water smart parks strategy - stirling.wa.gov.au

Water Smart Parks Strategy

March 2013

Table of Contents

Executive Summary 2

Part A: Background Information 3

1 Preamble 3

1.1 Events Leading to Formulation of this Strategy 3

1.2 Water Smart Parks Planning Process 5

1.2.1 Planning Process 5

1.2.2 Planning for Different Scenarios 5

1.2.3 Process of Prioritisation 6

2 Terms of Reference 7

2.1 Relevant Legislation and Policy 7

2.2 City of Stirling Sustainability City Agenda 7

3 Key Strategy Definitions 8

3.1 Water Smart Parks - What is it? 8

3.2 Significance of Water Smart Parks (the value of Groundwater) 8

3.3 What is Climate Change? 8

3.4 Relevance to Climate Change 9

4 The Study Area 10

5 Strategy Objectives 11

5.1 Vision and Governing Principles 11

5.2 Goals, Objectives and Targets 12

6 Strategy Outline 13

Part B: Strategy Development 15

7 Implications for Water Smart Parks Strategy 15

8 Innovation 15

9 Community Focus on Water Smart Parks 16

9.1 Survey of Public Perceptions 15

9.2 Creating Awareness 16

9.3 Stakeholder and/or Community Involvement 16

Part C: Implementation 17

10 Implementation Schedule 17

11 Monitoring & Evaluation Program 23

11.1 Key Performance Indices 23

11.2 Benchmarks 23

12 Resource Allocation 24

12.1 Asset Replacement Program 25

12.2 Budgetary Requirements 25

Part D: Outcomes 25

13 Results 25

Additional Information 26

14 Glossary 26

1

Executive Summary

In November 2007, Council resolved for the development of a groundwater conservation strategy that incorporated a city-wide water conservation plan. The Water Smart Parks Strategy was developed as a result of this resolution. It was envisaged this strategy would optimise water use efficiency within groundwater licence allocations. The framework was based on Department of Water (DOW) guidelines, Council’s 25-Year Irrigation Asset Replacement Program, and the general vision and strategic approach of the groundwater conservation model as presented by Dr David Deeley.

Endorsed by the City of Stirling Council and the Department of Water, the ‘Water Smart Parks Strategy’ is the first stage of the City’s broader groundwater conservation strategy that will address the effect of climate change on the future availability of groundwater, while aiming to reduce the City’s water usage and maintenance costs.

To implement this strategy, the City’s parks and reserves have been categorised into two categories: hydrozones and ecozones. Each zone has different watering requirements depending upon use, but maintains a ‘fit for purpose’ condition. The City conducts its irrigation based on reserve and park use, to ensure that water distribution remains within licensed allocations. While the Water Smart Parks Strategy results in a less ‘green’ appearance due to modified irrigation, it ensures that the need to reduce groundwater use is prioritised.

The strategy also utilises new technology and infrastructure to improve irrigation practices and create maximum efficiency. Currently, the City has a centrally controlled irrigation management system linked to soil moisture probes/sensors and a weather station that determines how much water to use on certain parks and reserves depending on current climatic conditions.

The Water Smart Parks Strategy is divided into four main sections as follows:

Part 1 - Background Information

Part 2 - Strategy Development

Part 3 - Implementation

Part 4 - Outcomes

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Part A: Background Information

1 Preamble

1.1 Events Leading to Formulation of this Strategy There were five significant situations that led to the City developing the Water Smart Parks Strategy, these include:

1. Large irrigation asset base

2. Exceeding Department of Water licence allocation

3. Department of Water requirements

4. Presentation by Dr David Deeley - Acacia Springs Environmental

5. Climate change recognition (depleting resource).

1. Large Irrigation Asset BaseThe City of Stirling’s irrigation assets are estimated at $45 million, consisting of approximately 370 bores, 69,500 sprinklers and 7,600 valves across 30 suburbs containing 450 parks (740 hectares of irrigated area).

To proactively manage all of its irrigation assets, the City has implemented a 25-Year Asset Upgrading and Replacement Program, based on industry standards. This is reviewed annually prior to budget submissions and adjusted depending on the system’s performance. To prevent large capital outlay, parks and reserves that currently operate on older irrigation systems are identified in the program as candidates for upgrades in successive years.

