MASTER PLAN OPTIONS SUMMARY REPORT · 2012-03-01 · Pimpama Coomera Water Futures Master Plan Options Summary Report 1 2 Pimpama Coomera Water Futures Project 6 Master Plan Activities

PIMPAMA COOMERA WATER FUTURES PROJECT

MASTER PLAN OPTIONSSUMMARY REPORT JULY 2003

FROM MAYOR GARY BAILDON

The Gold Coast faces an exciting andchallenging future. We must accommodate agrowing population and new developments whileprotecting our world-famous natural assets andprized waterside lifestyle.

The recent drought has further emphasised theimportance of preserving our fragile environmentfor future generations to enjoy. It has taught usthat water is a vital, yet limited, resource and forour city’s growth to be more sustainable we mustchange the way we value and use water.

As part of our commitment to more sustainablewater resource management, Gold Coast CityCouncil has launched the Pimpama CoomeraWater Futures Project. This innovative project isbeing piloted in the Pimpama Coomera region –a high growth area that will undergo majorresidential and commercial development in thecoming years. We have the unique opportunity to implement smarter water systems into thesenew urban developments to create Australia’sfirst truly water sustainable communities. The key to achieving our vision is the input of the Gold Coast community, industry andgovernment. I encourage all groups to contributefeedback on our progress to date and togetherhelp us achieve a more sustainable water futurefor the Gold Coast.

Gary J. BaildonMayor, Gold Coast City

FROM ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIR CR DAPHNE McDONALD

Central to the Pimpama Coomera Water Futures Project is the belief that water management iseveryone’s responsibility. The successfulplanning and implementation of water-savingmeasures, such as those proposed for thePimpama Coomera region, depends on publicacceptance and support from the start.

Consequently, one of our first steps indeveloping the project’s overarching MasterPlan was to establish a broad-based communityAdvisory Committee. Over the past six monthsthe Advisory Committee and Council havedeveloped innovative options for urban waterservices in the Pimpama Coomera area. Theoutcome is five short-listed Master Plan optionsdetailed in this report. I congratulate theAdvisory Committee members and project teamfor their time and efforts in progressing thisimportant initiative and, on their behalf, welcomeyour input into the project.

Daphne McDonaldCouncillor, Division 13, Gold Coast City

1Pimpama Coomera Water Futures Master Plan Options Summary Report

2 Pimpama Coomera Water Futures Project

6 Master Plan Activities and Timeframe

8 Options Development

10 Options

16 Option A

18 Option B

20 Option C

22 Option D

24 Option E

26 The Way Forward

27 Glossary

28 Advisory Committee Members

Pimpama Coomera Water Futures Project Team

Independent Review

SCOPE OF REPORT

Gold Coast City Council’s Water Futures Project at Pimpama Coomera will produce aMaster Plan for more sustainable use of water resources.

This Summary Report outlines the project’s objectives and processes, the five shortlistedoptions and how they were developed. It is a condensed version of the more technicalPimpama Coomera Water Futures Master Plan Options Report July 2003.

In progressing the Pimpama Coomera Water Futures Project, this report aims to not onlyinform but also gain input from the community and stakeholders. We welcome yourfeedback and encourage you to contact the project team.

To obtain copies of project reports, newsletters or fact sheets or for more information,please contact the project team:

PHONE 1300 136 806

EMAIL [email protected]

WRITE Pimpama Coomera Water Futures Project Reply Paid 105 Fortitude Valley Qld 4006

WEB www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au

The content of this document is for discussion only; it does not represent current policy of Gold CoastCity Council. This report summarises the outcomes of the Pimpama Coomera Water Futures Project todate and has been produced to inform and seek feedback from the community about the project.

CONTENTS

Pimpama Coomera Water Futures Master Plan Options Summary Report2


The Pimpama Coomera Water Futures Project is a vital step towards securing a more

sustainable ‘water future’ for the Gold Coast – a future in which we protect and carefully

manage our water resources to safeguard our enviable quality of life. The project is the

first in Australia to investigate integrating sustainable urban water management initiatives

on a large-scale.

Water resource challengesfacing the Gold CoastThere are four elements of the Gold Coast urban watersystem – high quality drinking water or potable water,wastewater, stormwater and recycled water. The system,like those of other Australian cities and towns, is supplyfocused so when there has been increased demand for water, additional supplies have been sought out and harnessed. Drinking water, wastewater, stormwaterand recycled water are either supplied or processedindependently of each other via centralised and capital-intensive infrastructure, such as dams andwastewater treatment plants. This centralised approachis energy and water intensive, with water required totransport waste to treatment facilities. Potable water is not only used for drinking, but for most household,commercial and rural purposes. Its consumptionremains high, while the full potential use of recycledwater has not yet been realised.

Essentially this type of system uses water resourcesinefficiently and is now regarded as unsustainable. The recent drought on the Gold Coast – the worst onrecord – and the city’s rate of development have furtherreinforced the need to change the way we use water.

The Gold Coast is one of Australia’s fastest growingregions, with a projected population of 1.1 millionpeople by 2056. Based on current water usage rates,the city’s water requirements will far outstrip the recentlyrevised capacity of the planned future water sources,which are Hinze Dam and Glendower Dam.

To address this shortfall, the Gold Coast will need toidentify additional sources and/or reduce waterconsumption. This could be achieved by encouragingpeople to use less water and substituting drinkablewater with recycled water or stormwater for some non-drinking purposes, such as watering the garden or flushing the toilet.

The Pimpama Coomera Water Futures Project is part of the Gold Coast City Council’s Water Future Strategy.Another Water Futures Project will consider the CityWater Balance. The projects interact and are beingcompleted concurrently.

The City Water Balance is a high-level assessment ofthe City’s water supply strategy for the next 50 yearsand will include:• reassessment of the existing water storage capacity• future demand requirements including

environmental flows• new sources including desalination and

intercatchment transfers• demand management • source substitution.


