


Community aspiration Long-term strategies Five-year strategies Success indicators

Enhanced natural environment

Create green streetscapes and open spaces.

Design streetscapes to maximise opportunities for greening.

Increase the number of 'green' streetscapes and open spaces.

Incorporate native and local indigenous drought resistant plant species into streetscapes and pen spaces. Develop water sensitive streetscapes and open spaces.

Protect and enrich local biodiversity, waterways and the coast.

Manage stormwater in a manner that protects and enhances biodiversity and the natural environment.

Improvement in the condition of local biodiversity, waterways and the coast.

Effective stormwater infrastructure

Manage the quantity and quality of stormwater flows

Integrate best practice and identify priorities for long-term stormwater and flood management.

Improved local stormwater flows. Reduction in the risk of local flooding. Minimise the risk of

flooding to existing communities and future developments.

Continue collaborative arrangements with other local catchment councils to coordinate flood mitigation outcomes. Provide infrastructure and ongoing maintenance appropriate for long-term stormwater and flood management. Reduce risk of flooding by applying stormwater management measures which ensure post development flows equal or improve on pre development flows.

A vibrant city Foster a vibrant and inviting city

Enhance and promote the distinctive identity of West Torrens, and the attractions of key localities in the city.

Community perceptions of Council's influence on quality of life in the area is greater than, or equal to, the state average.

Strong partnerships and working relationships

Develop and maintain strong partnerships and working relationships with other organisations and within Council

Develop and implement further opportunities to provide services and share resources with other Councils, government departments and private organisations.

High community satisfaction with Council's services.

Leading governance and administration practices

Regularly review, update and adopt leading governance and administrative practices

Deliver effective, efficient and equitable community services which deliver on community priorities. Foster an environmentally aware approach to the development, delivery and evaluation of Council services and activities.

Community perceptions of Council's influence on quality of life in the area is greater than, or equal to, the state average.


3 Council’s role

3.1 Roles and responsibilities in water management

Roles and responsibilities related to managing water in the urban landscape are complex and span multiple agencies and authorities, including Local and State Government.

Water quality policies are managed by the Environment Protection Authority, while water access policies are managed by the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources and Natural Resource Management Boards.

SA Water and Local Government manage the infrastructure system, although some parts of the stormwater system (for example creeks) are privately owned.

The Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure and Local Government have a significant impact on the creation and movement of stormwater by regulating the type and location of built infrastructure.

Human health impacts are managed by SA Health and SA Water, while flood related issues involve the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources and State Emergency Services.

In 2007, a Stormwater Management Authority was established to implement the State-Local Government Stormwater Management Agreement and operate as the planning, prioritising and funding body in accordance with that Agreement.

Water runs through the landscape and below it, without regard to administrative boundaries (for example, between council boundaries). Development in one part of a catchment may have impacts far away, often in other council areas. Local Government is therefore closely involved in and often affected by water, particular stormwater management activities.

The most recent test case for the complexities in stormwater management has been the development of the Stormwater Management Plan for the Brown hill-Keswick Creek Catchment, which spans five council areas.

Existing flood mapping for South Australia shows that a one-in-100 year flood would potentially place around 2,000 properties in the Brown hill-Keswick Creek Catchment at risk – of which approximately 1,100 would experience above-floor flooding with a significant proportion of these properties located in the City of West Torrens.

Therefore, Local Government has a key role in planning and managing the local water cycle. Council is responsible for strategic planning for its region through the development of council plans, land use planning, most local stormwater drainage, most local roads, streets, footpaths, nature strips and street trees, most parks and playing fields and much of the land around our waterways.

At a practical level, Council plays a key role in determining water service requirements in suburbs and has a well-developed knowledge of local characteristics and of the needs and preferences of local residents and businesses.


3.2 Opportunities for influence

The City of West Torrens has three main ways that it can influence others to create an integrated approach to water management. These have been considered when developing the Council’s targets and action plan. These key areas of influence are:

Lead by example

Council commits to taking an integrated water management approach to its own developments and capital works and asset management programs.

Promoting WSUD planning in new developments

Council plays a prominent role in land use planning and development and is committed to promoting the inclusion of water sensitive urban design (WSUD). The Council will work with developers, water authorities and the South Australian Government to ensure new developments are planned to be water efficient, use best practice stormwater management, flood protection and mitigation, and include cool havens from summer heat.

Working with local communities

Council is committed to working with local communities to empower them to take water sensitive urban design planning into their own hands and be part of the solution. The Council will do this by partnering with the South Australian Government to educate the community about solutions available to them, such as raingardens and water efficiency measures and the benefits of each.

3.3 What does it mean to be a Water Sensitive City?

Transitioning South Australia to a water sensitive State is a key objective of the State’s water security plan, Water for Good – a plan to ensure our water future to 2050, and is an inherent aim of the Planning Strategy which guides South Australia’s future urban and regional development.

Water Sensitive Urban Design differs from traditional urban design by better recognising and addressing our impacts on the water cycle, with the aim of protecting and improving waterway health by mimicking the natural water cycle as closely as possible.

Water Sensitive Cities are viewed as a catchment where water and wastewater resources are predominantly managed within the catchment boundary. Flood mitigation, stormwater quality, harvesting and reuse are all rolled into one water sensitive approach.

The benefits of transforming West Torrens into a Water Sensitive City are:

Protecting highly valued receiving waters, wetlands, creeks, rivers and the Gulf;

Providing greener, functional public open space in a variable climate;

Valuing and recreating ecosystem services in highly urban settings;

Being able to better protect the community from increased economic costs associated with water pricing and climate change by planning ahead.


4 Objectives and priorities for water planning

4.1 The objectives of the Water MAP 2014-19

In order to move towards the Community Plan aspiration of becoming a water sensitive city, the following objectives have been developed:

Increase Water Security An optimal mix of water sources balancing social, environmental and economic considerations managed efficiently for fit-for-purpose uses.

There are a number of significant factors that impact on Adelaide’s and West Torrens' water security. These include reoccurring periods of drought, an increasing population driving up the demand for water sources, more frequent storm events and changes to rainfall in future years as a result of climate change.

While many of these factors are beyond Council’s control, water security can be improved by using water efficiently and developing alternative sources (when economically viable) for purposes other than drinking.

Maintain green spaces A network of safe, functional, accessible and attractive open spaces valued by our community.