All new systems are designed to best practice standards, which aim to provide 85% coefficient of uniformity in terms of sprinkler coverage and wetting pattern. As such, all equipment upgrades are the best available, and compatible with the Computerised Irrigation Management System (CIMS). The system has the capacity to monitor watering programs in all irrigated reserves and can measure system performance through flow volume and pressure at the pump source.

2. Exceeding Department of Water Licences AllocationThe City of Stirling’s current water allocation is 5,258,125 kilolitres (approximately 7,500KL per ha for 740 ha) as assigned by the Department of Water (DOW). However, in 2006/07, the City exceeded its water license allocation by over 22%, due to a combination of inefficiently designed irrigation systems and an extremely dry winter season. This highlighted the clear need for a more efficient irrigation system and for an overall reduction in groundwater use, in spite of unpredictable climatic conditions.

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3. Department of Water RequirementsIn overall push to conserve groundwater, the Department of Water has been working with various local authorities to develop requirements for a Water Conservation Plan. It is anticipated that councils will be required to measure water use to stay within DOW licence allocations, as well as investigate alternative sources of water.

4. Presentation by Dr David Deeley - Acacia Springs EnvironmentalIn September 2007, Dr David Deeley presented a strategic groundwater conservation model developed by the DOW in conjunction with the Western Australian Local Government Association and the City of Stirling. The presentation focused briefly on the following key points:

• The value of groundwater

• Likely impacts from climate change

• The current status of irrigation in public open spaces

• Planning for different scenarios

• The process of prioritisation; and

• Next steps/future directions.

5. Climate Change Climate change dictates water availability, as well as changes to water quality and quantity. According to past trends, water demand far exceeds water supply. As such, the need to be proactive in addressing the issue of water as a scarce resource has been identified.

In response to these issues, the City has made an informed decision to prioritise sustainability and implement the Water Smart Parks Strategy. The overarching goal is to be prudent and efficient in the way the City uses its groundwater allocation, whilst still providing fit-for-purpose outcomes at parks and reserves.

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1.2 Water Smart Parks Planning Process

1.2.1 Planning ProcessThe Water Smart Parks planning process includes the following steps:

• Conduct an audit on the performance of bore pumps and irrigation systems

• Determine annual groundwater abstraction loads

• Establish annual targets for reduction of abstraction loads

• Formulate a plan to hydrozone all irrigated reserves (e.g. differential watering to suit varying type and intensity of recreation use)

• Formulate a plan to ecozone areas on reserves not directly used for any form of recreation (e.g. grass eradication, followed by mulching and conversion to local native plantings)

• Upgrade sprinkler systems in irrigated reserves to provide effective coverage and watering efficiency to minimise water use.

1.2.2 Planning for Different ScenariosThe resulting reduction in water use and operating costs after implementing the Water Smart Parks Strategy is largely dependent on the extent to which the strategy is applied. The following scenarios outline varying results based on different levels of implementation:

Scenario 1 – represents a reserve previously operating on an inefficiently designed irrigation system, but upgraded to provide 85% coefficient of uniformity. It was estimated that by upgrading the existing infrastructure, a reduction in water usage and annual operating costs by 13% (min) could be achieved.

Scenario 2 – represents a Scenario 1 reserve, but with the introduction of hydrozones around peripheral areas that are infrequently used for recreation and where turf quality can be sustained with a lower watering regime. It was estimated that this treatment would result in a reduction of 19% (min) in annual water usage and a reduction in the annual operating costs.

Scenario 3 – represents a Scenario 1 reserve, but with the introduction of hydrozones and also ecozones. Ecozones are portions within hydrozones converted to native tree and shrub plantings. In such areas the original turf is removed and they are heavily mulched, thereby removing the necessity for irrigation. It was estimated that this treatment would result in a reduction of 42% (min) in annual water usage and a reduction in the annual operating costs.