A water sustainablecommunity…This is what the urban communities of the futurecould be like if the water-sensitive initiativesproposed by the Master Plan were adopted. Manyof these initiatives, such as rainwater tanks, arecurrently in use in other Australian and overseasurban communities, but only on an individualbasis. The Pimpama Coomera region would be the first Australian development to integrate asignificant number of water-sensitive initiatives on a large-scale.

Every house in residential streets would be fittedwith rainwater tanks to capture rainwater for reuse in the bathroom and laundry and help to reducestormwater run-off into local waterways. A dual watersupply system provides both drinking water andrecycled water to the house. Drinking water is usedin the kitchen, while recycled water is used to flushthe toilet or for other outside uses such as wateringthe garden or washing the car. As a result of thesuccessful public education campaigns, thecommunity makes a real effort to conserve water –most homes are fitted with water-efficient householdappliances and landscaped with native plants thatrequire only occasional watering.

In place of concrete kerbs, grass swales captureand improve the quality of stormwater run-off. Theswales resemble v-shaped dips and run adjacent to the roadside. Recycled water is used to keep thelocal public parks and open spaces green, even inthe drier summer months. Below ground and behindthe scenes, Council uses the latest technology toensure the water system meets everyone’s needswithout disturbing the environment.

Preserving our water resourcesGold Coast City Council is taking a first step towardsprotecting our water resources for future generations with the launch of the Pimpama Coomera Water Futures Project.

The project will deliver a Master Plan that will be the foundationfor the development of water sustainable communities in thePimpama Coomera region. The pilot project could also providethe blueprint for other appropriate urban areas on the GoldCoast, Australia and overseas.

The Master Plan will focus on smarter ways to manage water resources by looking at drinking water, wastewater,stormwater and recycled water in an integrated sense. It willchallenge conventional water infrastructure design to achievebeneficial outcomes for the environment, community andeconomy, while also considering the potential regulatoryconstraints and community impacts.

This Summary Report has been produced to inform thecommunity about the Pimpama Coomera Water Futures Projectand gain feedback. The report details five draft options forcommunity consideration and how these were developed andassessed. It is important to note that the assessment of optionsdid not measure all of the effects and outcomes of the options,only those relevant to the scope of the study. Similarly, theassessment results are based on assumptions and the bestdata currently available, and could change as a result offurther investigations.

Project area The Pimpama Coomera region is largely undeveloped, with acurrent residential population of approximately 5,000. However,the region is expected to be the next major growth corridor onthe Gold Coast. Its population is expected to reach 150,000 by2056, yet current rates of development indicate it could reachthis ultimate capacity even sooner. Future development isexpected to be predominantly residential (78%) andcommercial/industrial (13%) along with public open spacesand community amenities. As indicated in Council’s NorthernWastewater Strategy, the proposed Pimpama WastewaterTreatment Plant will help service this growth.

The area’s significant natural assets include the PimpamaRiver, Coomera River and the conservation zones of PimpamaFish Habitat Area and Jumpinpin-Broadwater Fish HabitatArea, which form part of the Moreton Bay Marine Park andRAMSAR Wetland. Water quality in the Pimpama River andCoomera River is generally good. As the Pimpama Coomeraarea is urbanised, it will be vital to minimise the environmentalimpacts of stormwater flows, and treated water releases fromthe proposed wastewater treatment plant.


Project objectives and outcomes The objective of the Water Futures Project is to ensuremore sustainable urban use of the Pimpama Coomeraregion’s water resources, with sustainability beingmeasured on a whole-of-life basis via a balance ofenvironmental, social and economic outcomes. Thisobjective is consistent with Gold Coast City Council’soverarching aim to ensure more sustainable use of thewhole region’s urban water resources. For the purposes ofthis project, ‘sustainable’ applies to activities that can bemaintained over the long term, while achieving a balancebetween the environment, the economy and society.

Project outcomes The project’s success will be measured against the following environmental, social and economic outcomes.

ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES

City water supply is in balance

We must ensure our water supply meets our city’sdemand. A shortfall, as experienced in the recentdrought, not only impacts on the health of theenvironment but also constrains the region’s social andeconomic activities. Some of the factors that influencethe water supply balance include water sources (eg capacity of dams), the region’s population and itswater usage, and the substitution of drinkable water with recycled water or stormwater for some purposes.

Improve waterway health

Our waterways are home to important and fragileecosystems. They also attract thousands of tourists to theGold Coast each year and are used for many recreationalactivities such as swimming, fishing and boating.



To protect and enhance the health of our waterways, we must monitor and control key influencing factorsincluding the quality and quantity of wastewaterproduced, the amount of treated water released,stormwater run-off and unintentional spills from thewastewater system into the waterways.

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions

The energy used to power the water system generatesgreenhouse gas emissions. The energy-intensiveprocesses that contribute emissions include the pumpingof large volumes of water and wastewater over longdistances, and the extensive treatment of wastewater.

It is vital we minimise our energy use, as greenhousegas emissions can change climate patterns andpotentially reduce rainfall and water supplies.

Minimise impacts of urban water infrastructure on ecosystems

Building new dams often destroys large ecosystems and vegetated areas. Many factors determine if newdams need to be built, including:• the region’s population and its water usage• the price of water• water losses while being transported from dams

and water treatment plants to the customer• a total reliance on surface water storages for

urban water• the level of recycled water or stormwater use

instead of high quality drinking water• the amount of environmental flows.

Minimise the impact of treatment by-products

The treatment of wastewater produces some beneficialby-products that can be reused. The following can help to maximise reuse of by-products: • Wastewater treatment processes that produce

smaller volumes of by-products• Higher level of by-product treatment • Better quality of wastewater generated and treated.

SOCIAL OUTCOMES

Ensure fit-for-purpose water quality

It is important to maintain our high drinking waterstandard. However, other less treated water sourcesmay be more appropriate for non-drinking purposes,such as watering the garden or flushing the toilet. Our ability to provide the most appropriate water forparticular uses relies on the quality of raw watersources, the time elapsed between treating andconsuming water, treatment standards for recycledwater and the quality of local stormwater.

