Water Sensitive Cities

Partnerships for Impact

 An Australian Government Initiative
Why we exist

The CRC exists to help change the way we build our cities by
valuing the contribution water makes to economic growth and
development, our quality of life and to the ecosystems of which
cities are a part.

© CRC for Water Sensitive Cities

 Water
extremes &
vulnerabilities
Population
growth
& urban
densities

Some typical key challenges to urban liveability

Urban heat

Degrading
environments
 Water
extremes &
vulnerabilities Population
growth
& urban
densities

Some typical key challenges to urban liveability

Urban heat

Degrading
environments
Water for Life Water for Liveability
 33 Local Governments
12 State Government Departments/Agencies
21 Private Companies
Technical University of Denmark,
11 Research Organisations
DHI (Danish Hydraulic Institute) 7 Water Utilities
2 NGO or NFP Organisations
UNESCO-IHE
12 University of Queensland, Griffith
University of Innsbruck University, Brisbane City Council,
GHD, Kellogg Brown and Root,
Kunshan City Construction Investment & Development Group, Kunshan International WaterCentre,
City Bureau of Planning, Southeast University, Zipu Environmental, City of Gold Coast,
Integrated Planning and Design, Southwest Jiaotong University Bligh Tanner Consulting Engineers,
10 SPEL Environmental
National University of Singapore
Public Utilities Board of Singapore
Townsville

Gilgandra Shire Council

14 Inner West Council,

University of Western Australia, Department of Water, Housing Authority, Greater Sydney Local
Water Corporation, LandCorp, Department of Parks and Wildlife, ChemCentre, City of Land Services,
18 Joondalup, City of Gosnells, City of Mandurah, City of Melville, City of Canning, City of City of Sydney,
Subiaco, City of Nedlands, Urbaqua, Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council, Western City of Newcastle,
Suburbs Regional Organisation of Councils, Josh Byrne & Associates Hornsby Shire Council,
Strathfield Municipal
Council, Northern
University of Adelaide, SA Water, City of Unley,
4 Natural Resources Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges (DEWNR)
Beaches Council, Flow
Systems, Ku-ring-gai
Council, Blacktown City
Monash University, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Council, Fairfield City
Melbourne Water, South East Water, City West Water, Yarra Valley Water, Coliban Water, Council, Department of
City of Melbourne, City of Port Phillip, Manningham City Council, City of Boroondara, City of Greater Bendigo Planning and
City of Greater Dandenong, City of Kingston, Mooney Valley City Council, Knox City Council, Environment, Citygreen
Maddocks, Water Technology, E2DesignLab, DesignFlow, REALMstudios, Systems
26 Alluvium Consulting, Foundry Consulting, Biofilta Pty Ltd, Marsden Jacob Associates,
Envirostream Solutions Pty Ltd
eWater Ltd, Prentice
Eco Systems Pty Ltd
2
86 Partners
Program Design

Focus on:-
• An inter-disciplinary approach to
developing strategies & solutions

• Water management for

sustainability, resilient &
liveability in cities and towns

• Active engagement with industry

and community
 THE WATER SENSITIVE CITY:
PRINCIPLES FOR PRACTICE

Cities as Water Supply Catchments: meaning access to water through

a diversity of sources at a diversity of supply scales;

Cities Providing Ecosystem Services: meaning the built environment

functions to supplement and support the function of the natural
environment;

Cities Comprising Water Sensitive Communities: meaning socio-

political capital for sustainability exists and citizens’ decision-making and
behaviour are water sensitive.

