In response to increasingly hotter and drier climate conditions, the City has embraced an innovative solution to safeguarding its leafy charm into the future.
The new raingardens on Duke Street – currently under construction – are designed to make better use of stormwater in the area, diverting it from the drainage systems into the ground.
The innovative approach to greening has many benefits. Not only is it more water efficient, but the trees act as a filtration system, preventing pollutants from entering our waterways.
The native trees and plants in the raingardens will remove excess nitrogen and phosphorus from water run-off, which can cause dangerous algal blooms.
Raingardens also reduce the high-speed waterflow that comes off our roads, which can erode the waterways and make it hard for marine species to establish themselves in these areas.
Mayor David McMullen said the new raingardens are part of the City’s plan to deliver urban greening while managing water in a more sustainable way.
"Our community has made it clear through numerous consultations that they want us to focus on greening our urban streetscapes," he said.
"The new raingardens will increase the tree canopy on Duke Street, which was reduced by recent developments. They are part of the City's ongoing work to deliver a greener environment for our community through a number of ongoing sustainability initiatives."
Construction kicked off this week and is expected to be completed in two to three weeks.
For more information on the Duke Street Raingardens,
view the project page.
For more information on the City's sustainability and environmental initiatives,
click here.