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1.2.3 Process of PrioritisationThe order and degree in which parks and reserves are selected for Water Smart Parks Strategy implementation is determined by a reserve classification system, as identified in the City’s Public Open Space (POS) Strategy.

Relevant criteria considered in prioritising POS include:

• Type and level of use (e.g. sports ground/recreational parkland, and the location of the reserve coastal/inland)

• Availability of water in terms of quantity and quality, and whether the area is already fully allocated e.g. the Gwelup Scheme Water Borefield Zone

• Type of turf species present and its resilience to wear under environmental stress

• Existence of remnant native vegetation from which ecozones could be extended; and

• Other criteria significant to the classification of reserves under the POS Strategy.

It is envisaged that the principles from the POS Strategy will provide guidance for the classification of areas that will be structured for the implementation of hydrozones and ecozones e.g. high, medium and low priority classes of reserves. Naturally, the high order reserves would then be earmarked for the formulation of water conservation plans and attendant implementation schedules, quantity surveys, production of designs, costing of intended works, funding allocation and completion timeframes. The importance of introducing a monitoring system of realistic key performance indicators would then be established.

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2 Terms of Reference

2.1 Relevant Legislation and PolicyApplicable legislation and policies that have dictated the development of the Water Smart Parks Strategy include a combination of the City’s POS Strategy and guidelines, and water licence restrictions as identified by the Department of Water.

2.2 City of Stirling Sustainability City AgendaThe Water Smart Parks Strategy is a key reference document for water conservation incorporated in the Groundwater, Stormwater, Potable Water & Wastewater Management Plans, directly under the Integrated Water Cycle Strategy.

Fig. 1 City of Stirling Sustainability Policy Hierarchy

Green house Action Plan

GroundwaterStormwater,

Potable Water & WastewaterManagement

Plans

Million TreesInitiative

CoastalForeshore

Action Plans1 & 2

BushlandConservation

Plan(Green Plan 2)

WetlandProtection

Plan(to be

developed)

Sustainability Policy

Natural Resource Management

Community Focus

Strong Economic

Base

Natural & Built

Environment

Our Organisation

& its people

Partnerships & Alliances

Energy Conservation

(to be developed)

Soil Conservation

(to be developed)

AirQuality

IntegratedWaterCycle

Strategy

Urban Trees

Master Plan

Coastal Planning Strategy

Local Biodiversity

Strategy

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3 Key Strategy Definitions

3.1 Water Smart Parks - What is it?The Water Smart Parks Strategy is the City’s groundwater conservation strategy. However, it only forms part of a broader strategy - the Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy - that includes other elements such as stormwater management, wastewater reuse and potable water conservation.

Water Smart Parks refers to parks that are categorised into ‘zones’ (‘hydrozones’ and ‘ecozones’) and have different watering needs dependent upon use.

• Hydrozones are areas that are irrigated according to reserve/park use and are fit-for-purpose.

• Ecozones are areas where turf and irrigated landscapes can be removed and replaced with native bushland vegetation. Ecozones consist of species plantings that are in line with Western Australia’s climate and natural environment, including a range of landscape features to accommodate watering regimes e.g. trees, shrubs, grassed areas, and mulch.

3.2 Significance of Water Smart Parks (the value of Groundwater)It has been estimated that many Western Australian local authorities use approximately 26% of all groundwater abstracted, compared to what is used by other institutions and domestic households. This represents a total of 40 gigalitres per year. Much of this is used for the watering of recreational parkland and sporting fields.

The City of Stirling’s current irrigation management capital expenditure is estimated at $1.7 million per annum. This consists of the installation of new bore, sprinkler and reticulation systems, plus programmed upgrading and maintenance of existing systems. This capital expenditure represents approximately 15.5% of the total annual Parks and Reserves capital expenditure. This suggests that the expected flow-on effects from the investment in efficient irrigation infrastructure will be significant.

3.3 What is Climate Change?Climate change refers to a major change in weather patterns and conditions over periods of time and could involve prominent weather events.

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3.4 Relevance to Climate ChangeIt has been predicted that Western Australia will be hotter in the inland regions and drier in the South West by 2030. This will increase the possibility of frequent droughts, heatwaves and fires, significantly intense flooding and tropical storms, as well as a predicted rise in sea levels of 0.9 metres by 2110.

