Stormwater Basin and Retarding Basin (SBRB)

Project Overview

The project was initiated to deliver critical stormwater infrastructure and improve drainage performance across the Armstrong Creek growth corridor. The client’s vision aligned closely with the City of Greater Geelong’s objectives to create a sustainable, resilient, and future-proof drainage system that supports long-term urban development while upholding high environmental and community standards.

This project formed a key Development Contributions Plan (DCP) item and was essential for managing large-scale stormwater runoff generated from the surrounding residential and commercial precincts within Armstrong Creek.

The works aimed to deliver effective sedimentation, water treatment, and flood mitigation outcomes while ensuring minimal disruption to existing infrastructure and the local community. Importantly, this basin enabled the removal of several temporary upstream basins that were previously required to manage flows to pre-development levels, improving system efficiency and maintenance outcomes.

The client’s vision was to establish a benchmark infrastructure project that combined environmental sustainability, technical excellence, and community benefit.

Core project needs included:

• Design and delivery of two major sedimentation basins and three large interconnecting drainage channels.
• Integration of twin-cell reinforced concrete box culverts (1800mm x 2400mm), including a major culvert crossing beneath Barwon Heads Road and weir.
• Relocation of a 450mm water main and structural strengthening of an existing 600mm sewer main to ensure uninterrupted operation of critical services.
• Construction of reinforced concrete pavements and basin slabs totalling more than 5,600m², designed to perform under high water table conditions.
• Landscape design, on-site supervision, and coordination of all works by Beveridge Williams, ensuring functional, aesthetic, and environmentally responsible outcomes.

The project holds significant strategic importance for the Armstrong Creek growth area, as it:

• Supports continued urban expansion in one of Victoria’s fastest-growing corridors.
• Protects critical water and sewer assets servicing the broader Geelong and Barwon regions.
• Enhances environmental sustainability through advanced sedimentation and dewatering systems.
• Improves flood resilience and long-term drainage capacity for future developments.
• Demonstrates effective collaboration between multiple stakeholders, including Barwon Water, City of Greater Geelong, and other service authorities.
• Delivered outcomes with minimal community disruption, maintaining road access during key events such as the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race and the Christmas holiday period.

Work Undertaken

Beveridge Williams was engaged as the lead consultant for the design, coordination, and delivery of the drainage and stormwater infrastructure works at Armstrong Creek. Our scope encompassed multidisciplinary services, spanning civil engineering, environmental design, landscape architecture, and project management, ensuring the project was delivered efficiently, compliantly, and to the highest technical standards.

Scope of services included:

• Concept and Detailed Design: Prepared detailed civil engineering designs for two major sedimentation basins, three large drainage channels, and associated culverts. This included hydraulic modelling, earthworks design, and structural detailing of twin-cell box culverts crossing Barwon Heads Road.
• Water and Sewer Infrastructure Coordination: Managed the relocation of a 450mm water main and structural strengthening of a 600mm sewer main, both live assets critical to the broader Armstrong Creek network. Our design ensured these works were completed safely and without service interruption.
• Landscape Design: Developed the landscape detailed design for the basin and surrounding areas, balancing functionality, safety, and visual appeal. The design supported erosion control, native planting, and habitat integration.
• Project Management and Supervision: Provided end-to-end project management and on-site supervision, overseeing civil and landscape construction to ensure compliance with design intent, specifications, and safety requirements.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Approvals: Coordinated all submissions, responses, and negotiations with Barwon Water, City of Greater Geelong, electrical consultant, comms consultant, and other service authorities. This included addressing infrastructure protection, road closures, and service relocation timeframes.

Benefits delivered to the client included:

• Integrated Design and Delivery: By managing all design disciplines under one roof, BW provided a seamless, coordinated approach that reduced rework and ensured all infrastructure elements aligned spatially and functionally.
• Technical Innovation and Risk Mitigation: BW developed an innovative design solution allowing drainage water to flow beneath the live 600mm sewer main without compromising its integrity. This avoided significant risk and cost associated with sewer relocation.
• Efficient Project Delivery: Through proactive stakeholder coordination, BW secured approvals in compressed timeframes, allowing construction to proceed ahead of schedule and within budget constraints.
• Environmental Stewardship: The design addressed high groundwater challenges through an engineered herringbone drainage and dewatering system, enabling continuous work progress and sustainable construction outcomes.
• Community and Event Coordination: BW worked closely with the contractor and council to maintain road access during major community events, notably the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race and reopened two traffic lanes during the Christmas period to minimise local disruption.

Collaboration and team integration were key to the project’s success.

• Internal Collaboration: The project showcased seamless integration between BW’s civil, environmental, and landscape design teams, ensuring multidisciplinary alignment throughout design, documentation, and construction phases.
• External Collaboration: Close collaboration was required with Barwon Water, City of Greater Geelong, electrical consultant, comms consultant, and contractors to manage complex utility relocations, regulatory requirements, and field challenges.

Beveridge Williams’ involvement transformed a technically challenging drainage corridor into a functional, resilient, and community-enhancing infrastructure asset. Our integrated approach not only safeguarded critical regional utilities but also strengthened stakeholder relationships and set a new benchmark for sustainable stormwater design and delivery in the Armstrong Creek growth area.