The City of West Torrens has an active community that places high value on the city’s open space, including the West Side Bikeway, the River Torrens Linear Park, Apex Park and the large number of sports grounds and golf courses which encourage a healthy lifestyle.

Council is actively managing these assets through the Open Space and Public Space Plan. Water availability for irrigation and water quality for the health of local waterways and the Gulf are key components to maintaining the functionality, attractiveness and safety of these open spaces.

Objective 1

Increase water security

Objective 2

Maintain green spaces and places


Support Public Health An urban environment that is safe for recreational activities such as fishing and swimming and provides a cool haven during periods of high and extreme temperatures.

Waterways and the Gulf become contaminated when pollutants are washed into the stormwater system. A combination of improved education about waterway health and increased uptake in water sensitive urban design technologies can improve water quality.

Each year high temperatures cause heat stress and other heat related conditions. Urban environments with limited vegetation cover and canopy magnify the heat risk. Climate change and variability is expected to increase this health risk. Planning to retain water in the landscape to irrigate and maintain green spaces (where this can be done without threatening environmental flows) can reduce the risk.

Since the earliest constructions of wetlands and detention ponds in the 1970s, significant advances have been made to ensure that water can be retained safely. Today’s wetlands, bio filtration swales and raingardens are constructed to strict national health and safety standards and can now treat water to a very high quality.

Protect Waterways and Biodiversity Managing stormwater to protect and continually enhance indigenous ecosystem habitat.

The waterways that run through the city are important recreational spaces. The amenity of these natural assets is valued highly by the community. In particular the community values the visual appearance, biodiversity and cleanliness (lack of litter) of these spaces. These waterways provide important health benefits by encouraging outdoor activities.

Stormwater from urban environments changes the hydraulic flow of waterways, which makes it difficult for aquatic animals to migrate up and down the waterway. It also increases pollutant loads that get carried into the waterways and damage aquatic habitat. Aquatic ecosystems can be protected by using techniques that mimic the natural environment, reducing peak and removing pollutants.

Objectives and performance targets for stormwater runoff quality have been established by the South Australian Government.

Objective 3

Support public health

Objective 4

Protect waterways and biodiversity


Reduce Flooding Impacts Reduce the impact of flooding through quality design, infrastructure and communication.

Population growth and urban infill is projected to increase the amount of hard surfaces in the city, which in turn will increase stormwater runoff and the risk of flooding. This risk will be magnified further in future years as climate change and variability causes more intense rainfall events.

New developments can be designed to include waster sensitive infrastructure that reduces stormwater runoff from hard surfaces and reduces the risk of flooding.

Objective 5

Reduce flooding impacts


5 Issues driving water planning

Adelaide experienced a significant drought between 1997 and 2010. At the height of the drought, severe water restrictions were in force and metropolitan councils were turning off taps to irrigate all but the most essential green open spaces. There was a heightened awareness amongst the community of the need to use water wisely and conserve wherever possible.

The drought was followed by two years when local flooding occurred across Adelaide. These flood events raised awareness of the need to reduce stormwater runoff from hard surfaces, such as roofs and roads.

Both droughts and floods are common in Adelaide and it is necessary to plan for both. Using an integrated total water cycle approach to water management enables councils, businesses and residents to implement solutions that save water and reduce flooding at the same time.

In 2004 the City of West Torrens prepared an Initial Urban Stormwater Master Plan (Tonkin, December 2004) in accordance with guidelines issued by Planning SA. The plan addresses issues of flood management, water quality; water harvesting and environmental enhancement associated with stormwater infrastructure but did not address the integration of water supply management. It was always intended that this plan be undertaken as a staged process. Actions from this plan are included in Appendix 2.

Since the preparation of this initial plan, the Stormwater Management Authority was established in South Australia and a revised set of Stormwater Management Planning Guidelines have since been established. All future stormwater, catchment and sub-catchment

master planning will be prepared in accordance with these new guidelines. It should be acknowledged that the Initial Urban Stormwater Master Plan led to stormwater harvesting investigations using wetlands and aquifer storage and recovery at the Glenelg and Kooyonga Golf Courses. A scheme subsequently proceeded at the Glenelg Golf Course (to alternatively source 100% of their water supply needs) with the Australian Government and State Government's Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resource Management Board contributing funding.

It is anticipated that this WaterMAP 2014-19 along with the revised Stormwater Management Planning Guidelines will provide improved integration of a total water cycle based approach in the City of West Torrens.

5.1 City of West Torrens Natural and Built Environment

The City of West Torrens has grown across the Adelaide floodplain since its proclamation in 1853 when it was described by Colonel William Light as ‘a flat of fine rich-looking country with an abundance of freshwater lagoons’. The sandy floodplains formed by the River Torrens, Keswick and Brown hill Creeks and the Sturt River that once supported a diverse and complex ecological network of flora and fauna have been reshaped into a bustling residential community complete with industrial factories, shopping complexes, golf courses, major roadways and the Adelaide Airport.

The areas likely to experience the greatest changes are the Adelaide Airport, the industrial zones in particular around Thebarton and Mile End, and in-fill residential developments across the city.


The corresponding increase in density will increase hard surfaces, preventing rainwater from seeping into the ground and putting more rainwater into the stormwater system. This increases the potential for flooding and the amount of pollutants that enter local waterways and the Gulf.

New development provides the opportunity to include water efficient appliances, rainwater tanks and raingardens which reduce the stormwater runoff that creates flooding, increases water security and improves the health of local waterways.

The catchment of underground drainage systems running through the city is approximately bounded by the River Torrens to the north, the central business district fringe of Adelaide to the east, ANZAC Highway to the south and the coastal suburbs to the west. The catchment is relatively flat and generally grades from east to west.

Stormwater runoff from the Council area is collected by a network of underground drains and channels. The majority of this runoff drains into the Patawalonga Lake (Barcoo Outlet), with some smaller areas discharging into the River Torrens and directly into the Gulf St Vincent. Broadly speaking there are four main catchments as described below:

South-Western Suburbs Drainage Scheme Catchment (SWSDS) - this area encompasses the Southern section of the council area in the vicinity of Anzac Highway and the western end of Cross Road;

Keswick & Brown hill Creek Catchment (KBC) - the area to the east of the Airport forms part of the Keswick & Brown hill Creek systems;

Airport Drain Catchment - areas in the vicinity of Sir Donald Bradman Drive are drained via the Airport Drain; and

River Torrens Catchment - sections of the northern portion of the Council area are drained to the River Torrens.

