FINAL REPORT GREEN PRECINCTS
BLUE MOUNTAINS SUSTAINABLE PRECINCT
CONTENTS
Blue Mountains Sustainable Precinct
Blue Mountains Cultural Centre
Energy Initiatives
Water Initiatives
Green Roof
Drainage Scheme Overview
Green Roof Planting
New Storage Tank
Echo Point
Stormwater Harvesting
Reduced Stormwater Flows
& Pollutant Loads
Biodiversity
Flooding & Drainage Control
Katoomba Civic Centre
Stormwater Harvesting
Energy Initiatives
Community Education/Engagement
Interpretive Signage
Catchment Tours
Other Community Education
& Engagement Initiatives
Performances & Workshops
Published Materials
Documentation
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BLUE MOUNTAINS
SUSTAINABLE PRECINCT
The precinct entails ‘greening’ three high
profile sites to showcase Council’s and the
Australian Government’s commitment to
tackling climate change through promoting
sustainable water and energy use. Echo Point
showcases a range of sustainability measures
co-funded by $1,500,000 from the Australian
Government at a site that attracts over 3
million visitors per year. The Blue Mountains
Cultural Centre features a World Heritage
Interpretation Centre where the potential
impacts of climate change on the surrounding
World Heritage National Park can be used to
inspire individuals to think globally and act
locally.
Through the Green Precincts
Fund
environmental initiatives contributing to the
creation of a Blue Mountains Sustainable
Precinct have been installed. These initiatives
have enhanced the environmental outcomes
of the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre and
Retail Precinct, Katoomba Civic Centre and
Echo Point Information Centre.
It has
transformed the separate sites to ones linked
together into a clearly defined sustainable
precinct which provides Blue Mountains
Green Precincts Demonstration Sites.
Seamless integration of water and energy
saving/environmental improvements in the
construction works for these three buildings
was made possible through Green Precincts
funding. The water and energy saving
measures could be readily integrated into the
designs. This has enabled the Council to
address issues with runoff close to the source,
building upon works previously undertaken to
enhance water quality in the drinking water
catchment for Sydney.
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BLUE MOUNTAINS CULTURAL CENTRE
The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre is located
on the former TAFE site in Katoomba. The
centre provides a new cultural precinct in the
Katoomba town centre and includes an
interpretive centre for the Blue Mountains
World Heritage Area, a regional Art Gallery,
library, a theatrette, multi-purpose workshop
spaces, public art courtyards, gallery shop and
café, and a retail development including a
Coles Supermarket.
The project is a partnership project between
Blue
Mountains
Council,
the
State
Government and the Coles Group. The centre
is a landmark building featuring public art,
environmentally sustainable design principles
and state of the art technology. It provides a
community and cultural meeting place and
revitalises Katoomba town centre.
The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre blends a
wide range of green features and functions, all
of which contribute in unique ways to create
an environmentally sound and sustainable
building. The Centre utilises its architectural
design, solar energy, water re-use, green-roof
and even many of its construction materials to
ensure its impact on the environment is kept
to a minimum.
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THE ENERGY INITIATIVES INCLUDE:
THE WATER INITIATIVES:
 A fully insulated roof, double-brick air
cavity walls and double-glazed windows
to insulate the building;
 54, 10kW solar panels located on the roof
to reduce the Centre’s reliance on
traditional energy sources;
 The Centre’s lighting consists of a
combination of efficient, long-life lighting
sources and lighting zoning to allow
separate switching and dimming of areas
adjacent to windows;
 The library takes advantage of natural
light provided through a skylight in the
curved roof;
 The City Art Gallery uses LED lighting
technology to significantly reduce power
consumption;
 The
building
orientation
provides
protection to the open courtyard areas
from the prevailing westerly winds and
exposure to northern sunlight.
 Extensive rainwater collection from runoff
of the Cultural Centre podium and roof
and a portion of the Carrington Hotel roof
is stored onsite in a 50,000 litre tank;
 This water is reused in the Cultural Centre
for toilet flushing and irrigation; and
 The ‘green roof’ treats a portion of the
Cultural Centre’s water run-off (with the
aid of a UV disinfection system). The
water is then used for irrigation and toilet
flushing.
These water initiatives are considered best
practice stormwater management, they
reduce:
 Pollutant discharges into receiving
environments;
 The peak flows from the development by
retaining water on site (particularly for
smaller events); and
 The volume of runoff from the site by
retaining water on site for use for
irrigation and toilet flushing.