Improve service reliability to customers

Council strives to provide a reliable urban water servicethat satisfies customers’ needs. This depends onseveral factors, including water supply sourceswithstanding variable rainfall, extended periods of peakdemand during dry weather, people’s water usage, andblockages in the wastewater and stormwater systems.

Improved satisfaction of customers’ expectations

This process involves identifying and meetingcustomers’ expectations and continually monitoringCouncil’s ability to meet expectations through customer surveys.

ECONOMIC OUTCOMES

Reduce whole-of-life costs

Whole-of-life cost is the net present value to build,operate and maintain our water and wastewatersystems. A range of factors can impact on its whole-of-life cost, but some of the major influences include: • Upfront capital costs• Ongoing operation and maintenance costs • Quality of materials used• How well system assets are installed• Quantity of water and wastewater treated and

transported through the system • Amount of wastewater and water travelling through

the system during peak periods.


Master Plan developmentmethodology The Master Planning process began in mid-2002 and isexpected to be completed and approved by early 2004.Council is developing the Master Plan in partnershipwith the community, industry and governmentstakeholders to ensure an open and transparentprocess guided by community input.

The Master Plan will provide the overall vision, principles and approaches for more

sustainable water practices in the Pimpama Coomera region. The Master Planning

process is being undertaken over 18 months and is supported by other activities,

including an ecological study of the Pimpama River estuary.

Master Plan methodology

Project establishmentMID TO END 2002

Initiatives and options developmentEARLY TO MID 2003

Public consultation and refinement of options

LATE 2003

Master Plan approval and implementation

EARLY 2004

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Project establishment

The Pimpama Coomera Water Futures Project was firstdiscussed at a series of strategic workshops attendedby Gold Coast Water and key government stakeholdersin mid 2002. The workshop outcomes were captured ina discussion paper that marked a first step in thedevelopment of the project’s integrated urban watermanagement Master Plan.

An Advisory Committee was formed in late 2002 to involve a broad range of stakeholders in the Master Plan’s development from the earliest stages. The Advisory Committee members include Gold Coast City Councillors, representatives from State Governmentdepartments, land developers and industryassociations, environmental groups, landholders and resident associations.

As a first step, Council and the Advisory Committeeestablished the Master Plan’s guiding objective andeconomic, environmental and social outcomes.

Initiatives and options development

The Advisory Committee and Council worked together to develop a range of water-sensitive initiatives andoptions for the Pimpama Coomera region.

The initiatives proposed new, more sustainable ways to use water and ranged from rainwater tanks tocomposting toilets. Complementary initiatives weregrouped together to create overall water managementstrategies – or options – for the region.

The process of developing the Master Plan initiativesand options started in early 2003. The AdvisoryCommittee and Council agreed to evaluationmethodologies and then set about developing andevaluating initiatives and options. Five options (seepages 16 to 24) were shortlisted to be considered forthe final Master Plan.

A development forecast was also undertaken to providemore information about the future requirements of thePimpama Coomera region.

MASTER PLAN ACTIVITIES AND TIMEFRAME

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Public consultation and refinement of options

Council is now consulting with the wider communityabout the options. People will have the opportunity toview the five options at the public display, as well as inthis Summary Report and the more detailed PimpamaCoomera Water Futures Options Report. This SummaryReport has been released for the key purpose ofgaining public feedback about the project and therange of options developed. The consultation activitieswill be supported by ongoing public awarenessinitiatives outlining the importance of sustaining waterresources for the future.

Following the consultation period, the five options willbe further analysed, including a risk analysis of eachoption, and scored to support the development of apreferred option. Ongoing consultation with the AdvisoryCommittee and the broader community will be a keypart of this process.

Master Plan approval and implementation

The Advisory Committee will recommend the final MasterPlan in December 2003. Gold Coast City Council willconsider the Master Plan for approval in January 2004.

Pimpama Coomera Water Futures Master Plan Options Summary Report

Other Water Futures activities Pimpama River Estuary Ecological Study

Council is undertaking the Pimpama River EstuaryEcological Study in conjunction with the development ofthe Master Plan. It is part of Council’s commitment tominimise the impacts of urban development in thePimpama Coomera region on the environmentallysignificant Moreton Bay Marine Park and RAMSARwetlands. The study will assess the quantity and qualityof treated water that can be safely released into thePimpama River estuary. The two-year study will becompleted by 2005. The findings will help to set thetreatment standards for the proposed PimpamaWastewater Treatment Plant, which will serve the area’snew urban developments. Relevant data will also beincorporated into a future review of the Master Plan forthe Pimpama Coomera region.

Stormwater Management Study

The Stormwater Management Study, which is part of theMaster Plan, is investigating the likely benefits andcosts associated with incorporating Water SensitiveUrban Design initiatives into the Pimpama Coomeraregion. The Water Sensitive Urban Design initiativeswould aim to improve the quality of stormwater run-offand could include rainwater tanks and grass swalesamongst others. The study is looking at the water qualityimpacts on a sub-catchment that drains into thePimpama River. The findings would then be appliedacross the entire Master Plan area. The study is takingan alternative approach to urban planning by looking atthe impacts of providing Water Sensitive Urban Designon a catchment-wide basis, rather than on individualdevelopment sites within the catchment area.


Options and initiatives The five Master Plan options were developed overseveral steps:

Step 1 Identification of Water Futures initiatives Step 2 Assessment and selection

of appropriate initiatives Step 3 Development of 10 options Step 4 Assessment and selection

of seven options Step 5 Shortlisting to five options

A diverse range of initiatives and options were developed and rigorously assessed over

several months. The goal was to deliver five short-listed options that will be considered

for the final Master Plan.

OPTIONS DEVELOPMENT

The Pimpama Coomera Water Futures Master Plan Advisory Committee discussing the options

The assessments did not measure all the effects andoutcomes of the initiatives and options. The scope ofthe study only allowed for assessment of the relevantoutcomes. The assessment results are based onassumptions and the best data currently available, and could change as a result of further investigations.


STEP 1 – Identification of initiatives Forty-three initiatives, ranging from rainwater tanks toWaterWise public education campaigns, weredeveloped for further assessment.

