Achieving A Sustainable Campus

The University of Melbourne through Property & Campus Services has in place a range of water saving initiatives in bathrooms including taps, toilets and urinals.

Taps – Water restricting tap wear fitting in numerous bathrooms across the campus.

Toilets – Female toilets upgraded to dual flush.

Urinals – A range of water saving initiatives have been implemented on men’s urinals, the type of initiative implemented has been dependent on the age, space and type of urinal in place. Some of the initiatives include:

• Water flow restrictors
• Trial of ‘Sani-Sleeve’ a no flush system has been installed in Old Engineering, Baillieu Library and 233 Bouverie Street
• Sensor activated urinals have been modified to flush 4 times a day instead of every use in Alan Gilbert, Baldwin Spencer and Law Buildings
• The new Economics & Commerce building at 198 Berkeley Street a 5 Star Green Star rated building features waterless urinals
• Waterless urinals have been trialed in the Law Building, but due to heath and safety concerns the trial was discontinued.

To date, a 222,000 litre water tank has been installed adjacent to the System Garden. Stormwater will be captured from the roof of the newer northern section of the Land & Environment building and delivered into the System Garden by means of a pressure pump and hose to target specimen plantings in greatest need.

An investigation is underway into the feasibility of additional smaller water tanks in or about the System Garden to harvest stormwater from other neighbouring buildings. 

For South Lawn, the prospect for water tanks is being examined for the area west of the John Medley building, both above ground and in a large basement cavity, and into the underground carpark itself along the perimeter wall towards the southeast corner. Stormwater would be harvested from the John Medley and Electrical Engineering buildings, and South Lawn, with a further prospect of capture of a groundwater flow near the Engineering Workshops. 

Combined tank storage capacity of 70,000 litres at a minimum is anticipated. 

For the 1888 building garden, up to three 5,000 litre above ground tanks are being considered for a corner of the lawn west of the building, and further tanks into the service courtyard of the Arts Centre building at the South East corner of the campus. 

Combined tank storage capacity in excess of 50,000 litres is anticipated.

All of the water tanks referred to above represent a temporary measure to provide water security to the three landscape areas in the short term, with the aim to complete installations by the next summer period. Each of the tanks could be removed and used elsewhere, including on other campuses, if need be or should a more permanent water security strategy for the campus be realised.

In addition, alterations to stormwater drainage in Monash Rd. necessitated by the new fire ring main installation have required roof drainage from the CSHE building to be redesigned. To be incorporated in the new plumbing design will be two 5,000 litre slimline water tanks on the east wall of the building to intercept stormwater flowing from the roof. This captured water will be used on the adjacent landscape to provide for trees, shrubs and turf.  

The above proposals and approach are currently being discussed with the University's Landscape Sub-committee and it is hoped that a long-term strategy can be developed to provide sufficient water to protect the heritage and amenity values of the university grounds.

Kikuyu turf (Regal Staygreen) has been laid on a large area of South Lawn to provide a usable surface for students. A six week establishment period is required (mid to late May 2009). This turf is hard wearing and  drought tolerant. Tanks will be installed adjacent to South Lawn to provide supplementary water in the warmer months.

A series of new water tanks are being installed at Burnley to increase stormwater storage capacity by 140,000 litres to give total capacity of 175,000 litres for the garden landscape.