Ramsden Street permeable pavement trial

About the project

Works are now complete on a new permeable pavement and media filter trial in Ramsden Street, Clifton Hill – the first of its kind in Yarra.

The two processes work together to reduce pollutants in stormwater and improve the overall quality of water entering our waterways.

New permeable pavement

This new permeable pavement, developed by Melbourne University, is made from recycled tyres. The material is porous so when it rains, stromwater is prevented from pooling on the surface. Instead, stormwater drains through the porous material and is treated before entering the drainage networks.

This recycled material acts as a natural filter, cleansing the stormwater of medium to large pollutants. The stormwater also rechargers the soil’s moisture content.

Media filter

The secondary treatment of stormwater occurs through an underground material known as activated media filter.

This revolutionary product removes dissolved contaminants from stormwater including nutrients, metals and hydrocarbons, all of which are common in urban stormwater runoff.

Why are you doing this project?

This project will deliver the following benefits:

  • Improve stormwater quality, and the amount of pollutants entering our downstream waterways in particular, Merri Creek and the Yarra River (and ultimately Port Phillip Bay)
  • Reduce the potential impacts of urban flooding
  • Increase Council’s commitment to waste minimisation and resource recovery.

We are also working with the University of Melbourne who will monitor and observe the trial to determine the long-term durability of recycled tyres to improve stormwater quality and the amount of pollutants entering our downstream waterways.

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