20 October 2006
A biofilter garden that collects and filters stormwater has been unveiled at the Clayton campus by the Victorian Parliamentary Secretary for Innovation and Industry, Mr Matt Viney.
The innovative garden, about five square metres in size, will advance the understanding and technology of biofilters.
The rain garden concept was developed by the Facility for Advancing Water Biofiltration (FAWB) -- a joint venture between Monash and consulting firm Ecological Engineering -- under the auspices of the Victorian Government's Science Technology and Innovation Initiative.
Biofilter plantations are designed to cleanse run-off as it trickles into layers of soil and gravel, to produce purified stormwater that can be used for irrigation or drained back into water ways. They contain plants that support the biological water-cleansing processes in the soil.
Dr Ana Deletic and Dr Tim Fletcher from Monash's Institute of Sustainable Water Resources were involved in developing the concept.
Mr Viney said the biofilter concept was an example of what could be achieved through innovative use of concepts and technology that encompass a wide range of disciplines including engineering, hydrology, soil science and botanical science.
"Preserving limited resources and reducing the environmental impacts of resource use is a key target of the Government's sustainability initiatives as outlined in 'Our environment, our future', the Sustainability Action Statement 2006," Mr Viney said.
He said achieving and preserving healthy and productive water systems was a major building block in the Government's initiative of 'Growing Victoria Together'".
Dr Tony Wong, Chief Executive Officer of the FAWB, said the biofilter gardens were already operating at new residential developments in Docklands and Richmond in Melbourne.
"Field-scale trials of gardens such as this one on campus will advance the understanding and technology of biofilters and complement other FAWB research activities including laboratory-scale trials, and social research to see how the community and industry perceive and accept the technology," he said.
For more information contact Ms Robyn Anns, Media Communications, on +61 3 99059317 or 0417 568 781.
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