A consultation statement has been prepared that aims to encourage water sensitive urban design across South Australia and suggests targets for water conservation, stormwater management and environmental water quality and community feedback is invited on the new approach. The feedback will be used to develop a water sensitive urban design policy for South Australia.
In November 2011 the Australian Government announced funding of almost $148 million for world-class collaborative research and innovation under the Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) program. The funding includes $30 million for the CRC for Water Sensitive Cities and $28 million for the CRC for Low Carbon Living.
The CRC for Water Sensitive Cities will deliver the socio-technical urban water management solutions, education and training programs, and industry engagement required to make Australian towns and cities water sensitive.
The CRC for Low Carbon Living brings together key property, planning and policy organisations with leading Australian researchers to develop new social, technological and policy tools for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the built environment.
The Bureau of Meteorology has published its first Australian Water Resources Assessment (2010). This report will assist all Australians, particularly policy-makers and planners, to understand the current state of the nation’s water resources and to assess the impact of past and present water management practices. The report has been produced as part of the Australian Government’s Improving Water Information Program.
The CSIRO publication Water: Science and Solutions for Australia provides the latest information the status of Australia’s water resources and their future prospects, the many values we hold for water, and the potential for using water more effectively to meet the growing demands of cities, farmers, industries, and the environment. This is a free book available in two electronic formats: PDF which is optimised for reading on a computer screen, and as an eBook format which is optimised for use with mobile and specific eReader devices. Hard copies of the book can also be purchased.
Developed by the Alternative Technology Association (ATA), Tankulator is an online rain harvesting calculator that can help you plan for a new rainwater tank or improve the performance of an existing tank.
The Gwangiu Cities Declaration sets the way forward towards the greening of cities through improved planning and intelligent management. Released at the conclusion of the Summit of the Urban Environmental Accords held in Korea on 11-13 October, the Declaration calls for the development of an Urban Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the UN Convention for Climate Change. It also recommends the development of metrics to measure and report urban sustainability and to encourage the development of policies, regulations and innovative market mechanisms to accelerate the transition towards greener urban development. The Declaration calls for action across five major sectors:
The Productivity Commission’s final inquiry report into Australia’s Urban Water Sector was released on 12 October 2011. In undertaking the inquiry, the Commission identified opportunities for efficiency gains in the structural, institutional, regulatory and other arrangements that govern the sector.
The Australian Water Recycling Centre of Excellence is calling for Expressions of Interest (EoI) for applied and strategic research projects that quantitatively demonstrate and/or enhance the social, economic and/or environmental value of water recycling in Australia. The Centre will hold an information session in Adelaide on Monday 31 October to provide an overview of the Centre and its Strategic Research Plan, and to respond to queries regarding this call for proposals. The deadline for registering intention to submit EoI is 4 November 2011.