In the Perth region, this could mean reduced rainfall – a trend that has been ongoing for the past 12 years. It could also result in reduced run-off and reduced recharge of groundwater aquifers. The obvious impact on management of recreational parkland would mean contending with increased moisture deficit in the soil profile, and the need for increased irrigation to meet the resulting moisture deficit. Native bushland would be equally affected in terms of the gradual degradation of flora abundance and diversity.

Other likely impacts of reduced rainfall and the increased soil moisture deficit include the oxidation of the upper soil profile. This can lead to the acidification of soils, particularly those with high sulphuric mineral content, and the leaching of acids into groundwater systems, together with the release of iron and other heavy metals and toxic minerals such as arsenic.

If the reduced rainfall trend continues, Western Australia could face water restrictions similar to those applied in Queensland, Victoria and South Australia. This will mean a scarcity of water for existing and new public open spaces, especially under the pressure of increased competition from numerous private and public bores all abstracting from the same aquifer.

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4 The Study Area

It was recommended that a priority list of two high profile reserves be promoted for the implementation of the groundwater conservation strategy. These reserves included:

1. Celebration Park – an ideal case for hydrozoning and ecozoning

2. Morley Woodchester Reserve – due to weather station and soil moisture sensors, already on site.

After completion of these two ‘high profile’ reserves, the following parks and reserves were identified for the next stage of implementation:

• Stirling Civic Gardens 2 Cedric Street, Stirling

• Joondanna Reserve 169 Roberts Street, Joondanna

• Jones Paskin Reserve 225 Jones Street, Balcatta

• Hamer Park (Nos.1 & 2) Central Ave, Stancliffe St, Woodsome St

• Yokine Reserve (No. 4) 100 Wordsworth Avenue, Yokine

• Carine Regional Open Space 47 Monyash Road, Carine

• Maurie Hamer Park Lakeside Road, Herdsman

• Empire Avenue Reserve 11 Ednah Street, Wembley Downs

• Hancock Karabil Reserve 8 Karabil Way, Nollamara

• Millett Selina Reserve 3 Grant Street, Innaloo

• Rannoch Tay Reserve 160 Rannoch Circle, Hamersley

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5 Strategy Objectives

5.1 Vision and Governing PrinciplesThe Water Smart Parks vision is to identify priority parks for hydrozoning and ecozoning, irrigation system retrofits, soil moisture probes (sensors) and connection to a centralised irrigation management system, with the goal of reducing water use.

Water Smart Parks Strategy is an adaptive, integrated program, implemented across all levels of the City of Stirling’s governance, planning and management responsibilities.

The strategy takes on some of the City’s core values such as:

• Environment

• Community participation; and

• Accountability

The City’s Strategic Plan 2009-2012 prioritises enforcement and improvement of environmental protection. It strives to achieve resource efficiency across operations and services with an emphasis on water conservation and quality. The City defines sustainable development as:

Meeting the needs of current and future generations through simultaneous social, environmental and economic improvement.

The Water Smart Parks Strategy applies some of the 10 Sustainability Principles as a guide to decision-making and governance:

• Principle One: Interdependence

• Principle Two: Integrated and long term decision-making

• Principle Three: Inter- and intra-generational equity

• Principle Five: Settlement efficiency and quality of life

• Principle Six: Precaution

• Principle Seven: Conserving biological diversity and ecological integrity

• Principle Eight: Internalising environmental costs

• Principle Nine: Common good

• Principle Ten: Accountability, transparency and engagement

Of the City’s 10 key Sustainability Principles, Principle Nine (Common Good) defined as, “the use and planning for resources that support life (e.g. air, water, natural resources) in a manner that is accessible to all and will not deplete them over time,” is important.

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5.2 Goals, Objectives and TargetsThrough the Water Smart Parks Strategy, the City aims to accelerate the development of new watering techniques and practices across Australia.

The main goal of the Water Smart Parks Strategy is to develop and implement management practices that will achieve the sustainable use of groundwater resources within the City of Stirling.

