Better stormwater management across the Beaches

With large rain events on the increase, Council is proactively upgrading stormwater infrastructure across the peninsula to collect and remove debris and rubbish from stormwater flows.

Work was recently completed in the Crown of Newport Reserve at the rear of properties in Howell Close, Newport to better manage stormwater runoff and debris coming from McMahons Creek.

The 40-hectare catchment draining to Howell Close comprises low-density residential areas and the areas fringing McMahons Creek are heavily vegetated. Rain events cause large amounts of vegetation and debris to be carried towards the Crown of Newport Reserve which then causes a blockage to the stormwater inlet culvert in the reserve.  These blockages had caused flooding issues for some properties in the past.

Council has replaced and improved the debris management device (the trash rack), which now includes large, upright wooden bollards to catch large debris and a lower mesh fence to catch the smaller debris. A new maintenance access track ensures easy access for the removal of built-up debris. The first clearing of debris from the trash rack saw approximately three tonnes of debris removed. The new trash rack is anticipated to remove up to 34 tonnes of pollutants per year.

Other works at the site included the installation of a new inlet structure as well as natural landscaping to soften the visibility of the structure and compliment the surrounding natural environment.

The upgraded trash rack is functioning well. It will continue to reduce the likelihood of blockages to the stormwater system, minimising flooding and significantly reduce pollution in the downstream system.

A similar trash rack was installed at North Harbour Reserve in Balgowlah in 2020 and a new Gross Pollutant Trap was installed on East Esplanade in Manly in 2019. Works will start next month to install a Gross Pollutant Trap near North Steyne Surf Life Saving Club to improve water quality at Manly Beach, and later in the year an upgrade will be undertaken to a damaged stormwater outlet at Snapperman Beach Reserve.

All these infrastructure improvements are saving our waterways from polluted run-off and keeping them cleaner.