A $1.4 million water saving plan for Albert Park has raised hopes that Warrnambool's Japanese Gardens could soon have water in it.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The plan, which is expected to bring about $1 million in economic benefits each year, was passed unanimously by city councillors in March.
Under the plan, flood-prone areas such as Japan Street will be addressed as well as other water saving measures such as roof water harvesting, creation of wetlands and more rainwater tanks.
Cr David Owen said the aim of the plan was also to reduce the demand on drinking water and reduce stormwater runoff into Russells Creek.
He said the plan would benefit the Warrnambool community enormously by bringing cost savings by using recycled water as well as increasing green spaces.
Cr Sue Cassidy said it would be great if, under the plan, they could get some water down to the Japanese Gardens.
"A Japanese Garden without water doesn't look as impressive as it should be," she said.
Cr Owen said the plan was a wonderful example of one of the many ways in which Warrnambool would hopefully be able to meet the challenges of the current climate emergency.
"As this council has officially recognised that our world is in a state of climate emergency, we will need this plan and many more like it for a safe and healthy future," he said.
"This urban greening initiative will spark a number of important educational programs with the possibility of the park becoming an instruction or training centre for future sustainable developments.
"Building environmental resistance into our local urban areas and urban rural communities in the light of our climate emergency should be our top priority."
Cr Owen said the council should be seeking opportunities to create sustainable hubs in Warrnambool.
"We have recently witnessed throughout Australia the incidence of extreme weather events, drought, fire, floods and storms that can be utterly catastrophic," he said.
"Our nation is still reeling form the disasters we've experienced over the last eight months and such disasters ill become more and more common over the coming years."
Mayor Tony Herbert said it was a wonderful reuse of fresh water and would beautify the Albert Park precinct.
"It keeps a considerable amount of water out of the Japan Street catchment which is an enormously added advantage because that is one of the lower areas of Warrnambool," Cr Herbert said.
"It's got significant tentacles, this project, and I think it is something that could be rolled out in other parts of Warrnambool."
Read more:
Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.
