Stormwater management project 2023
Highbury Aqueduct Reserve (adjacent Freshford Avenue)
Background
Following the completion of a Master Plan in 2013, a number of erosion and drainage issues were identified as requiring remediation works in the Highbury Aqueduct Reserve. One of the projects was upstream of the historic drain located at Site 8 (referred to as catchment 10 in the Master Plan). In 2023, a stormwater management project was undertaken downstream of the historic drain, to replace an eroded dam wall with a rock chute and to stabilise the channel. The project is complete.
Works included:
- removal of approximately 23 Pinus Halepensis (Aleppo Pine) trees within the stormwater channel
- removing the eroded earthen dam wall structure and replacing it with rock chute and armouring to better manage flows and provide better structure to the channel
- contouring the banks upstream to re-instate the channel profile to address sedimentation deposits and erosion heads that have developed
- installing an additional rock chute structure upstream of the existing dam wall to slow the stormwater flow rate and assist in reducing sediment mobilisation
- revegetating the channel and banks with appropriate native species to provide erosion control, sediment stabilisation and filtration services and improved habitat for local native fauna
- remediating banks with geofabric, while revegetation becomes established.