Wong, T., and Brown, R. (2009). The Water Sensitive City: Principles for Practice,
Water Science and Technology, Vol 60(3) 2009, pp. 673-682.
 WATER CITIES AND THE
FUTURE OF INFRASTRUCTURE

A hybrid of blue, green and grey infrastructure

and corridors defining the shape and form of
future cities

Wong, T., and Brown, R. (2009). The Water Sensitive City: Principles for Practice,
Water Science and Technology, Vol 60(3) 2009, pp. 673-682.
Ideas for Bentley
Water Footprint
 650 mm
rainfall
evapotranspiration
Scheme water
capacity
67 ML 46
162 ML ML
25 Ha

224 ML
c
Drinking Waste
101
water
+1650 dwellings  +4000 residents water ML
c
224 ML Sewer
capacity

Non drinking
c
46 ML
81 ML Rain Storm 81 ML
water water
bores

Groundwater
 650 mm
rainfall
evapotranspiration
Scheme water
capacity
67 ML 46
162 ML ML
25 Ha

224 ML
Drinking 101
c
water Waste ML
water
c
224 ML Sewer
capacity

Non drinking
c
46 ML
Precinct 81 ML Rain Storm 81 ML
water water
grid

Groundwater
 650 mm
Scheme water rainfall evapotranspiration
capacity
67 46
ML 162 ML ML
25 Ha
94 ML Drinking 94 ML
c Waste
water
c
water
94 ML 101
ML
Sewer
capacity
Non drinking
Grey
water water
176c ML
Green
wall
130 ML
46 ML 81 ML Rain Storm 81 ML
water water

162 ML

bores Groundwater
 650 mm
Scheme water rainfall evapotranspiration
capacity
67 46
ML 162 ML ML
25 Ha
48
94 ML 94 ML
Drinking
c Waste
water
c
water
94 ML 101
ML
Potable
treatment Sewer
capacity
Non drinking
Grey
water water
176c ML
Green
wall
130 ML
46 ML 81 ML Rain Storm 81 ML
water water

162 ML

bores Groundwater
 650 mm
Scheme water rainfall evapotranspiration
capacity
67 46
ML 162 ML ML
25 Ha
48 ML 94 ML
Drinking
c Waste
water
c 48 ML
water
94 ML 101
46 ML ML
Potable
treatment Wastewater Recycling
Sewer
capacity
Non drinking 46 ML Grey
water water
176c ML
Green
wall
130 ML
46 ML 81 ML Rain Storm 81 ML
water water

162 ML

bores Groundwater
Blue/Green Spine
GREEN SPINE:

Provides a multilayered linear

ecosystem that celebrates
green and blue infrastructure,
provides legibility and acts as
an identifiable hallmark of the
Bentley Precinct.

© CRC for Water Sensitive Cities

GREEN SPINE:

Connecting key open spaces

© CRC for Water Sensitive Cities

GREEN SPINE:

Connecting key open spaces

© CRC for Water Sensitive Cities

GREEN SPINE:

celebrating water in a green

and blue corridor

© CRC for Water Sensitive Cities

GREEN SPINE:

celebrating water in a green

and blue corridor

© CRC for Water Sensitive Cities

COMPONENTS:

Green Walls

Provide green wall infrastructure

on key, high density
developments to filter grey
water from buildings and create
a ‘Green Canyon’ atmosphere.

© CRC for Water Sensitive Cities

© CRC for Water Sensitive Cities
Water in the landscape

Broadbent et al. (2014)

© CRC for Water Sensitive Cities
COMPONENTS:

Integrated Public Art

Commission high quality, integrated

water art to be developed along the
green spine and accentuate key
moments and transitions
along its length.

© CRC for Water Sensitive Cities

© CRC for Water Sensitive Cities
 © CRC for Water Sensitive Cities
TiO2 Photocatalytic Coating
COMPONENTS:

Village square

Highly pedestrianised and

activated piazza as the locus
of precinct life

© CRC for Water Sensitive Cities

COMPONENTS:

Infiltration forest

Provide an urban forest allowing

storm water infiltration and
green P.O.S. amenity.

© CRC for Water Sensitive Cities

Effective Governance
Governance for precinct development
coordination

© CRC for Water Sensitive Cities 2015

 Water
extremes &
vulnerabilities Population
growth
& urban
densities

Urban heat

Degrading
environments