Presented each year by the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia (NSW Division), the Engineering Excellence Awards promote and recognise excellence in local government and public works projects.
This year, Warringah Council won the Engineering Excellence Award for an Environmental Enhancement Project or Initiative with its design of the Richmond Avenue car park in Dee Why.
Located between a medium density residential development and the 77–hectare, environmentally sensitive Dee Why Lagoon Wildlife Refuge, it was essential that the car park upgrade did not negatively impact on the surrounding environment.
Warringah Mayor Michael Regan said, “The Wildlife Refuge comprises ten vegetation communities with high conservation status and provides important habitat for local and migratory birds.
“It was of utmost importance that the car park improvements included water sensitive urban design to ensure run off would be treated before flowing into Dee Why Lagoon and our beaches.”
The water sensitive design includes layers of filtration material, such as rocks and plants, in a grassed channel (a swale) running the length of the car park. This swale is designed to catch runoff and slow it down, allowing some of the water to filter through the subsurface layers, resulting in cleaner storm water and a reduction of pollution flowing into Dee Why Lagoon, Dee Why Beach and Long Reef Beach.
“I would like to congratulate everyone who was involved in this award–winning project. It’s a win for the environment and a win for the community,” said Mayor Regan.