STEP 2 – Assessment and selection of initiatives

The assessment involved:• Defining the initiative’s key features, response to

project objectives and outcomes, advantages anddisadvantages

• Assessing each initiative’s consequences• Evaluating the likelihood of each initiative being

implemented• Determining the initiative’s overall impact by

combining its consequence and likelihood.

The Advisory Committee reviewed the evaluatedinitiatives and selected a shortlist of the best initiativesfor the Pimpama Coomera region. Twenty-four initiativeswere selected in the key areas of water supply,wastewater, recycled water, stormwater, public education,finance, and water management infrastructure. Initiativesnot shortlisted at this stage could still be reconsideredduring the project’s review process or for other futureprojects.

Many of the initiatives have been successfullyimplemented on an individual basis in other Australianand overseas urban developments. Examples includerecycled water use at Rouse Hill in New South Walesand initiatives based on Water Sensitive Urban Designat Coomera Waters. Unlike those developments, thePimpama Coomera Water Futures Project aims tointegrate a range of initiatives into one large-scaleurban community.

STEP 3 – Development of 10 optionsComplementary initiatives were grouped together tocreate 10 options. The options were then evaluatedagainst the project’s desired sustainability outcomesand comparative criteria.

Desired sustainability outcomes

The desired sustainability outcomes corresponded to theproject’s environmental, social and economic outcomes.All options had to satisfy the desired sustainabilityoutcomes by meeting specified minimum requirements.These requirements included existing legislation andregulations, likely licensing and approval requirements,and practices that are part of Gold Coast Water’s normalservice provision and normal service improvement.


Comparative Criteria

The Comparative Criteria also correspond to thisproject’s environmental, social and economic outcomes.These criteria facilitate comparison of the performanceof each option. Each option was compared against thefollowing standard criteria. The Advisory Committeedetermined the relative importance of each criteria.

OPTIONS

COMPARATIVE CRITERIA PROPOSED TARGETS (compared to the business-as-usual option)

Replace non-consumptive drinkable (potable) water 25% substitution of drinkable water with water fromuses with water from alternative sources (based on total annual usage)

Nitrogen release to the Pimpama River estuary Nitrogen release less than 40 kilograms of nitrogen per day (kgN/day) limit (dry weather)

Freshwater release to the Pimpama River estuary Treated water release volume less than 12.5 ML/day limit (dry weather)

Minimise adverse stormwater impacts 5% reduction in stormwater flow

Minimise peak potable water demands 15% reduction in peak instantaneous water demand rates

Improve water quality in the potable water 30% reduction in average potable water system distribution system retention

Reduce unaccounted-for-water loss from the 25% reduction in unaccounted-for-water potable water system

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from 20% net reduction in greenhouse gas emissionswater-related infrastructure

Reduce impact of future infrastructure eg dams Deferral/elimination of the need for new reservoircapacity as the basis for minimising or avoidingadverse ecosystem impacts associated with theprovision of storages

Meet customer expectations regarding quality Anticipated community response to the quality ofof service service provided

Meet customer expectations regarding the option’s Anticipated community response to infrastructureimpact on local amenity impacts on local amenity

Provide a better work environment Improvements to the work environment

Minimise whole-of-life costs No increase in the whole-of-life cost to the communityfor all water services


STEP 4 – Assessment and selection of seven options

The Advisory Committee reviewed the evaluated optionsto select seven options for further consideration. These seven options comprised five of the original options (options 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) and two new options(options 11 and 12) proposed by the Advisory Committee.

High-level analysis

As the Pimpama Coomera Water Futures Project aims to

achieve integrated urban water use, the high-level

analysis needed to consider the interrelationship

between the different elements of the urban water cycle.

The analysis of each option involved:

• Applying a Water Balance Model to estimate water

demand, alternative water sources, potential

substitution of drinkable water, and reductions in

peak water demand and unaccounted-for-water

• Using a Salt Balance Model to assess the net salt

increase and the change in salt concentrations in

the water system due to recycled water

• Identifying the operational requirements for each

option

• Estimating greenhouse gas emissions based on the

energy consumption of each option

• Preparing cost estimates incorporating capital costs,

operating and maintenance costs and preliminary

present value costs.

Ensured options satisfied desired sustainability outcomes

Assessed options against the comparative criteria. The options’ performance against the environmental and social criteria was used to calculate a non-cost score for each option

Divided the non-cost score by the option’s estimated cost to determine its value for money

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Options assessment

The results of the high-level analysis were used toassess each option’s performance against the projectoutcomes.

The options assessment process:

Options selection process

Step 3 – Options Step 4 – Seven options Step 5 – Five optionsdeveloped selected shortlisted

Option 1 Option 1

Option 2 Option 2 Option 2A (slightly revised

Option 3 Option 3 version of option 2)

Option 4 Option 4 Option 3

Option 5 Option 5 Option 5

Option 6 Option 11* Option 11

Option 7 Option 12* Option 12

Option 8

Option 9

Option 10

STEP 5 – Shortlisted five options Five options were shortlisted following a high-levelanalysis and assessment process. These were options 2A(a slightly revised version of option 2), 3, 5, 11 and 12.

The Options section of this report (pages 16 to 24)

details the five options, including their key features and

assessment results.

* new options developedby the Advisory Committee


OPTIONS

Here is a preview of life in a water sustainable community in the near future. This vision

incorporates elements of the five options to demonstrate what could be achieved in the

Pimpama Coomera region.

Our Water Futures vision

It is not an unachievable, far-off vision but a future realityas many of these initiatives have already beenimplemented individually in other Australian and overseasurban communities. Examples include recycled water usein the New South Wales suburb of Rouse Hill andinitiatives based on Water Sensitive Urban Design atCoomera Waters. However, the Pimpama Coomera regionwould be the first large-scale urban community tointegrate a significant number of best practice water-sensitive initiatives.

