REwater

REwater

How can green infrastructure be used to manage water movement and achieve sustainable urban development and human well-being around White Bay Power Station?

Site Context

Sydney context

Local context

White Bay is part of Sydney Harbour, located in Sydney's inner west, surrounded by the suburbs of Balmain and Rozelle, and is the last strategic inner harbour site in Sydney available for urban renewal, representing the last deep water and land interface of Sydney Harbour, including White Bay, Glebe Island and White Bay Power Station.

Framework Sustainable Development Goals

By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes

By 2020, protect and prevent the extinction, take significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and,

Framework

All aspects of sustainability rely on maintaining and managing green infrastructure. Green infrastructure is the network of green spaces, natural systems and semi-natural systems that support sustainable communities.

E15. Protecting and enhancing bushland and biodiversity.

E20. Adapting to the impacts of urban and natural hazards and climate change.

Framework

Benedict and McMahon (2002) point out that natural areas such as wetlands, waterways, flora and fauna habitats, and urban green spaces are all part of the green infrastructure, and these natural life support systems provide habitat for native organisms, improve environmental quality, enhance human well-being, and achieve sustainable urban development.

Green Infrastructure

Connected elements

Parks and open spaces

Environment Benefits

Address flooding issue Water quality management Biodiversity

Protect heritage Improve harbour water quality Enhance ecosystem

Habitat

Waterways Green ground cover

Social Benefits

Outdoor activity

Diverse experiences

Enhance physical health

Human well-being

Enhance Mental health

corridor

Framework

The Green Golden Bell Frog (GGBF) was once abundant in Sydney and elsewhere, and in 1863 it was described as "the most common of all Australian frogs". And remained very common until about 30 years ago, when it experienced a dramatic decline due to habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation.

The green and golden bell frog (Litoria aurea) is endangered in NSW and the Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) is trying to save it from extinction.

Potential Frog habitat

Existing frog

Urban Ecology Strategic Action Plan identify the Glebe Foreshore Walk include the Jubilee Park has a great potential to provide an continuous habitat corridor in the LGA so my idea is to extend the corridor into the Balmain area (foreshore), and Green and Golden Bell Frog identify as priorities fauna species for the habitat restoration also wetland is quite fit for its habitat conditions.

Creature Life cycle

Life cycle

Green and golden bells frogs are active during the day and breed in the summer when conditions are warm and moist, usually from October to March of each year. From April to August, when the green and golden bell frogs are inactive, they are particularly sensitive to disturbances.

Diet

Tadpole diet includes bacteria, algae and organic detritus, while adult frogs feed on almost anything, including insects, spiders, small lizards and snakes, and other frogs (Pyke 1990).

Birds, lizards, snakes, turtles, water rats and other frogs like to eat Green and Golden Bell Frogs.

Breeding season

Calling Males

Creature Habitat

Green and golden bell frog

Breeding Habitat

Constructed bodies of water such as stormwater retention ponds, billabongs or ponds. Ponds that are relatively shallow, but vary in depth to accommodate different growth stages.

Foraging Habitat

Plants that form tussocks provide foraging, usually in the vicinity of breeding habitats. Combined with ground lighting helps attract frog foraging insects. There are submerged plants that provide food for tadpoles.

Refuge habitat

Dense grasses, rock piles, escape from danger and retreat in the short term to avoid extreme weather.

Site Context

Site Analysis

Term 1 Group Work: Urban development

While gray infrastructure such as roads, buildings and Metro stations become the main focus in future urban development, ecology and human well-being also need to receive more attention, so green infrastructure becomes even more important. My vision is to combine green infrastructure and gray infrastructure to form a coexistence of urban and nature.

Site

Analysis

Reconsider

Term 1 Group Work: Water Friendly Neighbourhood

Green infrastructure can be used as a method of stormwater management to achieve Water Sensitive Urban Design.

The use of natural elements as infrastructure, form green infrastructure that can be used for water management, biological habitat management and other natural process management. (Herrington, 2016)

Site Analysis

Soil

Land reclamation

The presence of contaminants including heavy metals, PAHs and acid sulfate soils in the site due to the site's industrial history and fill materials used in land reclamation has resulted in contamination of the site's soil, sediment, and groundwater.

Contraints

- Habour water is affected when underground water flows to the harbour through acidic sulfate soils.

Filled soils, man made

Hawkesbury sandstone

Ashfield Shale

Residual soils on shale

Site Analysis

Opportunities - resilience (climate and nature)

Water contain area

Contraints

- Overland flow and Impervious surface: Stormwater run off

- Existing flooding issue: Affects key heritage WBPS

Opportunities

1. Water system resilience - mitigate flood risk

Site Analysis

Opportunities - maintain landmark view

Site Analysis

Opportunities - celebrate landform

Hybrid question

What if an green infrastructure improved water quality outside the metro station, making post-industrial sites part of the daily commuting experience and celebrating the heritage of the site?

Design Principles

Water quality management

Improving the stormwater quality and reuse for site irrigation and water supply for the water feature therefore improve hydrological system to address the climate issue

Commuter experience

Enhancing the interaction between daily commuter and the site through designing a water soundwalk and sensory garden

Co-exisitance - Frog habitat

Establish aquatic flora species that create the habitat for green and golden belt frog and engage the public with water bodies through circulatory systems to create a coexistence urban ecology

Stage 1-Water quality management

Phytoremediation

Stormwater quality management

Habour water purification

Stage 2-Commutor experience

Site access

Stormwater reuse

Seasonal change

Stage 3-Co-exisitance

Habitat restoration

Green infrastructure growth Timeline

Stage 1 Action plan

Phytoremediation

Soil Washing

Phytoremediation Toxic soil

Polluted harbour water

Water flow in sandstone

Green infrastructure

Bioretention

Green infrastructure

Australian reed-warbler

Shallow water

Deep water zone

Vegetation

Auditory

Auditory

Water movement Fauna and Flora

Auditory

Stage 2 Action plan

Phytoremediation/Noise barrier

Phytoremediation/Cafe zone

Bioretention

Wetland

Promenda

Waterfront sitting zone

Section

Timber platform

Timber platform Cafe/Events yard Raingarden Still water-scape Water feature Waterfront sitting zone with level change

1:500@A1

Still pool with timer bridge Linear

Section

Garden seasonal change

CPTED Perspective

Perspective

CPTED Perspective

Action plan Stage 3

Breeding

Ponds with different depths

Periodically drying out water body

Foraging

Ground level lighting

Coexistence

Model

Dry season Monsoon season

Vegetation