The scheme retains and reuses water onsite
and treats water before it is discharged from
the site. The measures will specifically result in
the following:
 A reduction in water consumption of
5,500 kL/yr on average;
 Prevention of more than 200 kg of
sediment being exported to waterways
every year on average;
 Prevention of approximately 0.35 kg of
phosphorous and 1.7 kg of nitrogen
entering local waterways every year on
average; and
 An indirect reduction in impervious area
of the development by approximately 250
square metres due to the addition of the
green roof.
Through these water and energy initiatives
the Cultural Centre aims to reduce water
consumption by 5.5 million litres each year
and reduce energy usage of 1.8 million
kWh/year — enough energy to power 246
homes in the region.
Acknowledgement is given to the Carrington
Hotel for its collaboration and support.
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GREEN ROOF
The green roof is located in the southwest
corner on the roof of the new Cultural Centre
building. The green roof is approximately 11m
wide by 20m long.
The green roof consists of:
 Vegetation;
 A sandstone rock mulch on the surface;
 Approximately 300mm of top soil overlaid
above the drainage cells;
 Waterproof membrane underlying the
drainage cell identical to the membrane to
the other components of the top level of
the Cultural Centre;
 A rendered concrete block retaining wall
around the outside of the green roof;
 A series of drainage elements; and
 A drip irrigation system supplied with non
potable water.
Drainage Scheme Overview
The green roof is passively irrigated and
provides treatment of the runoff from the
elevated platform (an area of approximately
600 square metres). The drainage for the
elevated platform is directed onto the surface
of the green roof.
The stormwater discharges onto a distribution
channel made of sandstone pavers which
helps to prevent erosion of the surface and
helps to distribute water over the whole of
the green roof. Water fills up the distribution
channel slowly and eventually flows over the
sides of the channel and onto the rock mulch
surface. Once delivered to the rock mulch
surface it drains through the soil and is
collected in the subsoil drain cells at the base
of the soil media.
In small events (less than approximately 10 to
15mm of rainfall) water only partially covers
the surface of the green roof before draining
through the soil and being collected in the
subsoil drains. From here it is discharged into
the standard roof downpipe system and into
the On Site Detention tank. After the rain
event ends the water will drain through the
soil and no more surface ponding will be seen
after 1 to 2 hours.
In medium rainfall events (events greater than
approximately 10 to 15mm) the water covers
the entire surface of the green roof. After the
rainfall event ends water will pond on the
surface for up to 4 to 6 hours. It drains in a
similar manner to that described above for
small event.
In larger rain events (events greater than the 1
in 1 year ARI) when the capacity of infiltration
through the soil is exceeded by incoming
rainfall water ponds on the surface (up to
50mm ponding) and then begin to overflow
into an overflow drain. This drain is provided
to capture the 1 in 100 year 6 minute ARI
event (the critical storm for this catchment).
Excess water from the green roof will drain to
the on site detention tank and then to the
stormwater drainage system on Parke Street.
Green roof planting
The planting for the green roof is based on
planting species adapted to cliff top heath
land communities which are found on rocky
plateaus and the top of cliffs in the upper Blue
Mountains. These plant communities are
adapted to shallow sandy soils, high wind,
high
evaporation
and
low
water
environments, similar to the environment of
the green roof. These communities typically
contain small shrubs and groundcover
including grasses and sedges.
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The green roof creates a similar plant
community with low shrubs (shrubs less than
1 to 2 m) and ground cover. In the wetter
sections of the green roof adjacent to the
channel plants from cliff top wet heath
communities have been used. The species that
have been used are local provenance natives.
The plants have been grown specifically for
this project by the Blue Mountains
Conservation Society Nursery.
New Storage Tank
A new storage tank is located in the north east
corner of the building in the basement car
park in ‘unused space’ where car parking was
not able to be provided due to limitations on
vehicle access. The storage tank is
approximately 50,000 litres in size.
The new storage tank and associated hydraulic
works consists of the following:
 Collection of podium level drainage and
discharge of this drainage into the storage
tank;
 A stainless steel storage tank with
approximately 50,000 litre storage;
 A reticulation pump to supply stored
water from the tank to the amenities and
irrigation end uses;
 A filtration and disinfection system to
remove impurities and pathogens before
reuse;
 A reticulation system to supply water
from the storage tank to the amenities in
the Cultural Centre and the irrigation
system;
 A rainwater tank overflow which drains
inside the building at the basement level
and connects into the stormwater system
in College Lane;
A potable water supply backup in the
event that the all the stored rainwater has
been used;
 The catchments include the podium level
of the Cultural Centre and roof water from
the adjacent Carrington hotel.

