Title: Modelling the impacts of blue-green infrastructure on rainfall runoff: a case study of Eastern Victoria, Australia

Authors: Zahra Ghofrani; Victor Sposito; Robert Faggian

Addresses: Centre for Regional and Rural Futures, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, 75 Pigdons Rd, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia ' Centre for Regional and Rural Futures, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, 75 Pigdons Rd, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia ' Centre for Regional and Rural Futures, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, 75 Pigdons Rd, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia

Abstract: In Australia, flood risk mitigation and response has followed an ad hoc development trajectory starting largely with structural measures such as levees and later non-structural approaches such as planning and regulation. These have proved largely ineffective in reducing the exposure of towns and rural populations to flood risk and damage over time. This paper explores the possible implementation of blue-green infrastructure (BGI) approaches as a new, alternative method to reduce flood volume and rainfall runoff in regional Australia. It outlines a case study example in rural Victoria that is subject to regular and damaging floods where the possible introduction of BGI has been modelled. Different types of BGI components - bio-retention cell, rain barrel, infiltration trench, and vegetative swale - were examined and the results indicate that developing BGI systems in a regional Australian context provide multi-functional and cost-effective solutions to flooding that will support adaptation to future climate changes.

Keywords: sustainable development; blue-green infrastructure; BGI; rainfall runoff; climate change; flood mitigation; Australia.

DOI: 10.1504/IJW.2019.099514

International Journal of Water, 2019 Vol.13 No.2, pp.151 - 172

Received: 23 Oct 2017
Accepted: 07 Oct 2018
Published online: 07 May 2019 *

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