Additional aims and objectives include:

• Conserving groundwater

• Reducing water usage

• Reducing maintenance costs; and

• Establishing a centralised irrigation management system linked to soil moisture sensors and weather station.

These objectives are also reflected via the City’s Strategic Plan 2009-2012:

• Goal 2 - To plan, develop, enhance and maintain a quality built and natural environment based on sustainability principles.

• Objective 2.2 - Develop a ‘sustainable environment’ strategy, based on best practice, to facilitate the protection and conservation of the natural environment.

• Strategic Initiative (SI) 2.2.2 - Develop and implement a strategy to conserve and manage the City’s natural resources.

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6 Strategy Outline

As mentioned, the strategy categorises parks and reserves into different levels of ecozones and hydrozones. Each identified zone has different watering requirements dependent on use, and is geared towards an overall groundwater use reduction. The zone levels/categories are as follows:

Zone 1 These are primarily areas that need high quality lawn for sports/recreational turf and playing fields.

Zone 2 These are informal recreational parklands like BBQ, playground and non-organised play areas.

Zone 3 These are general parkland areas, such as walking and dog exercise spaces.

Zone 4 There are parks and reserves that are rain-fed.

While this strategy is focused on reducing groundwater use, it is also designed to have minimal impact on users. As such, active sports and playing fields will be irrigated as per status quo (Zone 1). However, it seeks to reduce water usage in areas used for passive recreation (Zone 2 and 3). These areas will be hydrozoned, which means lower levels of irrigation for the purpose of maintaining turf. Meanwhile, areas of reserves not used for recreation (Zone 4) will be transformed into ecozones.

The City has contingency measures, which include changing Zone 2 or 3 parks or hydrozones to lower watering regimes. In most cases, it is not possible to reduce the watering requirements to a Zone 1 area (active/sporting use), due to the quality of playing surfaces that are required.

This strategy works in conjunction with the City’s plan of upgrading parks and reserves to a centrally controlled irrigation management system. This system is linked to soil moisture probes and weather stations, allowing it to calculate how much water to apply given different weather conditions.

Anticipated results of implementing the Water Smart Parks Strategy include reduced asset base maintenance, significant energy savings and enhanced recreational amenity values.

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Fig. 2 Hydrozoning Plan for Millet Selina Reserve

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Part B: Strategy Development

7 Implications for Water Smart Parks Strategy

Adoption of the groundwater conservation model and the framework for the development of the Water Smart Parks Strategy is a step towards sustainable management of our groundwater resources. It is important that a local authority the size and diversity of the City of Stirling leads the way and provides an example that can be followed elsewhere in the region. The strategy will compliment overarching State Government policies through the possible release of the State Water Strategy in 2008.

8 Innovation

Council seeks to advance and strengthen the three pillars of sustainability - social development, environmental protection and economic development. This strategy is innovative as it adapts various initiatives for sustainability.

1. Groundwater Conservation Strategy The City of Stirling has developed a way of converting non-recreational areas of parkland into ecozones, combining heavily mulched areas with local native plantings of trees, shrubs and groundcover to conserve ground water use and reduce bore abstraction.

2. Urban Bushland Conservation Strategy (also known as Green Plan 2)The City’s Urban Bushland Conservation Strategy advocates establishing local and regional ecological links between bushland remnants to enable movements of birds, insects and small animals. An anticipated by-product of this process is increased biodiversity through transfer of plant genetic material, and the establishment of such links occuring via strategically located parkland and other reserves.

3. Million Trees InitiativeThe Million Trees Initiative is the process of implementing ecozones for groundwater conservation and ecological links to promote biodiversity.

9 Community Focus on Water Smart Parks

9.1 Survey of Public PerceptionsThe City regularly undertakes community consultation and surveys regarding sustainability and provision of services and facilities. Through this consultation process, the City is able to assess the success of its programs and identify areas for improvement.

To date, previous surveys have indicated a high level of interest within the community with regards to environmental issues. The most recent survey of over 700 residents indicated an overwhelming 91% in support of the City implementing initiatives associated with groundwater conservation.

