WBJV (WSP and BG&E joint venture) are the designers for the Stage 1 North Section of the Coomera Connector, which runs between Shipper Drive and Helensvale Road and forms part of a larger program of works by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR) to deliver a 45 km north-south transport corridor connecting the Logan Motorway and Pacific Motorway interchange at Loganholme and Nerang-Broadbeach Road in Nerang. The southern portion of the Stage 1 North Project area drains towards the high ecological value Coombabah Lake wetland, situated on the southern side of Helensvale Road. To the southeast of the Coombabah Lake wetland is the Moreton Bay Ramsar wetland, an internationally significant ecosystem under Commonwealth protection.
Through integrating existing, naturally functioning, wetland ecosystems and sensitive engineering design, an innovative stormwater treatment train was developed that met required discharge criteria. The development of the design faced multiple constraints and challenges, including the need to evidence likely performance to the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. With an initial impact area of approximately 8,500m2, engineering intervention was limited to an impact area of 3,000m2, resulting in the retention of 5,500m2 of threatened ecological communities. This, first of its kind, innovative design solution resulted in significant cost saving while simultaneously reducing environmental impacts.