At home

Households now source less than one quarter of their totalwater from the city’s main water supply. Instead eachhouse is fitted with a rainwater tank that captures rainwater run-off. The tanks, which blendinconspicuously into the house design or gardenlandscaping, provide the dual benefits of reducingdemand on the city’s water supply and decreasingstormwater run-off into local waterways.

Five Options Table

High quality Recycled water Rainwater tanks Smart Water sensitive drinking water sewers urban design

Current All household andsituation commercial purposes

Option From the city’s For toilet, external tap, For bathroom, laundrymain water supply irrigating public open and hot water system.

spaces, canefields Topped up with drinkableand fire-fighting water when rainwater

supply is low.

A For kitchen, bathroom,laundry and hot watersupply

B For kitchen only

C For kitchen and + toilet and external tapfirefighting only

D Kitchen only + storage tank on property for recycled water

E All household and Recycled Water is releasedcommercial purposes directly into Hinze Dam only

An underground dual water supply system supplies thehousehold with both high quality drinking water andrecycled water. Drinkable water is used only in the kitchen,while recycled water is used to flush the toilet and foroutside purposes such as washing the car or watering thegarden. The garden only requires occasional watering asthe local plant species are perfectly adapted to our climate.

Water used in the bathroom and laundry for running theshower or washing clothes is sourced from the rainwatertank. The water-efficient appliances, such as the AAAAwashing machine, further reduce water demand. Homesare fitted with smart meters that measure and record wateruse during specific periods. The different tariff rates offerresidents a real incentive to use less water during peakdemand times.

Based on the latest design and construction approaches,the community’s ‘smart sewer’ is a low-cost, quality systemthat reduces the risk of wastewater overflows in wetweather. The system releases wastewater to a nearbywastewater treatment plant where it is treated to be reused.

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On the street

The Pimpama Coomera community is among a growingnumber of Australian urban communities to integrateWater Sensitive Urban Design into the streetscape.Rather than rob itself of precious water and channelstormwater pollutants into the waterways, the communitycaptures and treats stormwater run-off to transform itsopen spaces. Grass swales, resembling v-shaped dips,are located on the roadside in place of concrete-gradedkerbs and drains. Specially designed kerbs channelstormwater from the roadside and houses into theswales. The water passes down to gravel-filledtrenches, where pollutants and particles are filtered outnaturally. The stormwater travels along open channelsand pipes to a local wetland where it is further treated,before passing into the local waterways.

The native trees and bushes lining the streets requireless watering and provide an attractive habitat for nativespecies. Recycled water irrigates public parks, openspaces and vegetation buffers, and is also used for fire-fighting purposes.

In the broader community

Ongoing community awareness activities haveencouraged the community to use our precious resourcemore responsibly. Waterwise practices are now eventaught in hospitality courses, ensuring the tourismindustry plays its role to conserve water.

As part of Council’s new development approvalprocesses, developers must submit water and energymanagement plans for new residential, tourism orcommercial development. Council is working incollaboration with industry and the developmentcommunity to encourage developers to adopt moresustainable practices across the board.

Behind the scenes Council has improved the way theurban water system is installed, maintained andmonitored to reduce overall costs and system leaks.Council is embracing new technologies to improve thesystem’s efficiency and minimise its environmentalimpacts. These advances have all contributed to highlevels of customer satisfaction with the quality ofCouncil’s water services.

Overall the reduction in drinkable water demand andgreater re-use of stormwater and recycled water in localneighbourhoods has reduced the need for new orupgraded large-scale infrastructure, such as treatmentplants and dams.

Pimpama Coomera residents enjoy a quality urbanlifestyle while helping to conserve water and revitaliseour waterways and oceans. This community’s sustainablewater use has reduced the total amount of drinkablewater used in our entire city by as much as 15%.

The vision could be achieved if all best practice water-sensitive initiatives currently available were implementedin the Pimpama Coomera region. The following fiveoptions, which include many or all of the aboveinitiatives, propose different ways of achieving ourobjective of establishing water sustainable communities.

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The five Master Plan options propose a range of opportunities for developing more sustainable water communitieslike the one described above.

Sustainability is difficult to define as established industry benchmarks are subjective. Consequently, each option’s outcomes have been measured against the current ‘business-as-usual’ approach.

BUSINESS-AS-USUAL OPTION

Features

• High quality drinking water is used for all purposes, including internal and external household uses, fire-fightingand irrigating public spaces.

• Wastewater is collected in a conventional wastewater system and transported to a single wastewater treatmentplant. Treated water is released into the Broadwater.

• Stormwater is collected in concrete kerbs and drains and channelled directly into waterways.


Five options to achieve the Water Futures vision

OPTIONS

Business-as-usual (BAU) Approach

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Water supply

• Controlled water system pressure to minimise system leaks and associated water losses.

• Water-saving devices. These include water-efficienthousehold appliances, such as flow restrictions fortaps, shower roses and advanced dual-flush toilets.

• Automated irrigation management systems installedat commercial, and possibly, residential properties.The system controls irrigation in wet or windyweather and includes soil sensors that gauge when watering is required.

Stormwater

• Water Sensitive Urban Design integrated intoneighbourhoods. Roadside grass swales treatstormwater run-off in the local area. The swales slow the stormwater flow, capture litter andsediments and help to reduce the pollutant load on downstream waterways.

Public education

• Community awareness activities to educate people about responsible water use.

• Water education incorporated into hospitalitycourses to encourage the tourism industry to beWaterWise.

• Joint promotion of more sustainable practices within the development industry by Gold Coast City Council, Housing Industry Association andUrban Development Institute of Australia.

Financial incentives

• Smart meters installed to measure and record water use during specific periods. Different ratesencourage people to use less water during peakdemand periods.

Water infrastructure management

• Developers submit water and energy managementplans for new development applications.

• More stringent control of system installations andmaintenance, including more inspections duringconstruction and operation, better education ofconstruction workers and a greater effort to identifypotential system leaks and faults.

• Improved methods of pipe construction eg.trenchless technology to reduce the need fordigging up footpaths and road surfaces.

• Better monitoring of water, wastewater andstormwater systems.


What is the same for all five options?