Historically, there has been a community-wide expectation for parks and reserves to remain green for aesthetic purposes. The implementation of the Water Smart Parks Strategy has raised concerns over the varying quality of turf in local parks and reserves. To address this, the City has prioritised raising community awareness regarding the benefits of the Water Smart Parks Strategy, and the small aesthetic impact it causes for the overall benefits gained.

Fig. 2 Hydrozoning Plan for Millet Selina Reserve

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Part B: Strategy Development

9.2 Creating AwarenessIn order to promote the Water Smart Parks Strategy, a communication plan was developed to seek stakeholder and public feedback, as well as raise awareness about the importance of groundwater conservation.

The plan aimed to educate and encourage developers and the public to consider hydrozoning and ecozoning as an alternative to conventional methods of irrigation to help comply with water restrictions. The City worked to raise awareness about water conservation and environmental sustainability with regard to climate change.

As such, the following media initiatives were conducted to publicise the Water Smart Parks Strategy:

• Media Releases

• Newspaper (articles and general news announcements)

• Stirling Scene and Stirling Scoop newsletters

• Information on the City’s website

• Promotional initiatives at shopping centres; and

• Entry for various government awards.

Fig. 3 Signage promoting and creating awareness regarding the Million Trees Initiative, but also showing how the initiative supports the Water Smart Parks Strategy

9.3 Stakeholder and/or Community InvolvementThe City of Stirling developed the Water Smart Parks Strategy in collaboration with the Department of Water and the Western Australian Local Government Association, along with feedback from the general public.

In 2009, as part of the Federal Government Community Cabinet Forum Meeting, the City presented the Water Smart Parks Strategy to Federal Government ministers. The meeting explored opportunities to secure funds for the strategy and other projects led by the City.

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Part C: Implementation

10 Implementation Schedule

The Water Smart Parks Strategy was implemented in three stages including:

1. Data analysis and synthesis

2. Management options

3. Communication plan to engage all sectors of the City of Stirling community.

The implementation focused on the following steps:

1. Developing a profile of the City and its reserves in the following terms:

• Hydrogeology – groundwater height above sea level and depth to groundwater

• Topography – elevation and drainage

• The type of facility e.g. sports ground/recreational parkland

• The location of the reserve coastal/inland

• The availability of water in terms of quantity and quality

• Whether the area is already fully allocated e.g. in the Gwelup Scheme Water Borefield zone

• The type of turf species present and its resilience to wear under environmental stresses

• Establish the existence of remnant native vegetation and potentially extend ecozones.

2. Reviewing and identifying reserves to determine a potential priority for hydrozoning and ecozoning based on the information obtained above:

• High priority – reserves where ecozones are already present as pockets of native bushland and where associated parkland could be easily hydrozoned e.g. Rannoch Tay Earn Reserve, Richard Guelfi Reserve, etc. and reserves where groundwater use is well above licence allocations

• Medium priority – multi-use reserves with a mix of active sports fields, passive parkland and natural areas and/or reserves where groundwater use is somewhat above licence allocations

• Low priority – where groundwater use is within licence allocations.

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3. Developing reserve-based Water Conservation Plans for Water Smart Reserves as follows:

• Concept design production:

o Quantity surveys

o Production of designs

o Costing of intended works

o Budget allocation

o Implementation timeframes

o Systems upgrades

o Upgrade irrigation in reserves that are operating with inefficient watering systems.

• Implement hydrozoning and rationalise watering allocation:

o Turf sports surfaces – suggested 9,000 kilolitres/hectare/year

o Informal recreational lawn areas – suggested 5,000 kilolitres/hectare/year

o Peripheral and low-use lawn areas – suggested 4,000 kilolitres/ hectare/year.

• Implement ecozoning :

o Site survey and define ecozones intended on ‘water smart’ reserves

o Undertake site preparation (removal of turf, rotovate soil, eradicate weeds and mulch)

o Preference for seed collection, propagation and planting of local native and indigenous plants

o Some consideration for use of exotic ‘water wise’ plants where contextually appropriate.

