Rain, rain come my way!

For the Coventry Street retailers in South Melbourne, it was a long few weeks waiting for the Coventry/Claredon Streetscape improvement project to be completed. In the run up to the key Christmas trading period last year, the street was a scene of destruction; the road was unsealed, car parks outside shops had been lost and the sound of cement mixers and bobcats echoed throughout the street. The inhospitable environment deterred customers and business was tough. After numerous delays, the project was finally completed and local businesses were rewarded for their patience with a prettier street that included new seating areas, bike racks and a Raingarden.

Above: The Coventry St Raingarden, consisting of a gravel bed and hardy plants.

The Raingarden is a gravel bed containing a selection of hardy native plants that filter rainwater through the gravel and plant roots that is finally collected in a perforated pipe. The filtration system means that rubbish, oils and other pollutants are reduced or prevented from entering the stormwater system that eventually ends up in Port Phillip Bay.

Raingardens also provide a habitat for native flora and fauna. Frogs, butterflies and birds all benefit from these mini ecosystems and the water they catch. The appearance of Raingardens is also more aesthetically pleasing than a gushing, gurgling stormwater drain. An information board has recently been displayed with this Raingarden, explaining the benefits to the local community and the environment. Let’s hope we see more Raingardens emerge throughout Melbourne.

Above: Raingarden information board that explains the benefits of this system.

The Raingarden project is part of the Living Rivers Stormwater Program and has been developed by City of Port Phillip and Melbourne Water.

For more information on Raingardens and how to create one in your own garden, visit:
http://www.melbournewater.com.au/content/library/wsud/sustainable_urban_design/raingardens.pdf