Water wise on the Gold Coast
Image: The Davis family gets a trial run on the purple pipe network that will deliver quality recycled water.
The Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast are seen as rivals in many ways. Sunshine Coasters see their southern counterpart as a high rise shrine to the gaudy and glitzy, whereas many Gold Coasters regard their northern neighbour as being a bit off the pace and a haven for eccentric environmentalists.
So, it might come as a surprise for many that part of the Gold Coast is leading the way in planning for environmental sustainability, especially with the use of water. And it's leading the way with a far-sighted strategy that introduces, on a large scale, the concept of water sensitive urban design.
It will also bring into play an advanced dual-reticulation system which delivers potable water and recycled water treated to Class A plus which is the highest quality of recycled water for non-drinking purposes in Queensland, having been filtered and disinfected through two different treatment plants.
Water experts predict that this system will eventually reduce the use of drinking water in new homes by up to 84 per cent. It will make a significant impact on the total water consumption habits of Gold Coast residents since the new water strategy is focused on burgeoning Greenfield development sites at the northern end of the Gold Coast.
At the moment, every resident of every new home in the Pimpama-Coomera region of the Gold Coast is embarking on a learning curve, not only on how to turn on to a twin water network, but also in experiencing a lifestyle that makes them, their homes and their neighbourhood become more environmentally friendly. (view google map)
And the spin-off is that everybody becomes happier, they have a better environment, a closer connection with nature and a personal input in helping to save the planet and some of its species - including the human kind perhaps.
Presently, the population of the Pimpama-Coomera area is about 20,000 and expected to top 120,000 by 2055. Indeed, it is the Gold Coast's fastest growing region and designed within the guidelines of the Pimpama Coomera Waterfuture Master Plan - a Gold Coast City Council inspired and award-winning project that is intended to ensure sustainable development.
The Master Plan package, costing more than $200 million, includes all kinds of environmental goodies, enough maybe to make some Sunshine Coast environmental campaigners even greener with envy. Nothing on the Sunshine Coast development horizon comes close in terms of large scale impact in a positive ecological sense.
A recent short tour through the Pimpama-Coomera region reveals a wonderful work in progress. While there's the usual array of typical Aussie homes, from the humble three-bedroom to the more luxurious and spacious semi-mansions, it's what's partly hidden or that which surrounds them that really captures the imagination.
The first impression is how well landscaped the neighbourhoods' open spaces are - indeed that there are open spaces - where vegetation in places has replaced the usual bleak concrete kerbs and guttering. How the planting of native species and grasses follows original creek lines; how swales have been used on the natural contours to filter and slow stormwater run-off so that it soaks into local areas before reaching the waterways.
Drainage ponds and water infiltration zones are also used to capture stormwater at times of torrential rain. These are sand-based and allow the water to filter into surrounding soil over several days, thus slowing and reducing the flow that may cause erosion problems downstream.
But the clever thing is that some of these ponds and zones double up as attractive mini parklands at drier times, imaginatively landscaped, grass-covered and with well-designed social amenities built alongside. The other magic of this Master Plan is a network of purple pipes and mains - the pipes designed to carry the recycled Class A plus water to be used for flushing toilets and external use and so save unnecessary use of the precious potable supply.
While each new home and business in this region is plumbed with two totally separate water networks - the traditional one for drinking water and the easily identifiable purple one for high-grade recycled water - residents will have to wait until early next year before the system is thoroughly checked and comes fully on stream.
It means, that at the moment, potable water is coming through the purple network of mains, meters, pipes, taps and hoses and that home owners will have to remember which tap to turn come early 2009. The handles of taps are removable, rendering them childproof when necessary
The Pimpama Recycled Water Treatment Plant will soon be completed and then undergo a long testing period. This is a secondary treatment plant that processes treated water from the adjoining Pimpama Wastewaster Treatment Plant to a higher quality. Also, two large reservoirs are being constructed to hold a head of supply for both drinking and recycled water.
Stage 1 of the plant will convert up to nine million litres of wastewater into Class A+ recycled water each day .
Another benefit of the dual reticulation system is that home owners will have two separate meters, making it easier to track water consumption and to make appropriate savings where necessary.
The Waterfuture Masterplan also includes installation of plumbed in rainwater tanks on all new homes to supply cold water for the laundry and an optional external tap. Another environmental bonus comes with the wastewater system which is designed to limit stormwater infiltration and so reduce, in turn, the amount of greenhouse gas emissions due to less wastewater requiring treatment.
The council has also upgraded its wastewater pipes, creating ‘smart sewers' which are made of new advanced materials and designed to reduce the amount of stormwater and groundwater entering the wastewater system. In all, it's a win, win, win water system that has been developed uniquely through a Gold Coast community-based advisory committee with input from industry associations, developers, residents associations, council, government departments and not least, environmental groups that included Gecko (Gold Coast and Hinterland Environment Council), a sister organisation to our own Sunshine Coast Environment Council.
And to further demonstrate that recycled water Class A plus is a really cool item, Queensland fieries have given it the nod as being safe for firefighting.
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- Sunshine Coast is Australia’s first Transition Region
- Living smart homes generates change
- Affordable eco-houses
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