Around the world, we are seeking ways to deliver cities that are liveable and sustainable. Water is at the heart of this quest.
W
Fluid solutions for liveable cities
Dr Ryan Signor*
ater contributes to live-
unlock the opportunity water creates for live-
something to celebrate. The focus on providing
ability through the services
able cities. The hard part is determining what
diversity and resilience in water supply and
and values it provides,
mix of investment in efficiency, infrastructure,
the changes in community expectation and
including productivity op-
community facilities, smart technology and
behaviour that bubbled over during the mil-
portunities, public health,
other things will prolong the community benefit.
lennium drought will carry on for generations.
urban climate control,
What’s guiding us? Communities are cre-
Streetscapes are changing as rain gardens,
green space and amenity, senses of place,
ating a growing demand for water systems
permeable pavements, stormwater systems
recreation, irrigation and ecosystem services,
that add value to the urban landscape. At the
that incorporate wetlands, ponds and water
among others. To realise these, it needs to
same time, urban areas are being gentrified
harvesting are routinely being considered and
be managed sustainably — from how we deal
and expanded. To keep pace, designers and
delivered. Water recycling schemes around the
with flood and drought, keep it clean and
developers seek quick and accessible guid-
country are operating. ‘Water sensitive urban
safe, source and use it, keep it affordable
ance on water management. These include:
design’ is business as usual, not a buzzword.
and reliable, and so on. Recently, the water services industry
• blunt instruments such as regulated water planning rules, laws and standards;
However, time and again I have watched planners, designers, engineers and managers
has shifted its focus accordingly to embrace
• persuasive instruments that include nation-
be blinded by seeking ‘compliance’ with the
these ideas. At least in Australia’s capital
al, state and local guidelines, scientific and
various instruments. In our hasty reliance on
cities, the utilities and planning authorities
academic advice, and industry guidance;
these, might we be giving away some of our
are placing customer, community and live-
• voluntary instruments such as community
ability to innovate? Consider the story of a
ability at the centre of strategic planning and
liveability and sustainability rating schemes
moving towards ‘whole water cycle’ thinking
like the Green Building Council Australia’s
A greenfield site developer wants to deliver
and water-sensitive urban design. The main
‘Green Communities’ scheme, which
a leading sustainable and liveable community,
driver of this is need and good intention —
sets stretch goals for meeting liveability
with the highest ‘Green Communities’ rating
resources are limited and we want to make
indicators.
targeted as the main measure. A system is
sure they are properly allocated. Done well,
Is it working? The increased awareness
developed that goes far towards meeting
such integrated urban water planning will
around integrated urban water planning is
the most ambitious targets for water-related
48 Sustainability Matters - Apr/May 2016
recent urban development project:
www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au