Remnant native vegetation is almost completely decimated and street trees planted to create amenity are usually exotic and deciduous. Natural watercourses have been substantially altered to serve as stormwater drainage channels and the natural wetlands have been drained and reclaimed for residential development and the Adelaide Airport. The River Torrens remains as the only semi natural watercourse intact for most of its length.

5.2 Stormwater and Surface Water Quality

When it rains our roads and streets may look cleaner, however the pollutants have been washed into stormwater drains and then into our creeks, rivers and ultimately the Gulf St Vincent. Sometimes, when pollutant levels exceed regulations, the South Australian Environment Protection Authority will issue health warnings that cause the temporary closure of local beaches.

The main types of pollutants picked up by rainwater and stormwater are:

Suspended solids – this is made up of litter and sediments that get washed off our streets and into local waterways when it rains.

Once in our waterways, litter can harm local wildlife and decrease the visual amenity of an area. Sediments from our streets can silt up waterways, smothering and suffocating habitat.


Each year an average of 6,180 tonnes of suspended solids is discharged into Adelaide’s coastal waters via stormwater. The majority of suspended solids can be removed from local waterways by:

sloping private paths and driveways so that rainwater runs onto garden beds and lawns before overflowing into the stormwater system; and

treating stormwater from roads with sediment traps.

Phosphorus and nitrogen – these are both nutrients that are important for plant growth. However, in waterways and the Gulf they can create algal blooms and harm seagrass. This can make the water unsuitable for local wildlife and unsafe for recreational activities such as fishing and swimming. Each year an average 150 tonnes of nitrogen is discharged into Adelaide’s coastal waters via stormwater. The majority of nitrogen and phosphorus can be removed from stormwater by:

sloping paths and driveways so that rainwater runs onto garden beds and lawns before overflowing into the stormwater system;

capturing rainwater from roofs in water tanks or treating it through the use of a raingarden; and

by treating stormwater from roads through the use of grassed drains, wetlands and raingardens.

While some pollutants are generated from hard surfaces and road runoff other pollutants are generated from the incorrect disposal of waste (littering) or from individuals and businesses washing substances down the stormwater drain.

Pollutants from hard surfaces and road runoff can be treated with self-watering gardens (raingardens), wetlands and other treatment technologies. Education and behavioural change are required to reduce

incidences of littering and incorrect disposal of substances down stormwater drains.

In addition to stormwater pollutant inputs, wastewater from sewerage treatment plants also deliver around 911 tonnes of nitrogen and 1,060 tonnes of suspended solids each year to Adelaide’s coastal waters.

The South Australian Environment Protection Authority undertakes water quality and ecosystem condition monitoring across the state.

The River Torrens (upstream of the City of West Torrens) last recorded a rating of ‘poor’ in 2011, with the Adelaide metropolitan unit of Gulf St Vincent rating ‘fair’ in 2010. These results combined with the detailed Adelaide Coastal Waters Study in 2007 point to sediment and nutrient inputs as the cause of environmental harm.

The coastal waters of Adelaide are typically low in nutrients and clear, and the plants and animals have evolved to thrive in these conditions. Consequently, even small increases in nutrient concentrations can have disproportionate degenerative effects.

A snapshot stormwater quality monitoring program was established to evaluate a number of WSUD devices in five locations in Council. The Adelaide Airport Linear Wetland was the overall highest stormwater quality improving system employed in the Council region. This may be attributable to the large treatment area available and the quantity of vegetation within the wetland. Tarragon Street raingardens also proved to result in measurable improvement to stormwater quality.

In addition, approximately 20 Gross Pollutant Traps have captured approximately 264 tonnes of litter and debris over the past five years, along with Council's street sweeping program which has removed 4,984 tonnes.


Objectives and performance targets for stormwater runoff quality have been established by the South Australian Government and published in Water Sensitive Urban Design – creating more liveable and water sensitive cities in South Australia 2012.

The performance targets seek removal of:

90% litter/gross pollutants from stormwater; 80% of total suspended solids; 60% of the total phosphorus; and 45% of the total nitrogen.

These pollutants can severely affect the health of our waterways by smothering seagrass and causing toxic algal blooms. While stormwater is just one component of the water cycle, stormwater quality runoff targets are a great indicator of how well we are tracking towards our water sensitive future.

This is because the methods to achieve best practice are diverse and deliver multiple water sensitive benefits. For example, the primary purpose of a rainwater tank is to store harvested rainwater, but it also prevents pollution running off into stormwater drains and natural waterways.

The State Government is committed to working with Local Government to align WSUD and the performance targets with regional and catchment scale water planning and to monitor its uptake.

The City of West Torrens is one of the leading local governments in South Australia that is retrofitting water sensitive urban design into its existing urban landscapes.

5.3 Groundwater

The largest groundwater users in the metropolitan region in the past few decades have been industrial users, local government and schools (for irrigation of reserves and sporting grounds) and by golf clubs in the western suburbs.

Industrial demand is generally required throughout the year unlike irrigation demand, which is seasonal and therefore allows the aquifer a chance to recover during the winter period when not being pumped.

Council uses licensed groundwater (bore water) for irrigation at Weigall Oval, Thebarton Oval and Camden Oval. In 2012/2013 just over 77 ML was extracted from the confined tertiary sedimentary aquifer (T1 aquifer).


Metering of groundwater extraction commenced in 2010. The origin of the groundwater extracted by Council is within the Central Adelaide Prescribed Wells Area.

A Water Allocation Plan is being produced by the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Region Natural Resources Management Board (MLRNRMB) for this area to provide for the sustainable management of the groundwater resources.

Groundwater extraction from the T1 aquifer appears to be concentrated near Osborne, Thebarton and the West-Lakes Grange area. Long-standing depressions in the pressure level surface have formed in these areas, but long-term groundwater level trends appear to have stabilised which suggests a new equilibrium has been established. Data from the borehole registers show typically good quality groundwater, although salinity is increasing.

Uncertainty about the groundwater allocation process and the security of supply and potential future extraction charges are driving consideration of alternative water supply options.

There is an opportunity to collaborate with industrial users of groundwater, particularly those adjacent the Thebarton depression, and the SA Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources as to their future management of the resource. There may be potential partnerships in surface water extraction/managed aquifer recharge schemes in the region.

5.4 Recreation and open spaces

Council maintains a network of open spaces and public places that cater to a range of recreational activities for West Torrens residents and

visitors. This is outlined in Council's Open Space and Public Place Plan. Demand for well-maintained sports grounds and high quality, landscape settings creates a high water supply demand. In a normal year around 60% of the water used by Council is to maintain these spaces.

