Another award for Coffin Bay stormwater project
Coffin Bay’s innovative raingarden project has been recognised yet again, receiving a commendation in the SA Stormwater Excellence Awards 2014.
The landscaped basin was designed to improve the quality of stormwater entering Coffin Bay and also won a KESAB Sustainable Communities Award in 2013. The project was a joint initiative of the Eyre Peninsula NRM Board and the District Council of Lower Eyre Peninsula, with design by DesignFlow.
Natural Resources Eyre Peninsula Coastal Management Officer Kerryn McEwan said the project was commended as an excellent example of what could be achieved in a small regional council with a small budget.
“The project shows how relatively simple water sensitive urban design measures can be installed in an urban setting,” she said.
“The raingarden is also a landscape feature in the town centre area of Coffin Bay foreshore.”
Stormwater South Australia Excellence Awards encourage, recognise, promote and celebrate excellence in the innovation, development, completion and management of stormwater projects and the people involved.
“We were competing with some very large urban projects including Charles Sturt Council’s $70m Waterproofing the West and a $30m Playford Council water reuse scheme,” Kerryn said.
“The Coffin Bay site was a high priority when the NRM Board looked at all the coastal outfalls across EP.”
The Coffin Bay waters is significant for the oyster industry, recreational and professional fishing and significant marine ecology including a resident dolphin population and forms part of the Thorny Passage Marine Park.
Lower Eyre Council’s Director of Infrastructure, Alex Douglas, said it was important that the works were undertaken by council staff, enabling the work crew to apply similar technology on future stormwater projects.
Local member of the NRM Board Diana Laube said it was pleasing to see well-designed and delivered regional projects being given recognition.
“It’s great to see that we are punching above our weight and are comparable to much larger projects in Adelaide,” she said.
“The council are to be commended for their efforts and the board looks forward working with them into the future.”
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