Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697637188455.pdf (Australia)
Submission from Brisbane City Council to the “Senate Standing References Committee on the Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts” a) The management of water in Australian cities.

Community health Community health in cities has been a significant driver for the existing systems of water management and service delivery.

This has resulted in the development of “natural” monopolies within the water sector focussing on the use of centralised systems.
These monopolies rely on a linear system of operation.

That is, there is a single use pathway for the water used.

Little or no emphasis has been directed toward closing the loop as “traditional” system planners continue to replicate the existing approaches.

Water quality Water quality guidelines such as those prescribed by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), have been adopted at various levels across the nation.
These Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) encourage the philosophy of a single quality water for multiple uses.

Such an approach is risk averse and results in water used in all applications being of the same quality, where a different quality would suffice.

Frameworks for managing water quality Various frameworks for managing water quality and consequently system quality exist.

Water service providers adopt permutations of these, however no single uniform management system presently exists.
The frameworks include, but are not limited to; ISO 9000, ISO14000 and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP).

b) The progress and adequacy of Australia’s policies to reduce urban water use and improve water quality.

National Competition Policy (NCP) Adoption of the principles of National Competition Policy (NCP) in conjunction with the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Water Reform Guidelines have achieved notable reductions in consumption within Brisbane City Council.
Implementation of a user pays, two part tariff resulted in an initial consumption drop in the vicinity of 16%.

A decline of this magnitude has provided savings to Council via the deferral of impending treatment plant augmentation to meet population growth.

Brisbane City Council has also adopted some of the broader principles of public sector and competitive reforms.

In doing so, Brisbane City Council has separated the water business into purchaser and provider elements.
The purchaser has retained ownership of the assets and develops the appropriate policy relating to the improved delivery of water and wastewater services.

Brisbane Water has been established as a commercialised business unit of Brisbane City Council and operates and maintains the water and wastewater infrastructure under a contractual arrangement with the asset owner.
Standards and regulations Nationally, whilst NCP has been adopted, other standards and regulations continue to move slowly due to difficulties achieving consensus amongst participants.

National standards pertaining to point of use appliances such as dual flush flow showerheads and the next generation of point of use appliances still awaits recognition.
toilets exist, however other appliances such as low Government Planning Presently there is an apparent absence of Government Planning instruments to achieve reduced water consumption.

Where such instruments exist, disconnectedness between the governmental tiers provides a barrier to effective implementation.

Improved water quality Improved water quality is emotionally consumer driven.
Before prescribing an increase in quality standards greater learning is necessary to facilitate the optimisation of the investment dollar for the community.

A recent double blind clinical trial of incidences of gastroenteritis, funded by the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA), has already indicated that substantial investment in water treatment infrastructure to improve water quality is unlikely to make any notable difference in urban public health.
Additionally, the ADWG (1996) is still to be nationally achieved, although programs are now in place to finally get there.

City-Country Gap A point of note also, is the divide between country and city water quality and services.

This gap requires addressing and closure as the cost of delivery of Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG 1996) is outside the affordability of country regions.

c) Environmental performance in urban stormwater management.
Water Sensitive Urban Design Brisbane City Council has implemented Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) as an element of its “city planning” instrument.

This has defined roles, responsibilities and branding of key strategies such as “Backyard to Bay” and “Healthy Waterways”.

An overview of WSUD is attached as part of this submission.
Integrated Water Management Strategy Additionally, Brisbane City Council is identifying the “ecological footprint” of the city and as part of the Council’s Water and Sewerage Program is embarking on an Integrated Water Management Strategy.

The Strategy works with organisations such as CSIRO Urban Water Program, State Government agencies, consultants and local developers and challenges the status quo of water service provision.
A recent draft of the Integrated Water Management Strategy is available to the committee upon request.

Receiving water quality Understanding of receiving water quality is a vital element in developing appropriate policies and determining levels of required capital investment that results in the best choices for the best environmental outcomes.

The recent Brisbane River and Moreton Bay Study is well advanced in addressing this understanding.
Such studies enable informed decision making when developing new license controls for both point source and non-point source water discharges and flows to the environment.

