Underground gardening

Rain gardens are underground treatment systems that divert runoff from footpaths and roadsides to garden patches so that pollutants can be naturally absorbed before being discharged to the main stormwater system.

A study commissioned by the City of Sydney identified 21,000 square metres of space for additional rain gardens, with the identified suburbs for developments being Redfern, Alexandria, Darlinghurst, Woolloomooloo and Newtown, all of which are also experiencing city-wide footpath improvements.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the project will treat pollutants that would otherwise end up in the Cooks River or Sydney Harbour despite it being complex to retrofit rain gardens in pre-existing streetscapes. “Rain gardens are difficult to build in highly urbanised areas but the City of Sydney is proving it can be done. Our rain gardens will help provide a cleaner environment, contribute to local sustainability, and build a stronger sense of community.”

The City of Sydney says the sites were chosen based on prior plans for construction of streets and footpaths to minimise costs and disruption, as well as their proximity to stormwater drains.

Rain gardens have recently been built in Buckland Street, Meagher Street and Myrtle Street, Chippendale, and others have been operating in Pirrama Park at Pyrmont, along the Glebe foreshore and at Joynton Avenue in Zetland.

The time it takes for a rain garden to be built depends on whether it is in a greenfield site or urban area and information is currently being created to help residents of these suburbs understand their function.

The initiative is one of many water saving and water reuse projects undertaken across Sydney to replace mains water use with alternative sources and reduce discharge to the ocean.

“The City’s efforts to reuse water and drought-proof our parks will see hundreds of millions of litres of water saved each year, positioning us as an environmental leader and building on current initiatives to plant more trees and reduce waste going to land fill,” says Ms Moore.

Photo: Ali Blogg - Caption: Joynton Avenue rain garden

Source: South Sydney Herald May 2010 www.southsydneyherald.com.au