Client:
City of Stonnington
Location:
Malvern East, VIC
Product:
Porous Lane
Project:
Area: 80 sqm
Tyres Recycled: 240
Project
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Project
Overview
In Malvern East, VIC, the City of Stonnington transformed an 80 sqm section of conventional carpark into a water sensitive streetscape using Porous Lane permeable pavement. By recycling 240 waste tyres into the surfacing, this installation delivers on site detention and stormwater treatment while supplying passive irrigation to an adjacent garden bed.
Challenge
A typical carpark catchment generates high volumes of runoff that overwhelm stormwater drains and leave surrounding landscaping reliant on mains watering. In hot weather, impermeable asphalt also contributes to urban heat island effects, driving surface temperatures higher and increasing irrigation demands. The Stonnington site required a durable pavement solution that could detain, treat, and reuse rainfall without compromising structural performance.
The Solution
Porous Lane was installed over the 80 sqm carpark area using a rubber-based permeable pavement mix containing approximately 40% recycled content (equivalent to three waste tyres per square metre). Beneath the surface, a structural soil layer, reinforced by geocells, provides a 9.6 m³ reservoir for captured stormwater. An agricultural (agi) pipe was embedded within this reservoir layer to channel stored water directly into the adjacent garden bed, enabling passive irrigation without pumps or controls. The pavement was laid and trowelled on-site for a seamless finish, with layer thicknesses tailored to both storage capacity and vehicular load-bearing requirements.
Outcome
The Porous Lane system now detains up to 9.6 m³ of stormwater on-site, significantly reducing peak flows to the municipal drainage network. Captured water is slowly released into the garden bed, cutting mains water usage during dry spells and supporting healthier plant growth. Thermal monitoring indicates that the permeable surface runs 3–4 °C cooler than surrounding asphalt, improving user comfort and extending pavement lifespan.
What’s Beneath the Surface?
Surface Layer
The top wearing course is a rubber-based permeable pavement made from approximately 40 % recycled material (around three waste tyres per square metre). It’s laid and trowelled in situ, creating a crack-resistant finish that allows rainwater to pass through immediately.
Reservoir Layer
Beneath the pavement sits a structural soil reservoir that holds up to 9.6 m³ of stormwater. Reinforced with geocells, this layer provides both storage capacity and stability under vehicular loads.
Natural Subgrade
The native soil subgrade determines how much screening material is needed and how quickly water can exfiltrate into the ground. Its characteristics guide the thickness of the overlying reservoir and filter layers.
Irrigation Integration
An agricultural (agi) pipe runs through the reservoir zone, capturing stored water and directing it into adjacent garden beds. This passive arrangement ensures plants receive moisture only when the soil needs it, without pumps or controllers.
