Metropolitan Adelaide Stormwater Management Study. Part A
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o i' ,,O (iI ? local Government Association of South Australia State Government of South Australia Audit of Existing Information Final Report r LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION AND STATE GOVERNMENT OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA Metropolitan Adelaide Stormwater Management Study 1 .Part A —Audit of existing information Prepared for: METROPOLITAN ADELAIDE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT STEERING COMMITTEE C/- 16 Hutt Street, Adelaide, South Australia 5000 Prepared by: Kellogg Brown & Root Pty Ltd ABN 91 007 660 317 186 Greenhill Road, Parkside, South Australia 5063 Telephone (08) 8301 1234, Facsimile (08) 8301 1301 L 23 July 2004 L AEV400-C-REP-003-Rev. 0 L L Metropolitan Adelaide Stormwater Management Study CONTENTS Section Page EXECUTIVE SUMMARY GLOSSARY OF TERMS 1 INTRODUCTION 2 COMPONENT 1 - ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRENT POSITION 2.1 Background 2-1 2.2 Stormwater management terminology 2-2 2.3 Data collection 2-4 2.4 Consultation 2-7 2.5 Known flood mitigation projects 2-16 2.6 Process for prioritising works 2-19 2.7 Flood hazard assessment 2-21 2.8 Flood damage assessment 2-23 2.9 Stormwater flow reduction 2-25 2.10 Environmental management 2-32 2.11 Regulatory and policy framework 2-34 2.12 Urban development 2-44 2.13 Information gaps 247 3 COMPONENT 2 — RECOMMENDED ACTIONS AND WAYS FORWARD 3.1 Flood hazard management 3-1 3.2 Stormwater flow reduction 3-5 3.3 Assessment of outstanding projects 3-8 3.4 Output based specifications 3-12 3.5 Regulatory and policy framework 3-14 3.6 Further investigations 3-15 4 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 4.1 Conclusions 4-1 4.2 Recommendations 4-11 5 REFERENCES APPENDICES A Catchment boundaries and stormwater networks B Council consultation summary notes C Summary of currently identified outstanding drainage and flood mitigation projects D Catchment Management Subsidy Scheme historical funding E Catchment Management Subsidy Scheme identified project list and outstanding costs F Council Development Plan analysis G Catchment plans depicting potential dwelling increases AEV400-C-REP-003-Rev. 0 23 July 2004 KBR r, r, r, = 7 Metropolitan Adelaide Stormwater Management Study Part A: Audit of Existing Information Executive Summary INTRODUCTION In 2003, the Local Government Association of South Australia prepared the `Stormwater Management Strategy' dated 27 June 2003, and presented it to the State Government (Minister for Local Government). The Strategy, targeted specifically at metropolitan Adelaide, was prepared to `provide a constructive means to address the significant challenges and opportunities in relation to stormwater management in metropolitan Adelaide'. Endorsed unanimously by all metropolitan council Mayors and Chief Executive Officers, the strategy proposed a partnership approach to stormwater management with equal responsibility for funding between councils and the State Government. `Step 1' of the proposed strategy - an independent study to clearly define `The What' subsequently resulted in the preparation of the terms of reference brief for the `Metropolitan Adelaide Stormwater Management Study' (MASMS). The MASMS is being undertaken in three distinct, although inter related parts: • Part A—Audit of Existing Information - Component 1: Assessment of the current position - Component 2: Recommended actions/way forward • Part B—Stormwater Harvesting and Use • Part C Apportionment of Council Costs. This report presents the outcome of Part A: Audit of Existing Information. CONTEXT The assessment, conclusions drawn and recommendations presented in this report are based on a detailed examination of exiting drainage, flood mitigation and stormwater management reports, as well as an extensive consultation process involving all metropolitan councils within the study area, relevant State Government departments and other stakeholder groups. AEV400-GREP-003-Rev. 0 23 July 2004 " KBR Metropolitan Adelaide Stormwater Management Study Part A: Audit of Existing Information The general perception of the significance of stormwater problems in Adelaide is highly varied, primarily due to the fact that Adelaide has long periods of time (often years) without significant rainfall events and associated flooding. Expenditure on stormwater infrastructure appears to be affected by this perception, often resulting in stormwater being a low priority for State Government and council spending, when compared to more `visible' projects. CONCLUSIONS It is concluded that a number of metropolitan councils do not have significant stormwater related problems, largely as a result of the size and topography of the contributing catchments and the age and condition of infrastructure. These councils, however, can be contributors to downstream problems, and therefore should be part of the solution (refer also Study Part C Report). There is a vast range in the standard of existing systems across metropolitan Adelaide, and most council areas have quite differing approaches to flood management including a combination of catchment based solutions (i.e. detention basins and underground drainage systems) and on-site management requirements for new developments. Detailed flood hazard and flood damage assessment has not been undertaken within the Study area, except for the Brown Hill and Keswick Creek and River Torrens catchments. Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) solutions are largely suitable only for new developments, where there is opportunity to incorporate open space into the planning and `shaping' of the development. For projects in existing developed areas with no or inadequate drainage systems, apart from on-site methods, the lack of open space (unless private property is acquired) will largely prevent WSUD solutions due to the additional costs associated with significant land acquisition, channel widening etc. Significant stormwater works required to be undertaken have been collated, categorised and costed. Based on historical cost estimates (adjusted to 2004 dollars), the estimated cost of identified significant stormwater flood mitigation works in metropolitan Adelaide is in the order of $160 million. This value excludes local level projects (catchment areas less than 40 ha) and land acquisition. An output based procurement model has been considered as one mechanism for achieving the backlog of outstanding works. Such a model can be applied to specific individual projects on a catchment wide basis or on a metropolitan wide basis. This approach has the potential to provide more opportunity to incorporate `innovative' and cost effective solutions to stormwater problems, addressing whole catchment/metropolitan wide benefits to the whole of water cycle under one contractual arrangement. One of the key issues associated with such a model is that hydrology and flooding is probabilistic, not an exact science, and hence will make it difficult to AEV400-C-REP-003-Rev. 0 vi 23 July 2004 KBR Metropolitan Adelaide Stormwater Management Study Part A: Audit of Existing Information clearly and unambiguously define the outputs. In addition, potential legal and contractual complexities with such an arrangement are likely to be significant. The notion that on-site detention (OSD) and on-site retention (OSR) will solve major system deficiencies is incorrect. Such devices are suited for consideration as part of the minor systems and would be overwhelmed during major events. The majority of metropolitan Adelaide is flat and will provide little opportunity to collect on-site surface flows from large events, and roofs are not designed to collect large storm events. The blanket approach of requiring OSD and OSR should be treated with caution as preliminary work has shown their effectiveness is very catchment specific and may actually be detrimental. Local disposal methods into the shallow aquifer have been proven for small scale (i.e. residential) developments for flood mitigation purposes, however, given the current (and proposed) onerous and stringent requirements set by the EPA for sampling and testing, it is unlikely that these will be economically feasible. As Adelaide's urban fringes approach a maximum level of growth and an increased trend to inner metropolitan living continues, urban consolidation will place further pressure on the existing stormwater infrastructure. The areas of highest potential for urban consolidation are considered to be within the western suburbs (Cities of West Torrens and Charles Sturt) and north eastern suburbs (Cities of Campbelltown and Tea Tree Gully). More specifically, these areas relate to the Meakin Terrace, Trimmer Parade, Port Road, Dry Creek and Third to Fifth Creek catchments. The impact on drainage systems due to urban consolidation metropolitan wide is yet to be quantified. Policy and regulatory tools are an important aspect of stormwater management. The role of the Development Act is to establish a framework for making policy and provide for its implementation. A summary of the important aspects and limitations of the Development Act are outlined as follows: • It is emphasised that it only controls development as defined by Section 4 of the Development Act 1993, being those activities such as land division, building works, changes in land use and certain prescribed works in floodplains. • The application of the Development Plan largely refers to new development and it has no effect on existing buildings and land uses that are not contained within a particular development application. • The State Government, through the Minister, can amend the Development Plan through a Ministerial Planning Amendment Report (PAR).