Melbourne Water

Healthy Waterways | Raingardens

Raingardens in Melbourne

Melbourne Water has been working with local councils and the community to build raingardens in public spaces such as streets, parks and schools. Our 10,000 Raingardens Program aims to encourage people to build raingardens in their homes.

Help us reach our target of 10,000 raingardens by registering your raingarden today.

'Building a Raingarden' Demonstration Day

Knox City Council, in conjunction with the Raingardens Program, is running a demonstration day for you to see how easy it is to build a raingarden for your home, and how you can help improve the health of Knox’s waterways, help reduce flooding issues and the ‘heat island effect’. Residents can also win plants to the value of $200 for their raingarden, and enjoy a sausage sizzle too. Bring your Dad along for Father’s day to see how he can use his tools to build a raingarden at home!

Date: Sunday 5 September 2010
Time: 10am-1pm
Where: Ferntree Gully Library, 1010 Burwood Highway, Ferntree Gully, Melway Ref: 74 B5. Car parking available
Register with Knox City Council

Federation Square Carpark, Central Melbourne

This raingarden was constructed to filter and improve stormwater runoff before it enters the Yarra River.

The large tufted species in the foreground are Gymea Lily - otherwise known as Giant Spear Lily - (Doryanthes excelsa), Blueberry Ash (Elaeocarpus reticulates) and Carex species have also been used in this raingarden.

Lambert Street, Richmond

A series of street raingardens have been built into this urban streetscape to provide a greener space, while improving the quality of stormwater before it enters our rivers, creeks and the bay. The plants in these raingardens include Weeping Bottlebrush (Callistemon viminalis) and Little Rev (Dianella revoluta).

Canterbury Neighbourhood Community Centre, Canterbury

This raingarden is an example of a planter box style raingarden. It has been planted with Lomandra and Cordyline species, which help remove pollutants such as atmospheric nitrogen that often build up on hard surfaces in urban environments. Fewer pollutants like this mean that the Community Centre's local waterway, Gardiners Creek, is a healthier one.

Raingarden at Federation Square Carpark, Melbourne

Federation Square Carpark, Central Melbourne

Raingarden on side of road in Richmond, Melbourne

Lambert Street, Richmond

A boy reading sitting on a planter box raingarden in Canterbury, Melbourne

Canterbury Community Centre