To increase water security while maintaining these spaces it is important to ensure that no water is wasted, and that an optimal mix of water supply sources that balances social, environmental and economic benefit is investigated and adopted.

5.5 Urban heat island

Hot weather can have a significant impact on health causing heat stroke and other heat related conditions. Urban areas are typically 3.50C warmer than their surrounding rural areas. This increases the risk of people in urban areas succumbing to heat related health conditions.

The increased warming in urban areas is known as the Urban Heat Island effect. Its impacts can be significantly reduced by urban greening, including increasing canopy cover and shade from trees and shading of walls through the use of creepers and green walls.

Water is critical to maintain these green spaces. By channelling stormwater that is generated from hard surfaces onto green spaces, they can be passively irrigated (that is, without the use of traditional irrigation systems), increasing the plants survival rate.

Stormwater can also be captured and stored for irrigating green spaces. Recycled wastewater can also be utilised to maintain vegetation that provides cooling in urban areas.


5.6 Our changing climate

There are a number of implications for water management in the temperature, rainfall and other environmental changes predicted for West Torrens. These are summarised in Table 1.

There is currently a lack of quantitative information on the potential impacts of climate change on factors that affect flood magnitude.

Any increase in design rainfall intensities may be partially offset by higher losses resulting from the drier antecedent conditions (Brownhill Keswick Creek Stormwater Management Plan 2012).

Table 1 – Western Region of Adelaide Climate Change Projections by 2030

Temperature Increase in annual range of warming of 0.6-1.0C

Increase in annual number of hot days over 35C in Adelaide to 17 days (currently 14)

Increase in the annual number of hot days over 40C in Adelaide to 2.5 days (currently 1 day)

Rainfall Likely decrease in average annual rainfall of 2-5% (5-20% by 2070)

Possible increase in extreme rainfall events

Environmental change

More intense storm events Changes in timing of flowering and breeding

cycles More variable breaks in the winter growing

season Sea level rise Higher coastal storm surges Increased fire frequency and intensity More frequent erosive events Changes in the impact of weeds and animal

pests Reductions in groundwater recharge Reductions in average stream flows

Source: Western Adelaide Region Climate Change Adaptation Plan - Stage 1, SKM Report, March 2013.


6 Water resource use

6.1 Adelaide’s water supply

Drinking water supply catchments serving Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Darwin, Hobart and Canberra are predominantly protected native forest set aside for public supply.

By contrast, Adelaide's Mount Lofty Ranges catchments are multi-use with agricultural production, residential development and a wide range of economic activities operating. Therefore Adelaide's mains drinking water catchments can fluctuate substantially in quantity and quality and must undergo expensive water treatment.

In low rainfall years Adelaide’s reservoirs are topped up with water extracted from the River Murray or desalinated water with the recent construction of the Adelaide Desalination Plant in October 2011. The plant has the ability to produce up to 100 billion litres of drinking water per year or up to half of Adelaide's current drinking water needs. Desalinated water is costly and energy intensive, although the Adelaide Desalination Plant has one of the lowest carbon footprints and operating costs of any desalination plant in the world.

Approximately 40% of the mains water entering residential properties becomes wastewater. The wastewater is then carried to wastewater treatment plants spread along Adelaide's coastline before ultimately discharging to the coastal waters of Gulf St Vincent.

The Glenelg to Adelaide Recycled Water Pipeline, of which Council is an important user can reduce the discharge of wastewater to the Gulf by up to 3.8 billion litres annually.

Adelaide’s three centralised water systems (drinking water, wastewater and stormwater) consume large amounts of energy, and as we have seen from recent events, they are vulnerable to climate change and variability.


6.2 Our city’s water balance

As demonstrated in Figure 5, in an average year 16,754 ML of rain falls on the City of West Torrens (mostly during winter). Much of this falls on public open spaces and private gardens.

Currently, residents, businesses and the Council use an average of 7,177 ML of drinking water, 40 ML of recycled wastewater and 77 ML of ground (bore) water each year.

Businesses and the Council save 340 ML of drinking water each year through the use of recycled wastewater.

Another 13,450 ML of unused wastewater is discharged to the Gulf St Vincent.

The remaining 7,500 ML of rainwater flows into the stormwater system. Note that this is more than the total water used in an average year in the City of West Torrens.

Figure 5 Current water balance for West Torrens


6.3 Corporate water use

Total corporate water consumption by the City of West Torrens is now climbing back towards pre-millennium drought restriction levels as community desire for additional greening through more irrigated open spaces increases. Refer to Figure 8.

Our corporate water use in greening open spaces, ovals and supplying community buildings comes from the following mix of sources, as shown below.

Figure 6 Council's current water supply mix

Council currently uses about 217 ML of water in total, from the following supplies:

99 ML of drinking water used in council owned buildings and to water community parks, gardens and ovals;

41 ML of recycled wastewater from the Glenelg Wastewater Treatment Plant;

77 ML of ground (bore) water was also used to water open space; and

0.45 ML (approximately) of rainwater was also captured in tanks and plumbed in to community buildings. Figure 7 Council's Total Water Consumption


Council has secured a current allocation of 100 ML of recycled wastewater from the SA Water operated Glenelg Adelaide Pipeline (GAP). Council is currently using 40% of its GAP allocation. The GAP supply is flow restricted, presenting a current limitation to exploiting Council’s full allocation.

A University of South Australia investigation into the tolerance and sensitivity of landscaped plants using GAP water completed in 2012 recommended that an alternative water supply (such as harvested stormwater) be sought to shandy with GAP water (the poorer water supply) to reduce impacts on soil, plants and groundwater quality. GAP water is of best service as a supply for salt-tolerant turf irrigation and that is why Council has prioritised its investment into GAP as a supply for Richmond Oval (previously one of the highest potable water consuming sites) and other significant turfed open spaces.

At present, Council does not harvest surface or stormwater. The volume of water used on open space is expected to increase as more parks and reserves become irrigated. About 30% of the city’s parks and reserves are not currently irrigated.

In 2014/2015 Council increased its annual water rates and related charges expenditure budget by 25 per cent in anticipation of increased resource consumption and higher tariffs.

A list of the ten highest potable (drinking quality) water-consuming assets is provided in Table 2. The combined water consumption of these ten assets represents 25% of total water consumption of all Council services/facilities.

