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Water Sensitive Western Sydney? Identifying the Constraints & Opportunities. Peter Morison Stormwater Management Engineer Blacktown City Council 9839 6259 peter.morison@blacktown.nsw.gov.au. Overview. Context Constraints Social Technical Environmental Opportunities Concluding Remarks.
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Water Sensitive Western Sydney?Identifying the Constraints & Opportunities Peter Morison Stormwater Management Engineer Blacktown City Council 9839 6259 peter.morison@blacktown.nsw.gov.au
Overview • Context • Constraints • Social • Technical • Environmental • Opportunities • Concluding Remarks
Pop. 1.7 M Pop. >2M, 10-20 yrs 48% <30 yrs 24.1% migrants <10% Cumberland Plain vegetation characterised by Suburban development since WWII Context
Social Constraints • Acceptance of change • Stormwater Managers • Developers & agents • Community • Potential Fears and Unknowns: • Costs WS vs. conventional? • Failure • Misconceptions • Costs drive acceptance
Technical Constraints • ‘Cook book’ thinking vs. innovation • Lack of demonstration sites • Skills and competencies • A myriad of stormwater managers • Within organisations • Without organisations
Environmental Constraints • Urban Salinity • throughflow • localised saturation • waterlogged sites • basins/wetlands • implications for water use
Environmental Constraints (2) • Infiltration is ‘out’ for clay soils • Stormwater Infiltration Project • Baseflow with reuse • Developed precincts
Social Opportunities • What You See Is What You Get Improved aesthetics/amenity Increased acceptance/motivation • Education and Consultation • Capacity Building • Community involvement in Decision-making • Reduced municipal maintenance
Technical Opportunities • Problem Prevention (integration of structural/non-structural source controls) • NOT Crisis Management (traditional end-of-pipe approach) • Innovative planning and implementation
Environmental Opportunities • Hydrology • reduced runoff frequency and magnitude • more ‘natural’ • Reduced flood risks • Reduced in-stream erosion & sedimentation • Improved stream health
Conclusion • Western Sydney should and can have WSUD • Water Sensitive Western Sydney will: • take time • need change • rely on honesty & integrity • BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY: • Everybody and Everything benefits!!