Enhancing Mentone Beach Drainage with ParaLink Upgrades

The recent challenges at Mentone Beach, Victoria, such as sand blockages and flooding caused by heavy rainfall, prompted urgent upgrades to a vital outlet drain. Melbourne Water successfully addressed these problems by completing significant upgrades, marking the first use of international technology for a project in Australia. The drain, situated north of the Mentone Lifesaving Club, is essential for managing stormwater runoff and preventing potential flooding upstream.

The concrete culverts experienced flotation issues during heavy rainfall, where uplift forces caused by buoyancy led to culvert failure. This issue arises when external pressure is lower than the pressure within the culvert, typically occurring with inlet control and a submerged upstream end.

To combat these flotation challenges, Melbourne Water utilized an ultra-high-strength geogrid to anchor the culverts and resist upward movement. CMP Consulting Group selected Maccaferri ParaLink 1500 for its exceptional UV, chemical, and damage resistance properties, making it ideal for marine environments. ParaLink 1500, certified by the British Board of Agreement (BBA), has a minimal installation damage reduction factor of 1.01 for a D90 particle size of 150mm. Its high-performance is due to the durable polyethylene-encased high tenacity polyester yarn tendons.

ParaLink 1500 was installed along the sides of the culvert, covering both the rock beaching and the top of the culverts. Elcorock geotextile sand containers anchored and tensioned the ParaLink in place. Additionally, Texcel 600R provided cushioning between the ParaLink, rock beaching, and concrete culverts for added protection and support.