Table 2 Council's ten highest potable (drinking water) users

Facility Average Water Consumption

2009-2014 (ML) Cummins House 10

St Martins Aged Care Facility 6

Solo Waste Transfer Station 5

Street Sweeping / Tree Watering Hydrant

4

Mellor Park Reserve 4

Civic Centre & Memorial Gardens

3

Lindfield Reserve 3

Mile End Common 3

Hindmarsh Bowling Club & Amenities

2

Pacific Reserve 2


6.4 Community water use

The first Water Management Action Plan (Water MAP 2009-14) aimed to assist the West Torrens community to reduce water consumption by 20 per cent below 2004/2005 levels by 2020. At present, this target is on track for residential water consumption. Refer to Figure 9.

In 2004/2005 the West Torrens community consumed 7,535 ML and in 2013/2014 used 7,078 ML. Of the total community consumption, 62% represents residential water consumption and 38% commercial and industrial.

Consumption data supplied by SA Water demonstrates that the year following the end of water restrictions, 2008/2009 saw total residential water consumption peak at 5,342 ML before dropping 18% to 4,394 ML in 2013/2014, an overall decrease of 13% since 2004/2005.

Commercial and industrial use has increased by 6% since 2004/2005.

The average Adelaide metropolitan household uses about 190 kilolitres of water per year, generally allocated for the following uses:

Garden & Outdoor 40% Bath & Shower 20% Laundry 16% Kitchen 11% Toilet 11% Other 2%

Figure 8 Total residential water consumption in West Torrens 2003 - 2014


7 Developing the Action Plan 2014-19

7.1 Objectives, targets and actions

The five key objectives for this plan are not separate streams of planning, but interconnected, relating to and reinforcing each other, similarly, many of the strategies which are presented on the following pages support more than one of the objectives.

Council will work towards the achievement of the objectives of this plan through the targets and actions outlined below.

The objectives, targets and actions have been developed as a direct response to:

Review of the Water Management Action Plan 2009 - 2014; Community views expressed through the Our Place

consultation and engagement program; The recently updated Towards 2025 City of West Torrens

Community Plan; The Open Space and Public Place and Public Health Plans; The Vision 2025 Strategic Directions Report Section 30

Development Plan Review produced by Council; and Relevant state and national legislative requirements, plans and

strategies.

The objectives, targets and actions in this plan have also been developed around the Council’s scope of influence to ensure that local issues are addressed in the most effective way possible.

Objective 5


Objective 1


Objective 3


Objective 4


Objective 2

Maintain green spaces and places


This second iteration of Council's water management plan seeks to reflect the community’s aspiration for a water sensitive city and focus on determining an optimal water mix to ensure as efficient and sustainable a water supply as possible, while also considering the objectives of economic costs, social preferences and environmental impacts.

The targets presented in this Water Management Action Plan are intended to be a significant step in the transition towards a water sensitive city. Meeting them will require a doubling or more of the current strategic effort in water initiatives.

The long-term strategies (in bold text) and five-year strategies (in italics) in the following Action Plan are taken from the Towards 2025 Community Plan. A number of actions have also been developed to implement these strategies over the next 5 years. These will be included and reviewed annually through annual service planning, budgeting and reporting processes.

The actions relating directly to Council activities and operations will play a vital role, however, for our vision to be fully realised, the City of West Torrens must also influence private investment, build community capacity, and foster partnerships across other parts of the public sector in relation to integrated water cycle management.

7.2 Resourcing the Water MAP 2014-19

Over the past decade, the City of West Torrens has focused on capital works undertakings and playing a participatory rather than lead driver in large scale stormwater projects such as the Breakout Creek redevelopment and the Adelaide Airport Management Aquifer Recharge Scheme. Projects of this larger scale must continue and the City of West Torrens is determined to play a leadership role to drive tangible outcomes from the protracted Brown hill Keswick Creek Stormwater Management Project.

Widespread community action is still essential to support Council's efforts to reach targets. At a community level the uptake of water tanks, more use of recycled water and more private raingardens are key actions.

The City of West Torrens has limited resources to reflect the desires and aspirations of its community. The costs associated with this plan will be met through existing expenditure and resources, reallocation of expenditure and resources and through sourcing opportunities for external funding.

Synergies with applicable projects such as new capital works and renewals, initiatives that build community capacity and have other benefits will be explored as will partnership opportunities.


8 The Action Plan 2014-19 Key Water Management Objectives

Long-term and Five-year Strategies Actions Targets Lead Department

Community Life

Encourage community awareness of services and resources so they can make informed life choices. Foster health, wellbeing and safety within the community.

Develop a residential Water Sensitive City financial

incentive program to encourage water conservation, stormwater or grey water treatment and reuse.

Engage effectively with households and businesses in West Torrens to encourage water-sensitive behaviour and practices in the community.

Provide information and promote the use of water sensitive urban design techniques and options.

Promote SA Water's Interactive House and Garden online tool for water auditing and saving measures.

Residential Water Sensitive City program developed and implemented annually. Program of community education and engagement delivered annually

City Strategy

with support from:

Communications

Natural Environment

Encourage new and existing development to incorporate environmentally sustainable designs and principles. Review Council's Development Plan

policies so they reflect environmentally sustainable development principles.

Demonstrate leadership in sustainable design principles through maintenance and development of Council's own assets.

Implement water sensitive urban design in city-wide master planning.

Through the Vision 2025 Strategic Directions

Report include a Water Sensitive City Development Plan Amendment in the program of future DPAs and investigations.

Use water sensitive urban design techniques in all

new and upgraded Council buildings and appropriate capital works e.g. : - Permeable gap/gap paving used for footpath

replacement works; - Raingardens/Tree Water Wells installed

beneath street trees; - Residents given the choice of choosing the

surface of their nature strip (permeable loam vs conventional compactable/impenetrable dolomite);

- installing water tanks when upgrading buildings; - stormwater harvesting.

By 2019 15% of the city to meet minimum water sensitive urban design runoff water quality performance target of 90:80:60:45 – refer to p.27 of this plan for details. (As established by SA Government, Water Sensitive Urban Design – creating more liveable and water sensitive cities in SA)

City Strategy with support

from: City

Development

City Assets with support

from: City Strategy

Objective 3


Objective 1



Key Water Management Objectives


Natural Environment

Create a water sensitive city. Develop stormwater management

plans (SMP’s) for city catchments which take an integrated urban water cycle approach.