• Implement monitoring regime:

o Install and refine the operation of electronic soil moisture probes to determine threshold between deficit levels and sustenance levels in reserves

o Install and refine the operation of a ‘weather station’ to generate weather dependant data

o Install and refine an effective irrigation control and regulation system based on automatic relay from the soil moisture and the weather station

o Establish key performance indicators to enable measurement of realistic parameters

o Ensure additional resource allocation for monitoring.

4. Undertake Research/Technical Reviews:

• To supplement past research in the Turf Irrigation and Nutrient Study (TINS) in which the City played a major role

• To supplement turf research undertaken recently by the City in conjunction with the University of WA

• Review and update the City’s Computerised Irrigation Management System (CIMS)

• Consider research possibilities in the following:

o Use of wetting agents

o Identification of new turf species

o Improvement of turf species currently used.

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5. Strategic Integration:

• Develop and review strategic plans such as Green Plan, POS Strategy, Local Area Planning and plans addressing organised sports, ensuring principles of the groundwater conservation strategy are appropriately considered

• Develop and review implementation plans of relevant strategic plans to ensure actions are compatible and supportive across strategies

• Ensure timeframes for actions across strategies are appropriately coordinated to address issues in a timely manner and maximise benefit to the City

• Review policy and practices for the design and development of POS.

6. Develop a Communication Plan:

• Undertake internal and external stakeholder and general community consultation

• Actively promote the idea of Water Smart reserves to seek general public acceptance, including designating high profile reserves for the development of water conservation plans ensuring reserves conform to the following criteria:

o Existence of an already updated and efficiently operating irrigation system

o Effective irrigation monitoring and control systems already in place

o Existence of ecozone potential

o Water regime and how it is compliant with conditions of current bore licence

o The reserve conforms to all other criteria.

• Seek the support of regional authorities such as the Department of Water and the Western Australian Local Government Association and others.

• Consider a regional catchment approach:

o Involve the State Government and determine what role it can play

o Similarly, involve other organisations and institutions with the view to establishing partnerships

o Include the industrial/commercial sector and the residential sector.

7. Seek endorsement from Department of Water and Department of Environment and Conservation for the following:

• The City’s Groundwater Conservation Strategy

• Water Conservation Plans for Water Smart reserves.

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Fig. 4 City-wide Irrigation Licence Plan

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Irrigation Statistics

Water Corporation Water Usage Allocation 5,226,750 KL/YR

City Wide Irrigated Area 682 Hectares

No. of Reticulated Reserves 297

No. of Irrigation Bore Pumps 357

No. of Sprinklers 65,000

No. of Solenoid Valves 6,625

No. of Irrigation Maintenance Officers 12

LegendZone 1 - 45mm or irrigated per weekHigh quality heavily used lawn (sports recreational turf and playing fields)Zone 2 - 30mm of irrigation per week Informal recreational parkland (BBQ, playground and non-organised play area)Zone 3 - 20mm of irrigation per week General parkland (walking and exercising dogs)

Zone 4 - non-irrigated (licence excluded)

Hydrozoned - combination of all of the above. Zoning within the one reserve

Fig. 5 Citywide Reserve Water Zoning Plan 2009

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Fig. 6 Water Smart Parks Strategy Implementation - 2009

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Part C: Implementation 11 Monitoring & Evaluation Program

11.1 Key Performance IndicesWater Smart Parks Strategy performance is tracked through the City’s Centralised Irrigation Management System (CIMS). This system provides graphical water usage data per park/reserve, at a certain point throughout the financial year, allowing the City to keep track of its water usage per allocation licence.

11.2 BenchmarksThe City’s water licence allocation is governed by the Department of Water.

Fig. 7 CIMS-generated graph reflecting licenses and percentage of the licence used

Fig. 6 Water Smart Parks Strategy Implementation - 2009

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12 Resource Allocation

12.1 Asset Replacement ProgramThe City currently has a 25-year asset upgrading and replacement program based on industry standards. This is reviewed annually prior to budget submissions and adjusted depending on the system’s performance.

Capital replacement funds should be allocated annually to ensure that the asset base can be maintained and upgraded to enable efficient water usage. The value budgeted should be in accordance with CPI, ensuring that sufficient funds are available for the ongoing management of the 25-Year Asset Rolling Replacement Program.

