Leading global engineering and consulting firm Golder is a finalist in the 2019 Stormwater Victoria Awards for Excellence in the category “Excellence in Integrated Stormwater Design” for its sustainable design work on the Wollert Waterways project.
Golder was engaged by Hanson, a leader in building and construction materials, to support an expansion of its quarrying operations in Wollert, a residential growth area north of Melbourne, Australia. This expansion, however, required diversion of two natural waterways that formed part of the Findon Creek network.
Working with Hanson, Melbourne Water, City of Whittlesea Council and other stakeholders, including VicRoads and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Golder’s role encompassed design, project management and construction supervision of the creek realignments, provision of habitats for aquatic fauna, and the upgrade of a downstream culvert to provide a better connection between the realigned section of the Tributary to Findon Creek and its downstream reaches.
“Our team is extremely proud of this recognition and of our role in the Wollert Waterways project,” said Andrew Harrison, Golder’s Design Group Manager in Victoria and South Australia. “This project went beyond fulfilling Hanson’s commercial goals by also enhancing sustainability through protecting local fauna, managing and improving water quantity and quality, enhancing local amenity, and incorporating climate-resilient design.”
Sustainable development was at the heart of the project both in terms of providing a supply of locally sourced building materials to local projects while also sustaining the capacity for the realigned waterways to provide adequate current and future water quantity and quality management as well as promoting flora and fauna biodiversity.
“It was vital that the realignment of the waterways maintained existing habitats and promoted new habitats for fish and other fauna, particularly the endangered growling grass frog,” explained Andrew. “It was equally important to protect and maintain significant indigenous trees on site, as well as ensuring no adverse impacts on stormwater conveyance, catchment flood storage and water quality.”
The Stormwater Victoria Awards for Excellence provides recognition and celebrate excellence in the innovation, development and management of stormwater projects and the stormwater professionals involved.