Investigate the use of alternative water resources by Council and the community, including storm, surface and wastewater.

Investigate an optimal water supply mix across the city.

Protect stormwater quality so that it is a suitable resource for reuse.

Manage current water resources efficiently. Minimise mains water consumption in

Council's buildings and operations. Encourage water-sensitive behaviour in

the community. Work in partnership with state and

federal governments and other organisations on water resource management projects.

Create green streetscapes and open spaces. Design streetscapes to maximise

opportunities for greening. Incorporate native and local indigenous

drought resistant plant species into streetscapes and pen spaces.

Develop water sensitive streetscapes and open spaces.

Protect and enrich local biodiversity, waterways and the coast. Manage stormwater in a manner that

protects and enhances biodiversity and the natural environment.

Investigate the feasibility and financial sustainability of purchasing harvested (non-potable) water from other sources (e.g. neighbouring councils, Adelaide Airport).

By 2016, investigate and prepare an optimal water mix study including recommended targets for alternative water sources.

Install taps and appliances with the highest

efficiency ratings and rainwater tanks at all new and upgraded Council owned buildings, connected to indoor water appliances (toilet facilities, hot water service, laundry taps).

By 2019, supply an additional 50 ML/yr of water from alternative sources to replace drinking water for corporate non-potable needs and/or reduce groundwater demand. This will increase local alternative water supply percentage from 19% to around 40% of water supply mix, and will be dependent on Council's ability to partner with other organisations to deliver these projects. By 2019 15% of the city to meet minimum water sensitive urban design runoff performance targets (refer to p.27 of this plan for details.) City Assets

with support from:

City Strategy

Objective 1


Objective 4





Built Environment

Manage the quantity and quality of stormwater flows. Integrate best practice and identify

priorities for long-term stormwater and flood management.

Minimise the risk of flooding to existing communities and future developments. Continue collaborative arrangements

with other local catchment councils to coordinate flood mitigation outcomes.

Provide infrastructure and ongoing maintenance appropriate for long-term stormwater and flood management.

Reduce risk of flooding by applying stormwater management measures which ensure post development flows equal or improve on pre development flows.

Identify priorities for long-term stormwater and flood

management through a Council-wide Stormwater Management Master Plan by 2016.

Progress the preparation of a Water Sensitive City Development Plan Amendment (DPA).

Develop targets for protection of the built

environment in the city from inundation in a 100 year ARI (Average Recurrence Interval) event.

City Assets

City Strategy with support

from: City

Development

City Prosperity

Foster a vibrant and inviting city. Enhance and promote the distinctive

identity of West Torrens, and the attractions of key localities in the city.

Fund the continued installation of IPOS compliant irrigation systems for open space and continue reporting to SA Water.

All open space irrigation to be IPOS compliant by 2024.

City Assets

Objective 5


Objective 2

Maintain green spaces and

places




Financial Sustainability

Develop and maintain strong partnerships and working relationships with other organisations and within Council. Develop and implement further

opportunities to provide services and share resources with other Councils, government departments and private organisations.

Increase maintenance budgets in line with industry standards as new assets come on line.

Increase collaboration with the Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resource Management Board in particular and clarify Council's rights to harvest stormwater and or River Torrens surface water under the Western Mount Lofty Ranges Water Allocation Plan.

Participate in the State Government's WSUD Capacity Building project.

City Strategy City Assets

Organisational Strength

Regularly review, update and adopt leading governance and administrative practices Deliver effective, efficient and

equitable community services which deliver on community priorities.

Foster an environmentally aware approach to the development, delivery and evaluation of Council services and activities.

Build and maintain Council's internal capacity (technical expertise, resource allocation, operational processes/guidelines etc.) to cost effectively plan, design, construct, maintain, and renew existing and new WSUD infrastructure for sustained performance and co-benefits.

Investigate opportunities to reduce Council's water

consumption through mechanical and behavioural solutions.

Benchmark potable water use at St Martins with that of similar sized aged care facilities.

Continue annual reporting of Council's water

consumption to elected member body.

By 2019 reduce corporate building water consumption by 15 per cent below 2014 levels.

City Strategy

Objective 1


Objective 1



9 Conclusion

Through the use of an integrated approach to water management it is possible to implement solutions that have multiple benefits throughout the water cycle.

The Council has identified seven targets, fourteen key actions and an overarching thirteen strategies that will enable it to meet its objectives for integrated water management and ultimate vision as a water sensitive city.

Throughout the life of this plan, Council will increase its portfolio of alternative water supplies and increase its efficiency. It will encourage the use of water planning in local developments and strive to increase the understanding and acceptance of water sensitive urban design and sustainable stormwater solutions.

Council’s progress towards achieving the tasks identified in this plan will be reported through quarterly reporting against service plans, and through the Annual Water Report, which also includes consumption data.

While the actions in this plan will be tracked and evaluated annually, the entire plan will be reviewed in 2019 to evaluate all actions undertaken and their effectiveness.


Appendix 1 A hierarchy for water planning

There are many solutions that together can be used to manage the water cycle more effectively to create a greener, healthier, more sustainable community. Different solutions have different benefits and are suitable for different situations. The hierarchy for water planning provides a prioritisation system that can help guide the Council’s water management decision making.

Priority one No wasted water – ensuring that no water is wasted, whether it is drinking water, reused stormwater, recycled wastewater or greywater, increases water security by reducing demand. It also reduces unnecessary expenditure. Avoiding wasted water can be achieved through the continued uptake of water efficient devices and effective monitoring of water use. Money saved can be invested in other initiatives including other water projects.

Priority two Stormwater and surface water harvesting – this initiative has multiple benefits. Stormwater and surface water harvesting (depending on water allocation planning) increase water security by reducing demand on drinking water. Wetlands are often a key component of stormwater harvesting systems and are very effective at reducing peak stormwater flows and risk of flooding. Stormwater and surface water harvesting systems can protect biodiversity and public health by removing pollutants. These systems enhance public amenity by providing an alternative water supply to maintain green infrastructure. Well-designed rainwater tanks have similar benefits but on a smaller scale.

Priority three Recycled wastewater and greywater – this initiative reduces the demand on drinking water thereby increasing drinking water security. It enhances public amenity by providing and alternative water supply to maintain green infrastructure. They also protect biodiversity and public health by removing pollutants discharged to the Gulf by sewerage treatment plants.

