Thuringowa City Council’s Mountview Park Detention Basin is a storage area for flood waters during peak flooding events, providing for sediment and pollutant removal from the stormwater. It has also created an innovative, community oriented open space area in an existing parkland.
The project cost $1 million and involved the excavation of 55,000 cubic metres of material. The basin is a key element in the Queensland Council’s flood mitigation strategy for the suburb of Kirwan.
“The park area is available for public use all year round as it drains quickly during the wet season,” said Mayor Les Tyrell. “It is used for a variety of activities by families, community groups and for special occasions such as weddings.”
The underground sand filter system provides an environmental filter for low flows on the basin floor and maintains a dry floor in an area of anticipated high water table. During high flow, not only does the area act as a detention basin but also a sedimentation system. Trash racks at the basin outlet provide for removal of gross pollutants.
At both the inlet and outlet to the primary drainage system, wetland plantings together with placed boulders, dissipation mounds and stabilised banks, have been established to create an environmental transition from the hard engineering structure to an attractive open space area.
Many of the large, existing trees within the site have been retained. Some trees are considered to have heritage listing possibilities. The basin has been revegetated using a mix of local provenance grass species and a salt tolerant strain of couch grass to combat the possible saline effects in lower areas.
A community opening and neighbourhood celebration was held last October.
For further information, contact Council’s Drainage Engineer Infrastructure Services, Alan Walker, on (07) 4773 8760.
