Rain gardens on their way to Wollongong

Wollongong City Council will develop technical guidelines for the construction of rain gardens as a water-saving measure in the City of Wollongong.

Council voted unanimously on Monday night in support of a motion by Councillor Mithra Cox to develop guidelines for raingardens, so they can be used in addition to existing storm water treatments on public and private land.

Bringing forward the motion, Cr Cox said rain gardens reduce flooding and improve water retention in the soil.

“A rain garden is a sunken garden, usually containing plants like reeds and rushes, that can cope with wet soil.

“The garden captures initial rainwater runoff, allowing water to be absorbed by the soil instead of ending up as storm water.

“There is a stormwater drain in the garden, but about half a metre higher that the lowest point of the depression, so that in most occasions, that water soaks into the soil instead of going into the stormwater system and being wasted.

“Only in very heavy rain does it overflow into the drain.”

More information on rain gardens can be found here.