Water sensitive urban design – this approach can reduce the risk of flooding by slowing down stormwater flows and letting rainwater seep into the ground. This approach protects and enhances biodiversity and public health by removing pollutants from stormwater. They enhance public amenity by providing green, self-watering gardens. Water sensitive urban design treatments include raingardens, swales, buffer strips and wetlands.

Priority four Drinking water – this is high quality, healthy water. It is good for drinking, cooking and hygiene. Relying solely on this water supply for watering parks and reserves has few environmental benefits to the city. Over use and waste of this resource puts pressure on the security of water supplies and should be avoided.

Ground (bore) water – groundwater is usually suitable for irrigation. It is currently used by Council, industrial users and the community to irrigate some ovals, parks, gardens and in manufacturing. Groundwater has historically been overused and in some areas has even been contaminated from historical land uses. Increasing reliance on it provides no additional benefits because, like drinking water, it is a finite resource.


Appendix 2 Existing key plans and strategies

Tool Description Relevant Targets/Strategies Water for Good 2009-2025

SA's water security plan. It sets policies and targets designed to secure South Australia's water supply to 2050, and includes 94 actions.

Introduce targets for WSUD by 2010 (action 68) By 2013 develop and implement the best regulatory

approach for SA to mandate WSUD, dovetailing with the Plan for Greater Adelaide (action 67). Refer to Water Sensitive Urban Design - creating more liveable and water sensitive cities in South Australia.

Stormwater Strategy - the Future of Stormwater Management 2011

Provides a road map for achieving the stormwater related targets in Water for Good.

Refer to Water Sensitive Urban Design - creating more liveable and water sensitive cities in South Australia.

Water Sensitive Urban Design - creating more liveable and water sensitive cities in South Australia 2012

Sets out the South Australian Government's position on WSUD in a local context, provides State-wide WSUD 'targets' for new developments and details the role that Government will play in collaboration with other stakeholders to maximise the use of WSUD approaches.

State infrastructure projects (by 2013). ACTION 1: Establish a framework (including appropriate cost benefit analysis techniques) to adopt the State-wide WSUD performance principles in future State-managed infrastructure projects, where appropriate.

Embedding WSUD in the State's planning and development system (by 2014/2015). ACTION 2: Ensure WSUD is strongly supported through the State's land use planning system ACTION 3: Support the implementation of WSUD through the building approval process.

Promoting WSUD through other State instruments (by 2014). ACTION 4: Consider how the State-wide WSUD objectives, performance principles and performance targets relating to water quality in this policy align with the Environment Protection Act 1993. ACTION 5: Promote the State's WSUD policy in 'green infrastructure' and other integrated design and infrastructure initiatives of State Government.


Tool Description Relevant Targets/Strategies Water Sensitive Urban Design - creating more liveable and water sensitive cities in South Australia 2012 continued

WSUD Capacity Building (by 2013). ACTION 6: Prepare a business case for a WSUD capacity building program and implement a sustainable and ongoing capacity building program. ACTION 7: Commence a WSUD capacity building program that provides for relevant State agencies, Local Government, industry, and others to effectively engage so that WSUD is implemented in the most appropriate way.

WSUD Research (by 2013). ACTION 8: Engage relevant research bodies in relation to the development of improved information and guidance on WSUD.

Alignment of WSUD with regional and catchment scale water planning (by 2013). ACTION 9: Ensure alignment between Natural Resources Management (NRM) planning and the WSUD objectives, guiding principles, performance principles and performance targets. ACTION 10: Promote support for WSUD in catchment based Stormwater Management Plans. ACTION 11: Promote alignment of WSUD with integrated urban water cycle management planning.

Monitoring the uptake of WSUD (by 2013) ACTION 12: Develop a process for recording and reporting the extent to which WSUD is adopted in new developments that the State manages and oversees, for example, arterial roads and other major Government infrastructure projects, and in projects that entail State-owned infrastructure. ACTION 13: Work with relevant approval authorities, including local councils, to establish suitable processes for monitoring the extent to which WSUD is promoted to and is being addressed in new developments, re-development and urban renewal programs. ACTION 14: Report annually on progress of actions.


Tool Description Relevant Targets/Strategies Planning Strategy for SA 2010 - 2036

Outlines the state government's direction for land use change and development within SA. The Planning Strategy has various volumes covering different geographic areas of the State and includes, The 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide which sets strategic policy directions for urban planning in the Greater Adelaide area; and plans for regional SA. The planning directions outlined in the Planning Strategy are translated into local policy by local councils when they are incorporated into development plans.

Water A - Reduce demands on mains water supply from new development through the introduction of WSUD

Water B - Require all new dwellings to be connected to alternative water sources, which much supply at least 15 per cent of the internal water needs of these households.

Water C - Achieve independence from Mains (drinking water) supplies for new public open spaces in transit corridors through WSUD techniques

Water D - Achieve alternative to mains water for outdoor use through WSUD techniques in all new Greenfield developments that are subject to Structure Plans and Precinct Requirements after 2011.

Water E - Protect and maintain the water supply catchment of the Mount Lofty Ranges, which comprises 159,000 hectares as identified in Map D23 (Mt Lofty Ranges Watershed - Water supply catchment and water reservoirs).

Water F - Protect and maintain the water reservoirs as identified in Map D23 (Mt Lofty Ranges Watershed - Water supply catchment and water reservoirs).

Water G - Protect from inappropriate development and maintain prescribed water resources, as identified in Map D23 (Mt Lofty Ranges Watershed - Water supply catchment and water reservoirs).

Intergovernmental Agreement on National Water Initiative 2004

Includes specific actions to support innovation and capacity building to create water sensitive cities.

South Australia's Strategic Plan 2011

Provides strategic direction for the state. The plan includes targets related to the protection of water resources and population growth, both of which impact on water management decisions.

State Natural Resources Management Plan 2012-2017

Enables the sustainable management of the State's natural resources, including water resources.


Tool Description Relevant Targets/Strategies/Objectives Regional Natural Resources Management Plans 2014/15-2023/24

Sets out policies for the management of the region's natural resources, including water.

AMLRNRM Region The region will have the system capacity to harvest up

to 35 GL of stormwater and 50 GL of wastewater per annum

Aquatic ecosystem and groundwater condition is maintained or improved

All water resources used within sustainable yield (allowing for variability)

Land based impacts on coastal, estuarine and marine processes reduced from current levels

Halt the decline of seagrass, reef and other coast, estuarine and marine habitats, and a trend towards restoration

All coast, estuarine and marine water resources meet water quality guidelines to protect defined environmental values.

