Ben Wolfgramm took 50 industry delegates made up engineers, scientist, asset manager and landscape designers on a tour of wsud assets in Sydney.

Tour Sites Include:

Raingardens at Baptist St, Boronia St and Telopea St – Redfern

Presenters include Paul Tatham (City of Sydney), David Beharrell (Hornsby Council), Dr Mick Battam (AgEnviro), Hugh Williamson (Optimal Stormwater) and Ben Wolfgramm (Stormwater Nsw).

The City of Sydney shared the progression of knowledge, experience and learning, as the City has, as they continue to build capacity from within. A panel of experts was assembled at each site to discuss critical aspect of these systems and demonstrate how auditing can be carried out.

Hydrocon Filter SJ Harrison Reserve – Earlwood

Presenters include Nell Graham (Canterbury Council), Phillip Birtles (Sydney Water), Aaron Cortese (Ecosol) and Ben Wolfgramm (Stormwater NSW).

This City of Canterbury project was funded by the Cook River Water Urban Water Initiative (CRUWI) and which was led by Sydney Metro CMA. The project aimed to explore the benefits of structural treatment and draw comparisons with softer techniques, such as biofiltration. The project includes primary treatment (GPT) and Hydrocon porous pipe technologies, which exfiltrate flows into a subsurface media and drainage layer to provide additional filtration.

Johnstone St Biofilter – Earlwood

Presenters include Nell Graham (Canterbury Council), Phillip Birtles (Sydney Water), David Brennan (Toolijooa), Rob Laird (Toolijooa), Dr Mick Battam (AgEnviro) and Damian McCann (AWC Consulting).

The design brief was robust and funding locked in. The bush setting was unique. The biofilter was to treat a small urban catchment in Earlwood. The project was built in 2012. What’s happened since and how is this performing? Was biofiltration the best fit for this project and what improvements could be made in relation to siting, sizing, deployment and maintenance?

Cup & Saucer Wetlands – Earlwood/Canterbury

Presenters include Phillip Birtles (Sydney Water), Daniel Cunningham (Sydney Water), Nell Graham (Canterbury Council), David Brennan (Toolijooa), Rob Laird (Toolijooa) and Damian McCann (AWC Consulting).

CS Wetland was designed to capture sediment and remove pollutants, such as, nitrogen and phosphorus from the waterway. Flows to the wetland are screened for gross pollutants, enters the wetland sediment zone, then flows through a series of pools where the plants and bacteria remove pollutants, before it re-enters the creek and the Cooks River. Sounds great… in theory!

Sydney Water and Canterbury City explained the background, design and maintenance required to operate this ecological asset.

The tour sites included

• 90 Alton Road, Bio-Infiltration Basins, Cooranbong
• Watagan Park Johnson Property Group Sub Division, Cooranbong
• Aquilo Residential Development, Bio-detention, Bonnells Bay (Hosted by Lake Macquarie City Council)
• San Remo Trashrack Upgrade, Budgewoi

Delegates enjoyed interaction with presenters, close encounters with WSUD and heard challenges, problem solving and highlights throughout the day. We encourage you to join the next tour!