RAAF defends the environment at Amberley base

Large-scale rainwater harvesting

The Department of Defence is showing the way in environmental sustainability in South-East Queensland with a large-scale rainwater harvesting program at its rapidly expanding RAAF Base Amberley.

Amberley is the largest RAAF base in Australia, with some 3500 personnel currently working and living on site. A major expansion and redevelopment is in progress and will include new accommodation and common use buildings, offices and training facilities, workshops, vehicle shelters, deployment areas and car parking.

Ecologically sustainable development principles were applied throughout the planning stages of the redevelopment, in keeping with the Defence Environmental Policy. A key part of the Amberley program was the harvesting of rainwater from all roof areas, with storage tanks and pressure pumping to supply water for landscape irrigation and toilet flushing.

Department of Defence required an efficient and clean storage solution. The Rocla ecoRain rainwater utilisation system was recommended by consulting engineers GHD because of its durability and flexibility, and the design support offered by Rocla’s engineers.

The scope of the project is illustrated by the systems already installed by Ed Ahern Plumbing (Gold Coast), which form only the first part of Stage 3 of the works and include a 210 kL storage system for a large mess building plus five separate 110 kL systems for live-in accommodation blocks, with more systems on order.

The ecoRainPlus system designs include a water treatment device, a 10 kL primary storage tank with provision for pumping equipment, and secondary storage tanks of varying sizes and configurations constructed from large diameter Rocla steel reinforced concrete (SRC) pipes. The ultimate storage volume of the system is virtually unlimited.

A feature of the system is the use of a Rocla CDS Nipper compact gross pollutant trap in place of the usual high-volume filter. The units use a self-cleaning continuously deflective screen and an advanced design to capture and store gross pollutants, sediment and hydrocarbons.