ECHO POINT
The Echo Point precinct, where you can look
out to the Three Sisters and the Jamison
Valley, is one of the busiest sites for tourists
visiting the Blue Mountains. It attracts over 3
million visitors per year made up of a mix of
local, national and international tourists. The
toilet facilities at the site are considered to be
one of the highest utilised amenities in
Australia. They are used by an estimated
1,500 visitors per day, and prior to completion
of the storm water harvesting project; water
demands for the site were estimated at 2.7
Mega Litre/year, including 2.5 Mega Litre/year
for toilet and urinal flushing.
The location provides a great opportunity to
undertake water saving measures and
promotion and education on sustainability
issues.
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from the local residential catchment (2.5 ha).
The scheme includes:
 Diversion of low flows from the storm
water system;
 Pre-treatment in a gross pollutant trap
and 120 m2 bio retention system;
 Storage in a 150 kilolitre underground
storage tank;
 Post-storage treatment, including fine
filtration and UV disinfection;
 Plumbing to the toilet cisterns; and
 Mains water backup supply.
Storm water harvesting
The toilets have been re-plumbed to utilise
stormwater. Water sensitive urban design
techniques have also been utilised to polish
the urban stormwater that enters the World
Heritage National Park at the Echo Point
precinct.
The site showcases current best practice in
stormwater harvesting and reuse and it
demonstrates how stormwater harvesting and
reuse can be retrofitted into a relatively highdensity site.
The project involved the design and
construction of a system for storm water
harvesting, treatment and reuse for toilet
flushing. A storm water harvesting scheme has
been designed to harvest flows by gravity
The scheme meets more than 90% of the
toilet flushing demands, equating to water
savings of 2.3 Mega litres/year.
From February 2011 to September 2012,
4,314,000L rain water has been harvested.
The system has been designed within the
constraints of the existing site. The design has
been carefully thought out to successfully
accommodate large visitor numbers. Most of
the site is devoted to a large viewing platform.
The site includes only a few small vegetated
areas, and beyond the viewing platform the
land falls steeply into the Blue Mountains
National Park. There was limited space
available for a storage tank or large storm
water treatment system.
Therefore the design process included careful
optimisation of the treatment and storage
system sizes, and the key structural elements
of the scheme have been carefully integrated
into the space available within a vehicular
turning circle at the top of the site.
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The total stormwater runoff has also been
reduced by an average of 10% per year, and
the number of stormwater runoff events has
been reduced by 16%.
Biodiversity
A diverse range of local provenance plants
were selected for the revegetation of the area
within the turning circle at Echo Point. These
plants contribute to the biodiversity and make
a connection with the adjacent National Park.
Bioretention system (storage
tank below)
Reduced storm water flows and
pollutant loads
One of the key issues at Echo Point is that
stormwater runoff from the upstream
residential area is discharged directly into the
World Heritage listed Blue Mountains National
Park below. Stormwater drainage lines are hot
spots for erosion, nutrient pollution and the
growth of weeds.
Gross pollutant trap
As a result of the initiatives stormwater flows
and pollutant loads into the National Park
have been reduced.
The following pollutant loads have been
removed from the local catchment (2.5 ha):
 3,300 kg/year of total suspended solids
(54% of the total load);
 5.9 kg/year of total phosphorus (46% of
the total load); and
 17 kg/year of total nitrogen (25% of the
total load).
Flooding and drainage control
The stormwater harvesting scheme intercepts
stormwater that previously ran through the
site causing two major landslips along the
Prince Henry walking track below the viewing
platform. In addition the scheme has also
helped to mitigate localised flooding issues
associated with stormwater getting into the
basement of the Tourist Information Centre at
Echo Point. Council also used the opportunity
while works were being undertaken within the
Echo Point site to rectify drainage problems
from the 2002 upgrade works.
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KATOOMBA CIVIC CENTRE
Storm water harvesting
A 90,000 litre storage tank has been
incorporated within the Katoomba Civic
Centre. A filtration and disinfection system
treats stormwater prior to reuse, and a pump
distributes the treated water. This scheme
provides a non-potable water supply for the
Civic Centre, which has been plumbed into
toilets and other non-potable uses. The water
storage tank is located underground and is not
visible.
There has been a 40% reduction in water
consumption and on average a 50 %
reduction in energy usage at Katoomba Civic
Centre after completion of the storm water
harvesting and energy initiatives.
Energy initiatives
The solar panels and solar hot water system
have been integrated into the project by
virtue of the “U” shaped roof plan, the
minimal
overshadowing
and
the
untrammelled northerly aspect. The solar
panels provide a potent symbol of the reimagined Civic Centre. The 10kw tilt frame
solar system on the roof of the civic centre
building counteracts power consumed by the
common area lighting.
