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use do not cause more downstream flooding: both in the local drainage
system immediately downstream and along the creeks and rivers further
downstream.
Most urban flooding is caused when the volume of stormwater runoff (which is what we call rainwater
after it lands on the ground or other sealed surfaces and starts to flow downhill) is too large for the
drainage pipes or watercourses to carry. The extra stormwater breaks out of the pipe or watercourse
and flows through adjoining low lying areas. This may cause considerable damage to both property
and buildings.
The most common changes in land use in this catchment are the change from rural uses to urban
development and from low density to higher density development. These changes affect runoff in two
ways:-
1. the increase in sealed areas means that the volume of runoff 2. better drainage causes quicker
is greater runoff
This means that there is a greater volume of runoff delivered to the drains and creeks in a shorter
time, which results in higher flow rates and higher flood levels downstream.
When the Trust was established in 1989, after a series of major floods, there was concern
that the magnitude of the existing flooding problem was continuing to grow. The OSD policy
was instituted to stop flooding getting worse. This means that when flood mitigation works
are undertaken to deal with the existing flooding problems, the solution is permanent.
The OSD policy was formulated by the Development Control Working Party which includes
staff from the Trust and the four local councils in this catchment. The Working Party meets
every 3-4 months to review the OSD policy and its operation. The Upper Parramatta River
Catchment Trust carried out computer studies in 1991 to determine catchment-wide OSD
parameters. The first edition of the Trust's OSD Handbook was then prepared and a
common OSD policy for the catchment was adopted by all four local councils in November
1991. Since then, OSD has been imposed as a condition on most development consents.
There are different types of OSD systems, but they all have the following components: -
The discharge control pit is located at the lowest point on the site and all flows leaves the site through
this pit. The pit contains an orifice (circular hole) in a stainless steel plate fixed to the side wall. The
orifice is sized to limit discharge from the site to the maximum permissible rate.
Storage
The Storage can be located on the surface, underground or on a roof. It detains the excess runoff that
cannot immediately pass through the orifice. The storage fills by overflow from the discharge control
pit and empties quickly though the pit once the rain eases.
Collection Network
The collection network consists of gutters, pits, pipes and surface grading. It delivers all site runoff to
the discharge pit. The collection network must carry all run-off: even in the event of a 100-year storm.
Run-off from upstream properties must be diverted around the OSD storage.
What would happen if there was no OSD?
1. In green fields developments, community flood retarding basins on public land are generally
preferred to OSD on individual lots. The disadvantages of these basins in the catchment are
that use of land is restricted and there are very few suitable sites available.
2. Re-developments or infill developments in already urbanised areas are the usual form of
development in the Upper Parramatta River catchment. Some options are: infiltration
trenches; upgrading the hydraulic capacity of pipes, creeks and bridges; and small flood
basins on private land. Upgrading downstream creeks, pipes and bridges is very expensive,
may harm the environment and aggravates downstream flooding. Basins on private land can
be ugly, difficult to maintain and pose safety concerns. Infiltration trenches can become
ineffective due to surface clogging and soil heave can damage nearby buildings.
In many already-urbanised areas, OSD is the only practical alternative. A majority of local councils in
the Sydney region now have an OSD policy.