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 storm water and improve the overall quality of water entering our waterways.

This project has been jointly funded by the Victorian Government and Yarra City Council.

Want to learn more on how this technology helps to improve our waterways?

Watch this short video to learn why this project and its filtering solutions will have such a big impact on our environment and water management.

New permeable pavement

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

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

Media filter

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

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

Why are you doing this project?

This project will deliver the following benefits:

• Improve storm water 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 storm water quality and the amount of pollutants entering our downstream waterways.