Projects
Porter Consulting Engineers were involved in a unique drainage basin project for the Town of Cambridge to design a large drainage structure to provide in effect an underground drainage infiltration basin with approximately 1,100m3 capacity for the 1:100 year storm event. This was to address historical flooding in McCourt Street in West Leederville where a major storm event occurring in March 2010 resulted in flooding to nearby residential properties.
To further enhance the amenity of the Public Open Space and the preservation of large existing trees, the Town purchased the property immediately north of the public open space with the view of increasing the playground area but also ensuring the proposed excavations for the drainage works did not compromise the large existing trees.
Michael Cook worked in close liaison with the manufacturer, Graf, to utilise their product ECOBLOC to achieve the required storage volumes. The use of this unique product meant that it was the largest single installation in Australia to date. The site had a number of constraints including tight surrounds limiting the extent of excavations, existing residential homes nearby and surrounding trees requiring protection.
Michael Cook was the lead engineer and he and his co-presenter, Frank Strever, were declared as the winners (as voted by conference delegates) of the Best Conference Presentation for their session about the project at the annual 2019 IPWEA Conference. Several years later, the project is considered a success through greatly improved park amenity and size and most importantly the risk of flooding to neighbouring properties and a nearby electrical transformer is significantly reduced.
Project Requirements
Key Sustainability Outcomes
Key Challenges/Management Strategies
Best Conference Presentation 2019 IPWEA Conference – M. Cook/F. Strever
McCourt Street Drainage Basin