Each option comprises common Master Planning features as well as differentiating initiatives. The following initiatives are common to all options:


PLEASE NOTE: The five options were selected from an initial list of 10 options, with two additional options (numbers 11 and 12) developed during the evaluation period. To reflect this development process, the five optionsbelow retain their original numbering.

What is different about this option?

Features

• Underground dual reticulation system supplies drinkable water and recycled water to the property.• High quality drinking water from the city’s main water supply is used in the kitchen, bathroom, laundry

and hot-water system.• Recycled water is used to flush toilets and for external purposes, such as watering gardens.

It is also used to irrigate public open spaces, canefields and for fire-fighting purposes.• Wastewater is collected in a ‘smart’ sewer designed to reduce wet weather flow rates.• Wastewater is transported to a recycled water treatment plant where it is treated for reuse. • Excess recycled water from the treatment plant is transported to a nearby underground storage

area where it is stored until needed.

OPTION A This option was formerly titled Option 2A (a revised version of the original option 2)

OPTION A Dual reticulation for toilets, gardens and fire hydrants,with aquifer storage and recovery, plus ‘smart sewers’

17

Key outcomes The option’s sustainable outcomes are measuredagainst the business-as-usual option. The results of theassessment detailed below are based on assumptionsand the best data currently available, and could changeas a result of further investigations. The assessmentsdid not measure all the effects and outcomes of theoption, only those relevant to the scope of the study.

Environmental

• Greater use of recycled water reduces the drinkingwater demand by 60%.

• Demand for drinking water in peak periodsdecreases by 79%.

• Better monitoring and maintenance of the watersystem and a lower drinking water demand cutslosses and leaks from the water system by 61%.

• Improves the health of waterways and oceans byreducing both nitrogen and treated water releasesby 86%.

• No significant reduction in stormwater flows from the current business-as-usual level, although theintegration of Water Sensitive Urban Designimproves the quality of stormwater flowing into local waterways.

• Produces 29% less greenhouse gases than thebusiness-as-usual option.

• Lower demand for drinking water reduces the needto build new dams.

Social

• Likely to generate a very high level of communitysatisfaction with the quality of service and impact on local amenity.

• Provides a better working environment for staff.

Economic

• Estimated total present value of $554 million –marginally more expensive (6%) than the currentbusiness-as-usual option.

• Savings generated by the lower-cost ‘smart’ seweroffset the higher costs of the dual reticulation system.

Potential issues and risks Community perceptions of recycled water

Reuse of recycled water will depend upon thecommunity accepting it as safe and appropriate for the proposed uses, such as watering the garden. It will be important to inform the community thatrecycled water will be of a high quality and treated to government-approved standards.

Demand for recycled water

Demand for recycled water to flush toilets should beconsistent, but reuse of recycled water for outside uses could be lower than expected, particularly if thecommunity has negative perceptions of recycled water.Lower demand could result in more recycled waterbeing released into the waterways and lowersubstitution of drinkable water.

Underground storage and recovery of recycled water

An appropriate site for the proposed undergroundstorage of recycled water may not be found within the Pimpama Coomera area. If this occurs, thealternative solution will result in more treated waterbeing released to the Broadwater when demand forrecycled water is low.

Wet weather flows and groundwater in thewastewater system

The ‘smart sewer’ aims to reduce the size of the systemthat transports wastewater from homes to treatmentplants. To achieve this, the ‘smart sewer’ will control the entry of water sources other than wastewater intothe system. These sources include water resulting fromwet weather and groundwater. However, if entry of wetweather flows and groundwater into the system is higherthan expected, the pipes will not be able to transportthe flow. This could result in overflows of wastewater in public spaces and residential areas.




Features

• Underground dual reticulation system supplies drinking water and recycled water to the property.• High quality drinking water from the city’s main water supply is used in the kitchen only.• A rainwater tank attached to the house supplies water to the bathroom, laundry and hot water system.

Tanks are topped up with drinkable water when rainwater supply is low.• Recycled water is used to flush toilets and for external purposes, such as watering gardens.

It is also used to irrigate public open spaces, canefields and for fire-fighting purposes.• Wastewater is collected in a ‘smart’ sewer designed to reduce wet weather flow rates.• Wastewater is transported to a recycled water treatment plant where it is treated for reuse. • Excess recycled water from the treatment plant is transported to a nearby underground storage area

where it is stored until needed.

OPTION B This option was formerly titled Option 3

OPTION B Dual reticulation for toilets, gardens and fire hydrants,

with aquifer storage and recovery, rainwater tanks for bathroom,laundry and hot water, plus ‘smart sewers’

19


Environmental

• Reduces drinking water demand by 85% throughsubstitution of drinking water with recycled water or rainwater for many household purposes.

• Decreases peak demand for drinking water by 79%.• A downsize in the water supply system and better

monitoring helps to cut water losses by 85%. • Decreases treated water and nitrogen releases

into the Pimpama River estuary by 87.5%. • Directing rainwater into the rainwater tanks cuts

stormwater run-off by 17%. • Produces 30% less greenhouse gas emissions. • The smaller potable water supply reduces the need

to build new dams.

Social

• Household owners will be responsible for the set-upand maintenance of rainwater tanks, and will need to accommodate the system on their property. This could reduce customer satisfaction with theoption’s impact on local amenity and the overallservice levels.

• Provides a better working environment for staff.

Economic

• Estimated total present value cost of $632 million – a 21% increase on the business-as-usual option.

• Household owners will pay for the installation andongoing maintenance of the rainwater tanks.



Reuse of recycled water will depend upon thecommunity accepting it as safe and appropriate for the proposed uses, such as watering the garden. It will be important to inform the community thatrecycled water will be of a high quality and treated to government-approved standards.



Underground storage and recovery of recycled water

An appropriate site for the proposed undergroundstorage of recycled water may not be found within the Pimpama Coomera area. If this occurs, thealternative solution will result in more treated waterbeing released to the Broadwater when demand forrecycled water is low.