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COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND
ENGAGEMENT
Interpretive signage
Interpretive signs have been installed at all
three locations informing visitors of the green
initiatives and how they work. Toilet signs
informing visitors and facility users that
harvested storm water is in use have been
installed in the toilets.
Catchment tours
Catchment tours have run since the
completion of the Echo Point rain garden and
included a “Connected Waters Symposium” in
November 2011 where participants went on a
guided tour of the Echo Point rain garden and
received information on how to make a rain
garden in your own home. Catchment tours
are conducted in the rain and are ongoing.
The Central West Catchment Management
Authority visited in February 2012, with
approximately 25 attendees. The International
Urban Planning Conference site visit occurred
in July 2012, with approximately 35
international delegates; and the International
Flora and Fauna society visited in August
2012.
School tours have been undertaken through
the catchment, using a model and waterfall
patterns are simulated so that the students
can see how the catchment works.
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The universities that are partners in the Blue
Mountains World Heritage Institute visit the
site and use it as a learning platform for their
students. Testing of the water quality,
scientific data and research are undertaken.
Other community education and
engagement initiatives
The profile of the completed water projects
has been raised on the “Water for Life”
website:
http://waterforlife.nsw.gov.au/recycling/wate
r_recycling_projects
Touch screen computers are located in the
foyer of the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre
which have a link to the centres website,
which has information regarding the green
aspects of the building:
http://bluemountainsculturalcentre.com.au/a
bout-us/history/environmental-designaspects/
An international groundwater group visited
the rain garden at Echo Point in June 2012.
six schools and 150 students attended the
Celebration of the 50th anniversary of the
listing of BM National Park. 90 UNSW Masters
students undertaking a Masters course in
Natural Resource Management visited in
2010/2011. 15 Natural Resource Management
managers visited the site from Canberra and
around Australia in 2010 as part of a study
tour.
The new Blue Mountains Cultural Centre is a
valuable facility to ensure extensive public
engagement and awareness of the Green
features of the building. Diverse creative
projects have been developed that encourage
community members and visitors, of all ages,
to further engage with these factors, actively
and reflectively. Considered and dynamic
documentation and supporting print material
will permit ongoing engagement well beyond
the delivery of the projects.
Performances and Workshops
Ritual: Contemporary Gundungurra Dance
The Blue Mountains Cultural centre’s opening
Event will feature a Contemporary
Gundungurra dance piece, titled ‘Ritual’, by
internationally celebrated local Gundungurran
dancer Ian Colless (Grandson of Aunty Dawn
Colless) and a fellow member of his New York
based Untitled Collective Katie Moorhead. This
performance has been developed in direct
collaboration
and
consultation
with
Gundungurra Elders, with the support of
Wendy Jopson- the Blue Mountains City
Council Aboriginal Community Development
Officer.
The performance represents the Indigenous
relationship with the land that the Cultural
Centre Green Precinct is built upon and will
pay respect to Colless’ own family’s bloodline,
the Gundungurra and the Darug nations – the
traditional and existing owners of the Blue
Mountains. The concept will use water ‘Kuran’
as a choreographic tool, paying homage the
creator spirit of the Blue Mountains
Gunrangatch from Gun-yung-ga-lung (far past
times). The water will be gathered from The
Gully, a place deeply connected to the Darug
and Gundungurra peoples. This performance
addresses: urban impact, local Indigenous
history, highlights the importance of the
Green Precinct elements to Traditional
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Land owners and creates a powerful link
between Traditional and Contemporary
Indigenous practice. This is an important and
inspiring performance dedicated to the
Indigenous Land owners.
This
performance
will
be
carefully
documented as a record of this unique,
culturally important performance. Award
winning film and video maker, Natalie Van
Den Dungen, will create a short educational
package featuring the performance and
rehearsal as well as an interview with Ian
Colless discussing the Indigenous protocols
that were followed during the performance
development, as well as discussion of how his
performance reflects the natural elements
and their importance to the Gundungurra
people.
The Owls: Blue Mountains Cultural Centre
and Katoomba Theatre Company
Collaboration
The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, in
consultation with The Katoomba Theatre
Company have developed an interactive
performance that encourages children to
actively engage with creatures and plants of
the Blue Mountains Region. The project is
particularly inspired by the vulnerable
Powerful owls and the endangered Wollemi
pine. The performance is a staged,
kinaesthetic experience that includes Owl
mask making, Wollemi cone making and an
interactive game collecting and hiding the
cones. The selected performers have
professional experience in leading Australian
Theatre companies, including ATYP (Australian
Theatre for Young People) and have
performed in some of Australia’s most
renowned films. The initial performance will
be held on the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre
Opening Day of November 17th. We intend for
this performance to become part of the
Cultural Centre’s annual program.