State Infrastructure Plan for SA 2004/05 - 2014/15

Maps out infrastructure priorities for the state.

Tackling Climate Change: SA's Greenhouse Strategy 2007-2020

Includes discussion of WSUD in relation to opportunities to develop sustainable built environments that are responsive to climate change.

Development Plan Contains the zones, maps and written policies to guide property owners and others about what can and cannot be done in the future, on any piece of land in the area covered by the Development Plan. These zones, maps and rules provide the criteria against which development applications are assessed.

Retention, protection and restoration of the natural resources and environment.

Protection of the quality and quantity of South Australia's surface waters, including inland, marine and estuarine underground waters.

The ecologically sustainable use of natural resources including water resources, including marine waters, groundwater, surface water and watercourses.


Tool Description Relevant Targets/Strategies/Objectives Natural hydrological systems and environmental flows

reinstated, and maintained and enhanced. Development consistent with water sensitive design. Development sited and designed to:

(a) protect natural and ecological systems (b) achieve the sustainable use of water (c) protecting water quality, including receiving waters (d) reduce runoff and peak flows and prevent the risk of downstream flooding (e) minimise demands on reticulated water supplies (f) maximise the harvest and use of stormwater (g) protect stormwater from pollution sources.

Storage and use of stormwater which avoids adverse impact on public health and safety.

Native flora, fauna and ecosystems protected, retained, conserved and restored.

Stormwater Management Plans 2004/2012/2014

Prepared for local councils for the purpose of seeking approval from the Stormwater Management Authority. These plans are required to comply with guidelines released by the Stormwater Management Authority (and endorsed by the NRM Council) that promote multi-objective approach to managing stormwater.

City of West Torrens Initial Urban Stormwater Master Plan December 2004

Control levels of new development to be above a 100 year ARI flood level.

Require underground drainage in areas of new development to be designed to have a 5 year ARI design standard.

Require drainage in areas of new development to be designed to ensure that gutter flow widths are limited to acceptable levels.

Provide detention/retention basins at key locations.

Provide on-site measures to limit flows such as on-site detention/retention permeable paving.

Upgrade existing outfall, open channel and underground drainage systems.

Water Sensitive Urban Design Strategy. Construct wetland system(s) in association with

local detention basins and ASR systems.


Tool Description Relevant Targets/Strategies/Objectives Stormwater Management Plans 2004/2012/2014 continued

Installation of additional gross pollutant traps on outfalls into Torrens Airport Drain, Brownhill and Keswick Creeks.

On-site silt, oil and grease interceptors constructed in new developments.

Education and awareness programs. Explore opportunities for the economic use of

stormwater by industry or commercial development in the catchment.

Provide and ASR scheme in association with the proposed wetlands at the Glenelg and Kooyonga Golf Courses for irrigation water supply.

Ensure that appropriate use is made of open space within new developments.

Utilise opportunity presented by establishment of detention systems within local catchments to increase biodiversity and improve amenity.

Replace existing concrete lined open drains with landscaped channels provided hydraulic capacity is not compromised.

Brownhill Keswick Creek Stormwater Management Plan Part A 2012 & Part B 2014

Recommends further adoption of WSUD for lessening wastage of rainfall runoff. WSUD (which may include on-site detention) is not a solution to the existing risk posed by large storm events, particularly in the range of 100 year ARI. WSUD is beneficial in reducing the impact of increased runoff due to urban development and in-fill.

No further stormwater harvesting schemes have been identified in the City of West Torrens than those already operational by Adelaide Airport Pty Ltd, SA Water and Glenelg Golf Course.


Tool Description Relevant Targets/Strategies/Objectives Infrastructure and asset management plans 2012

Relate to the management and development of infrastructure and major assets over a period of at least 10 years. These plans are required by the Local Government Act 1999 and its regulations to be prepared by local Councils and form part of the Council strategic management plan.

City of West Torrens Stormwater Infrastructure Asset Management Plan 2012 Develop a Master Drainage Plan (Urban Stormwater

Master Plan) Develop a 20-year Stormwater Drainage Capital

Works Program Develop key stormwater drainage requirements for

appropriate management and implementation of future developments

Identify potential land use areas for local catchment storage and reuse of stormwater

Investigate innovation best practice stormwater management methods of setting a benchmark for the City of West Torrens.

Tool Description Relevant Targets/Strategies/Objectives Open Space and Public Place Strategy 2013

This plan outlines a vision to provide an equitable distribution of quality open space and public place that will benefit residents, workers and visitors, and responds to existing and future community needs. This includes opportunities to improve existing open space facilities and public place to achieve active, vibrant and connected communities.

Investigate and implement management techniques to enhance water quality along the River Torrens while retaining equestrian activities within the City of West Torrens.

Ensure all Community Land Management Plans and Asset Management Plans incorporate planning and design which considers stormwater management and climate change adaptation including revegetation.

Amend Development Plan policy to improve Council’s capacity to negotiate with developers for open space, public place and stormwater outcomes which are consistent with the Open Space and Public Space Plan.

Design open space with flood prone areas to accommodate stormwater inundation while maintaining open space functions and landscape amenity. Consider specific stormwater design response in relation to:


Tool Description Relevant Targets/Strategies/Objectives

- Richmond Oval - Cowandilla Reserve - Frank Norton Reserve - Westside Bikeway

Consider the flooding impact of Brownhill and Keswick Creeks on the function and design of these watercourses as Greenway infrastructure.

Investigate productive street planting with a trial site via engaging the community to increase ownership, and review merits for roll out across Council.

Prepare concept designs for the development of linear reserves with associated environmental rehabilitation initiatives along Keswick Creek, Sturt Creek, Brownhill Creek, and Adelaide Airport ring-route.

Given flooding and channel constraints, investigate the potential to redirect Keswick Creek from Grassmere Reserve/Daly Street directly west towards the Westside Bikeway and follow that south westerly to reconnect at Birdwood Terrace, thus minimising negotiation issues with numerous private landowners and affording Council the opportunity to develop its section of Keswick Creek through there.

Undertake investigations to inform a potential Development Plan Amendment which introduces planning controls to deliver Greenway infrastructure along watercourses and growth corridors.


Water Management Action Plan 2014 - 2019 · 2014. 12. 9. · Initiatives (ICLEI) Water Campaign, and focussed on a five step project management approach that included investigation,

Documents