Blacktown, NSW

Blacktown, NSW develops first-in-Australia program for Water Sensitive Urban Design compliance

Blacktown's long-standing inspection program proved ineffective at finding mismanaged WSUD device use. The council piloted a new program whereby 20 randomly chosen properties were required to report on the conditions of 337 WSUD devices. This pilot included the development of an education toolkit on legal requirements and device maintenance. Local officials anticipated reductions in pollutants entering waterways thanks to well-maintained biofilters, rainwater tanks, and litter traps.

BN

Blacktown, NSW

Australia

Blacktown, NSW tests electric waste truck as council shifts toward zero-emission operations

The SEA Hino FE EV features a 10 cubic meter compactor and a per-charge range of 200 miles. Blacktown will offset upfront costs with fuel savings in four years of full-time operations. The plug-in waste truck produces 17% of the emissions created by diesel-powered trucks. Blacktown's electric vehicle pilot coincides with solar panel investments on council buildings. These efforts help the council reach 100% renewable energy by 2025 and net-zero emissions by 2030.

BN

Blacktown, NSW

Australia

Blacktown, NSW trials AI-enabled monitoring of stormwater and sewer drainage system

The city's pilot with VAPAR automated CCTV footage analysis across three kilometers of pipes. VAPAR's AI-enabled platform quickly assessed pipe integrity and the likelihood of bursts or blockages. City officials initiated the pilot following a Better Practice Review that revealed the need for a more responsive maintenance plan. Blacktown City Council used life span estimates without manual CCTV assessments in past maintenance of its 1,160-kilometer drainage system.

BN

Blacktown, NSW

Australia

Blacktown, NSW introduces stormwater harvesting scheme to counter droughts and water access issues

The harvesting system gathers and filters stormwater from Angus Creek as well as hard surfaces at the Blacktown International Sportspark. Three storage ponds with floating wetlands receive water via an existing irrigation system. Solar-powered pumps transfer water in excess of the park's needs into reserve ponds. Blacktown City Council does not need to allocate additional funds for operations with water sales covering ongoing expenses.

BN

Blacktown, NSW

Australia