Green Precinct Tour: with Wyn Jones, Senior
Naturalist with the National Park
Wyn Jones, who identified our ‘green
dinosaur’ the Wollemi pine, will take Opening
Day visitors on free guided tours of the
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Cultural
Centre’s
Green
features,
detailing
the
processes and relationships of
each. The tour will end with a
discussion about the Wollemi
and its discovery. The tour is
intended to engage both locals
and tourists and establish a
relationship between the features of the site
and the role of sustainability initiatives in
protecting our unique environmental features.
This is anticipated to be an ongoing feature of
the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre program.
Diego Bonetto and Lisa Norris: workshops in
beauty, inspired by nature
“Look no further than your own backyard to
provide you with key natural ingredients for
homemade skin care, facials and tinctures.”
Diego and Lisa will “impart little known beauty
secrets on home-brewed diuretics, skin
purifiers and more!” Responding to endemic
plants and wildlife Diego and Lisa create site
specific works that demonstrate how wildlife
can be sustainably integrated into our urban
lives. This project addresses the Green Roof,
Climate Change, Urban Impact, Personal
projects and Sustainability messages.
Published Materials
The Green Blue Mountains Cultural Centre
Kids Activity Book
This is a 24 page activity and colouring book
that includes reference to local environment,
the world heritage exhibition, environmental
footprints and the Green Precinct features of
the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre. The
colouring book will be distributed to visiting
preschool age and primary school age visitors
over the coming years. This resource is
intended to engage smaller visitors in a
familiar way as well as encouraging them to
take the sustainability message home. The
pages cover: green precinct features, climate
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Impact, Local Indigenous history, Local &
National & International environmental facts,
Personal projects, Sustainability messages,
UNESCO information. This poster would
appeal to visitors, residents and high school
groups. It will also be companion material
distributed to students visiting the Green
Precinct features of the Blue Mountains
Cultural Centre.
change, urban impact, local indigenous
history, local environmental facts and
sustainability messages. The book has been
designed by the Blue Mountains Cultural
Centre in close consultation with renowned
local illustrator, Jason Poulos, also a previous
recipient of the Children’s Book Council
Award.
Green Blue Mountains Poster: for teenagers
and young adults
This is a contemporary A2 poster that folds to
DL. One side features an urban/landscape
contrast artwork by a local artist. The other
features panels of environment and
sustainability features including: Green
Precinct features, Climate Change, Urban
Documentation
Blue Mountains Gazette Commemorative
Feature
To celebrate the opening of the Blue
Mountains Cultural Centre a 4 page
commemorative wrap around will be
produced in conjunction with the Blue
Mountains Gazette, the Blue Mountains major
local news publication. This will be distributed
for free to 35 400 homes across the Blue
Mountains on the 14th of November. This is a
significant opportunity to notify our region of
the environmental and sustainability features
of the cultural centre as part of Green
Precincts.
Ritual Education Video
Ritual is a performance of cultural significance
for both our new Centre and for the
Gundungurra people. This work was
developed by Ian Colless through careful
P a g e | 14
consultation with Elders and with adherence
to protocols, permitting Ian to tell the story of
the Indigenous relationship to the land. The
development and delivery of the work will be
documented in New York and Australia along
with interviews describing the creation of the
work and explaining his own physical
representation and Artistic interpretation of
the stories and the importance of this land
represented by the performance.
The end result will be a 10-15 minute video
that will be shown to high school and
university students to explain the culmination
of the many environmental, Aboriginal and
cultural aims of the project.
Green Precinct Documentation Footage
All projects will be documented during their
delivery; resulting in a video compilation of all
of our Green Precinct community engagement
and activation projects: showcasing both the
Green Precinct features and capturing
community participation.
This footage will be shared on the Blue
Mountains Cultural Centre website, in the
foyer of the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre
and is able to be presented to interested
parties such as schools and universities. It will
support an ongoing discussion of the Green
Precinct.
Green Precinct Social Media Clip
Using Green Precinct Documentation Footage
a short and engaging social media clip will be
developed to allow broad distribution of the
concept and the associated project. This will
be available on the Blue Mountains Cultural
Centre website and will be distributed via our
social media networks.
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FUNDING PARTNERS