Community acceptance of rainwater tanks

The community’s acceptance of rainwater tanks willdepend on a number of factors. These include thecommunity perceiving rainwater as safe and appropriatefor the proposed uses and householders accepting theadditional cost and effort of installing and maintainingthe tanks as well as the impact of including a rainwatertank on their property.




Features

• High quality drinking water from the city’s main water supply is used in the kitchen and for fire fighting purposes.• A rainwater tank attached to the house supplies water to the bathroom, toilet, laundry and hot water system.

It also supplies water for external purposes, such as watering the garden. Tanks are topped up with drinkablewater when rainwater supply is low.

• Recycled water is used only to irrigate surrounding canefields. • Wastewater is collected in a ‘smart’ sewer designed to reduce wet weather flow rates.• Wastewater is transported to a wastewater treatment plant where it is treated for reuse. Excess treated water

from the facility is released into the Pimpama River estuary and the Broadwater.

OPTION C This option was formerly titled Option 5

OPTION C Rainwater tanks for toilets, gardens, bathroom,

laundry and hot water, plus ‘smart sewers’

21


Environmental

• Reduces the drinkable water demand by 50%. • Decreases peak demand for drinking water by only

20% as rainwater tanks may need to be topped upwith drinking water in dry weather.

• Cuts losses from the water supply system by 51%. • Reduces nitrogen release to 56% and treated water

flows to 43%. • Use of rainwater tanks helps to decreases

stormwater flows by 20%.• Produces 35% less greenhouse gas emissions.• Lower demand for drinking water reduces the need

to build new dams.

Social

• A favourable response from the community to the quality of service, but an average response to impacts on local amenity as householders will be responsible for installing and maintaining rainwater tanks.

• Provides a better working environment for Gold Coast City Council staff.

Economic


• Household owners will pay for the installation and ongoing maintenance of the rainwater tanks.


Potential issues and risks Treated water release

Limited reuse of recycled water results in significantvolumes of treated water being released into theBroadwater.








Features

• Underground dual reticulation system supplies drinkable (potable) water and recycled water to the property.Each household also has a storage tank for recycled water.

• High quality drinking water from the city’s main water supply is used in the kitchen only.• A rainwater tank attached to the house supplies water to the bathroom, laundry and hot water system. Tanks are

topped up with drinkable water when rainwater supply is low.• Recycled water is used to flush toilets and for external purposes, such as watering gardens. It is also used to

irrigate public open spaces, canefields and for fire-fighting purposes.• Wastewater is collected in a ‘smart’ sewer designed to reduce wet weather flow rates.• Wastewater is transported to a recycled water treatment plant where it is treated for reuse. Excess treated water

from the facility is released into the Pimpama River estuary and the Broadwater.

OPTION D This option was formerly titled Option 11

OPTION D Dual reticulation for toilets, gardens and fire hydrants.

Rainwater tanks for bathroom, laundry and hot water, plus ‘smart sewers’

23


Environmental

• Reduces use of drinking water by 86%. • Decreases peak demand for drinking water by 80%.• A system downsize along with better monitoring

decreases water losses from the system by 93%. • Reuse of recycled water decreases both nitrogen

and treated water releases by 81%.• Rainwater tanks contribute to a 17% reduction in

stormwater flows.• Produces 30% less greenhouse gas emissions. • Lower demand for drinking water reduces the need

to build new dams.

Social

• Expect a below average response from thecommunity to the level of service provided.

• The installation of rainwater tanks and recycledwater storage tanks on residential properties couldreduce community response to this option’s impacton local amenity.

Economic


• Household owners will be responsible for the cost of installing and maintaining rainwater tanks andrecycled water storage tanks.

• Savings generated by the lower-cost ‘smart sewer’offset the higher costs of the dual reticulation system.


Reuse of recycled water will depend upon thecommunity accepting it as safe and appropriate for theproposed uses, such as watering the garden. It will beimportant to inform the community that recycled waterwill be of a high quality and treated to government-approved standards.










Features

• High quality drinking water from the city’s main water supply is used for all household and commercial purposes (in the kitchen, bathroom, laundry, hot water system, toilet and for external uses and fire-fighting).

• Wastewater is collected in a ‘smart’ sewer (designed to reduce wet weather flow rates).• Wastewater is transported to recycled water treatment plant.• When taken from Hinze Dam, the water is treated to Australian drinking water standards as occurs now.

OPTION E This option was formerly titled Option 12

OPTION E Single water service with indirect potable reuse

25

Key outcomesThe option’s sustainable outcomes are measuredagainst the business-as-usual option. The results of theassessment detailed below are based on assumptionsand the best data currently available, and could changeas a result of further investigations. The assessmentsdid not measure all the effects and outcomes of theoption, only those relevant to the scope of the study.

Environmental

• Reduces potable water supply by 49%.• Decreases peak demand for drinking water by 20%.• Cuts losses from the water system by 21%. • Transfer of recycled water to Hinze Dam decreases

releases of nitrogen and treated water by 99%.• No significant reduction in stormwater flows from

the current levels, although the integration of WaterSensitive Urban Design improves the quality ofstormwater flowing into local waterways.

• Produces 6% less greenhouse gas emissions.• Recycling of water for drinking water reduces the

need to build new dams.

Social

• Community response to the quality of service andthe option’s impact on local amenity is expected to be low.

• Provides a better working environment.

Economic

• Estimated total present value cost of $484 million –8% cheaper than the business-as-usual option.

Potential issues and risks Wet weather flows and groundwater in thewastewater system

The ‘smart sewer ’ aims to reduce the size of the systemthat transports wastewater from homes to treatmentplants. To achieve this, the ‘smart sewer’ will control the entry of water sources other than wastewater intothe system. These sources include water resulting fromwet weather and groundwater. However, if entry of wetweather flows and groundwater into the system is higherthan expected, the pipes will not be able to transportthe flow. This could result in overflows of wastewater in public spaces and residential areas.

Community perceptions of recycled water in thedrinking water supply

Go-ahead to release recycled water into the Hinze Damwill partly depend on the community accepting thisprocess as safe and appropriate.