12.2 Budgetary Requirements12.2.1 WaterThe City budgets its water by identifying the quantity of irrigation required on a daily, weekly, monthly, annual and seasonal basis, according to zone type. This allows accurate distribution of irrigation to ensure the City stays within its water license allocation limits.

12.2.2 FinancialThe Water Smart Parks Strategy is a community project that is supported by the Australian Government Water Fund (Community Water Grants).

To implement the Water Smart Parks Strategy, existing irrigation systems have to be upgraded into a combination of CIMS, hydrozoning and ecozoning – also known as the 25-Year Irrigation Rolling Replacement Program. The program is funded through the City’s capital works budget, which is allocated annually.

Funding for the 25-Year Irrigation Rolling Replacement Program is obtained via the City of Stirling Parks and Reserves business unit capital works budget. Each financial year, funding is allocated to further develop the Centralised Irrigation Management System (CIMS) and upgrade irrigation assets accordingly. Provided that the irrigation budget is maintained accordingly, the City should be able to provide efficient and effective irrigation systems for use as part of the Water Smart Parks Strategy. This will enable the City to achieve Water Smart Parks and stay within the allocated water licence from the Department of Water.

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Part D: Outcomes

13 Results

The results of the new CIMS system currently include:

• Reduction in power consumption

• Reduction in fertiliser usage

• Reduction in environmental impact

• Sustainable long term irrigation activities

• Efficient irrigation design for water conservation

• Improved irrigation scheduling

• Water conservation and contingency plans for individual sites

• Consumption below DOW water licence allocation

• Planting of more trees/use of water wise plants

• Creation of natural/wildlife habitat

• Increased biodiversity

• Use of local plants enhancing sense of place

• Increase in diversity and richness of local plants and animals

• Enhancement of remnant bushland.

Meanwhile, specific Water Smart Parks Strategy achievements include:

• Designated Water Smart Reserves:

o Implementation of hydrozones and ecozones across parks and reserves

o Development of a city-wide water conservation plan

o Schedule to upgrade all inefficient irrigation systems on council reserves

o Program to introduce graduated use of groundwater on all reserves by reducing groundwater abstraction by 10% per year

o Communication plan to promote water smart reserves and the associated Million Trees Initiative via public liaison

o Local Biodiversity Strategy.

• Development of watering programs via the Centralised Irrigation Management System (CIMS):

o CIMS is able to monitor water usage throughout the seasons, and have the ability to adjust programs on an overall or individual basis.

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Part D: Outcomes

Fig. 8 Example of Zones 1, 2, 3 and 4

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Additional Information

14 Glossary

Water Smart ParksWater Smart Parks refer to parks that are categorised into ‘zones’ (‘hydrozones’ or ‘ecozones’), and have different watering needs dependent upon zone use with the overall goal of reducing watering requirements.

ZonesZones refer to areas that have different watering needs depending on their zone. Zones include hydrozones, ecozones and Zones 1 to 4.

HydrozonesHydrozones refer to areas that are irrigated according to reserve/park use and are fit for purpose.

EcozonesEcozones refer to areas of turf and irrigated landscapes that can be removed and replaced with and/or converted to native bushland vegetation.

Soil Moisture Probes/SensorsSoil Moisture Probes/Sensors enable the system to irrigate when the sensor records that the soil moisture level has dropped. Irrigation will occur to the pre-set moisture level required.

Climate ChangeClimate change refers to a major change in weather patterns and conditions over periods of time and could involve prominent weather events.

Million Trees InitiativeThe Million Trees Initiative (100,000 trees annually for 10 years) is the mechanism through which ecozones for groundwater conservation and ecological links for promoting biodiversity are being implemented.

AssetsAssets are considered items of value where benefits can be derived from and have the possibility of generating income.

Fig. 8 Example of Zones 1, 2, 3 and 4

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City of Stirling 25 Cedric Street Stirling WA 6021 Telephone (08) 9205 8555 | Facsimile (08) 9345 8822

www.stirling.wa.gov.au

water smart parks strategy - stirling.wa.gov.au

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