Gleneagles Reserve

In 2022, Tonkin was engaged to create a Stormwater Management Plan (SMP) for the suburb and surrounding areas of West Lakes. Following the completion of the plan, Tonkin provided detailed design of the Gleneagles Reserve detention basin – the highest priority of the SMP. 

Flood modelling and mapping indicated that Meakin Terrace and Leven Avenue was at the highest level of danger in a flooding event. In response, we developed a targeted project to address this issue by enhancing upstream detention capacity within Gleneagles Reserve. The primary objective was to reduce the risk of above-floor flooring in the Meakin Terrace sub-catchment through strategic stormwater infrastructure upgrades.  

Tonkins design works for the additional detention storage was undertaken with consideration to a number of constraints, including high groundwater levels, a shallow stormwater network and the need to minimise vegetation removals. 

Throughout the design and delivery of the Gleneagles Reserve detention basin, the project team faced a number of challenges. Rather than viewing these as constraints, the project team embraced it as an opportunity to innovate. 

The challenge of balancing infrastructure with environmentally friendly solutions inspired a commitment to vegetation. The use of gabion walls as opposed to traditional batter slopes, ensured that a higher number of trees could remain in the area, as opposed to additional tree and vegetation loss. The space-efficient walls preserve vegetation and improve soil retention and water flow management. 

During excavation of the Gleneagles Reserve detention basin, the project team discovered a hard layer of calcium below the surface of the site. The team required specialised equipment and techniques to safely and efficiently remove the calcium layer. This issue posed a risk to project timelines and budget. The use of specialised equipment reduced the risk of environmental damage to the surrounding area. This demonstrates how adaptive techniques can be used to overcome site challenges and produce positive outcomes. 

Tonkin’s work supporting the development of the detention basin ensured that all project objectives were met. This included the integration of several design elements aimed at controlling peak stormwater flows and improving flood resilience. 

This included: 

The reserve now acts as a detention basin and will flood during heavy rainfall events to increase the capacity of the local stormwater system and reduce flood risk to the surrounding residential properties. Stormwater pipes and the natural typography of the local area will lead to the basin, and will be able to hold up to 7,995 cubic metres of water when full – equivalent to 3 Olympic-sized swimming pools! 

The upgraded reserve and detention basin was officially unveiled to the community in July 2025 with hydroseeding works completed in the monthly following the opening.