Water quality in Hinze Dam

Recycled water will include higher amounts of nitrogenand phosphorous than rainwater. Consequently, therelease of recycled water into Hinze Dam will increasethe level of nutrients in the Dam. The nutrients couldcause growth of algae in the Dam, with impacts rangingfrom discoloration of water and altered taste to securityof supply from the Dam.


Pimpama Coomera Water Futures Master Plan Options Summary Report26p26

While the Pimpama Coomera Water Futures Project may have started as a futuristic

vision, the reality is much closer.

The Master Plan will be finalised and submitted to Gold Coast City Council for approval in early 2004.

The community will be updated on the Master Plan’sprogress via the project website and regularnewsletters.

In the meantime, contact the project team for furtherinformation:

PHONE 1300 136 806

EMAIL [email protected]

WRITE Pimpama Coomera Water Futures Project Reply Paid 105Fortitude Valley Qld 4006

WEB www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au

THE WAY FORWARD

Following consultation with the community in late 2003, the five Master Plan options will

be further assessed and refined to develop a preferred Master Plan option. This process

will involve a review of the public feedback and detailed analysis and assessment of the

options, inlcuding a risk analysis of each option. The preferred option could be a

combination of different options, or one of the final five options.


Capital costCost to build and set up the infrastructure for the water supply system.

Dual reticulationTwo parallel pipe networks that supply potable waterand recycled water.

EcosystemCommunity of organisms interacting with each other and the physical environment.

Master PlanProvides the overall vision and guidelines forsustainable water practices that meet the community’s needs.

Non-potable reuseUse of treated recycled water for uses that do notrequire drinkable (potable) water.

NutrientsSubstances, including nitrogen and phosphorus, whichare necessary for life and act as fertilisers to promotebiological activity.

PollutantsContaminants in water that may cause environmentaldegradation.

Potable waterRaw water treated to a certain standard suitable for drinking.

Recycled waterHighly treated wastewater suitable for reuse.

Recycled water treatment plant A facility that processes treated water from awastewater treatment plant to a higher quality for reuse in the community.

ReuseThe beneficial use of recycled water.

Rainwater tankOn-site storages to collect rainwater for beneficial use.

Smart metering Meters to measure and record water use during specifictime periods.

Smart sewers Sewers made from superior material and constructionpractices that reduce the amount of storm water andgroundwater entering the wastewater system.

Stormwater Rainfall that runs off roofs, roads and other non-permeable surfaces and flows into gutters, drains and eventually waterways and oceans.

SustainableActivities that can be maintained over the long-term,while achieving a balance between the environment, the economy and society.

Total present value cost Current value of future costs including capital costs and operating and maintenance costs.

WastewaterDomestic and/or industrial wastewater. Sometimesreferred to as sewage.

Wastewater systemSystem of pipes and pumping stations that collect and transport sewage to a wastewater treatment plant.Sometimes referred to as a sewerage system.

Wastewater treatment plantA facility that treats wastewater to remove pollutants and produce treated water and biosolids.

Water cycleContinuous cycle of water movement through theenvironment, including the oceans, the atmosphere,surface water systems and groundwater.

Water demandTotal water use requirements of an area.

Water Sensitive Urban DesignIntegrated management of rainwater and stormwater.Underpins the planning of urban developments andincludes initiatives such as rainwater tanks, grassswales, infiltration zones and stormwater harvesting.

Water supplySystem of water sources (eg dams), treatment plants,pumps stations, and distribution pipes to supply potablewater on demand to customers.

Water quality Physical, chemical and biological measures of water.

WaterwaysAll streams, creeks, rivers, estuaries, inlets andharbours.

GLOSSARY


Advisory Committee Members

Councillor Division 13 Cr Daphne McDonald (Chair)

Gold Coast Water, Director Shaun Cox (Deputy Chair)

Councillor Division 14 Cr Sue Robbins

Councillor Division 5 Cr Peter Young

Environmental Protection Agency, Sustainable Industries Tad Bagdon

Environmental Protection Agency, Southern RegionSean McNamara

Queensland Health Terry Moore

Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Resource Management, CatchmentTed Gardner

Urban Design Advisory Committee John Deverson

Environment Advisory Committee Doug White

Consulting Engineer Brian Lees

Coomera Town Centre Management Pty Ltd Doug Robbie

Coomera Waters Joint Venture Barry Young

Macquarie Bank Roger du Blet

UDIA Gold Coast Tweed Col Dutton

Gold Coast and Hinterland Environment Council (Gecko) Joan McFadzen

Coomera District Residents Association Campbell Gladman

Griffith Centre for Coastal Management Prof. Rodger Tomlinson

Gold Coast Catchment Association Peter Sippel

Master Plumbers Association of Queensland Gavin Jackson

Former

Councillor Division 2 Cr David Power (former Chair)

UDIA Gold Coast Tweed Tom Clark

Coomera District Residents Association Peter Kerville

Coomera Waters Joint Venture Peter Lovegrove

Macquarie Bank Peter Morris

Coomera Town Centre Management Ned Hoyt

Pimpama Coomera Water Futures Project Team

Project Manager Phil Selmes

Senior Planning Engineer Pat Nixon

Principal Engineer, Water Technology David Hamlyn-Harris

Senior Environmental Engineer Dean Toomey

Service Delivery Engineer Hamish Pressland

Community Engagement Officer Pamela Williams

Media/Community Consultation Officer Debra Graham

Senior Technical Officer Bruce Douglas

Senior Technical Officer Samantha Higgins

Administration Officer Kay Farmer

Senior Environmental Engineer (former) Keron McCallum-Gaul

Community Engagement Officer (former) Tracey Griffin

Technical ConsultantGHD Pty Ltd

Communication ConsultantPhillips Group

Market Research ConsultantNFO Pty Ltd

Independent Review

IBL Solutions Ian Law

CH2M Hill


Documents

MASTER PLAN OPTIONS SUMMARY REPORT · 2012-03-01 · Pimpama Coomera Water Futures Master Plan Options Summary Report 1 2 Pimpama Coomera Water Futures Project 6 Master Plan Activities