Zhihao Zhou

Werribee River: Retrofitting green and blue landscape infrastructure

This design thesis speculates the landscape retrofit of the lower reaches of the Werribee River corridor towards a healthy ecology. The river water, as vital element for agriculture, has been seriously polluted by fertilisers from farmland and urban storm runoff, which adversely influences food production and ecology around the site. While current engineering approach (Melbourne’s Western Treatment Plant) supplies water to irrigate the farmland near the site, research reveals that the recycled water from the treatment plant is more saline than river water, affecting the soil and farm production. This conflict between farmers, Werribee River and ecological system provides landscape architect an opportunity to explore a way to mitigate this issue.

Framed by the landscape ecology approach, the project speculates interconnected thinking of multi-scalar and site-specific design strategies to improve river water quality that benefit both ecology and agriculture as well as human activities.