Local groups such as the Brisbane River Management Group and the South East Queensland Regional Water Quality Strategy are developing regional partnerships presently including 19 regional councils, the Environment Protection Agency (Qld), universities and a number of cooperative research centres.
Brisbane City Council is addressing the issue of receiving water quality by targeting water re-use as an objective in its Corporate Plan.

Council is also addressing the amount of nitrogen discharged to Moreton Bay as well as implementing demand management initiatives.

The Water and Sewerage element of the Corporate Plan forms part of this submission.

d) Potential for Australia to improve water quality and environmental outcomes.
the greatest opportunities is also Integrated Water Management Integrated Water Management that addresses the whole of the water cycle improved water quality and provides environmental outcomes.

to begin quantitatively expressing and including externalities (this has already been identified by COAG) in decision making for water service providers.

Often externalities are linked to, or expressed in pure economic terms; this is not necessarily the best or preferred outcome.
for important It Technological competence The technological competence to recycle does exist however so do a number of barriers.

These include, but are not limited to: • Media – ill-informed media pounce on recycling opportunities and can often “kill off” projects.

• Water Quality Standards – an absence of standards that relate to the requirements of the end-use means that excessive treatment financially non-viable.
Draft Australian makes some projects guidelines exist for re-use but they are predominantly driven by Health and consequently not necessarily the requirements of fitness for purpose.

California currently has Title 22 regulations that are forming the basis of guidelines being developed in South Australia.

fully capturing • Financial – whilst the technology exists, in some circumstances it is very expensive.
Subsidies would provide financial incentives to invest in re-use opportunities and have already successfully enabled a major re-use project in Brisbane.

This should not however stop at large user level and should also be available to household schemes.

• Risk understandings – it is appropriate that we understand the risks associated with using any source water eg recycled water.

This provides opportunities to not be risk adverse but to manage the risk.
Water markets Water markets for the urban water sector are immature and not well understood by both the users and the implementers.

There is a disparity in experience in water trading nationally and differing state structures are not necessarily amenable to this improving.

Pricing Pricing is one mechanism that has worked well in discouraging excessive consumption.
Experience however suggests that demand decrements are short lived and environmental influences such as drought have a greater long- term influence.

This should not however preclude a need to understand the elasticity of water demand and the future effectiveness of pricing as a demand management tool.

Research Brisbane City Council and CSIRO, to understand the consumer’s tastes have undertaken valuable research.
The outcomes are valuable as they indicate how the consumer perceives water quality and how the consumer uses the water.

Importantly, it is beginning to identify the volumes of water actually used for human consumption as opposed to other indoor and outdoor uses.

SUMMARY The protection of public health has been the predominant driver for the existing systems of water service provision.
As these systems have matured issues of equity and fairness to the whole community have masked the need to address the existing linear use pathway of service provision.

It is now becoming more evident that multiple use pathways for water use provide greater environmental and possibly social outcomes.

It is necessary to continue the new learnings and challenge the status quo to ensure the best possible long-term outcome for both the environment and existing and future communities.
Brisbane City Council Corporate Plan (2000/01) – Water and Sewerage Progam Attachment 1 Program 10 – Water & Sewerage Outcome Indicator Target 10.1Supply management Well managed water and sewerage services.

National Health and Medical Research Council water quality guidelines.

100% compliance.

EPA licence requirements.

100% compliance.

Nitrogen levels in treated effluent discharge.

Less than 10mg/L by 2002 (as an average of all treatment plants).
Community satisfaction with Council’s performance in providing high quality drinking water.

65% of residents and 65%of business are very satisfied with Council’s performance in providing high quality drinking water.

Strategy Action Due date Responsible Officer 10.1.1 Ensure water and sewerage services meet the changing of the city.

needs 10.1.1.1 Deliver improvements to customer service in line with customer service standards review by December 2000.
Dec 2000 MWS/DMGRH 10.1.1.2 Continue to improve taste and odour quality standards of Brisbane drinking water.

Ongoing MWS/DMGRH 10.1.1.3 Negotiate with the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) to agree on appropriate licence conditions and implement annually.

Annually MWS 10.1.1.4 Significantly reduce existing sludge stockpiles at sewage treatment plants by June 2002.
Jun 2000 MWS/DMGRH 10.1.1.5 Implement strategies in at least one other sewage treatment plant to re-use sewage solid waste by June 2000 and two more by 2003.

10.1.1.6 Achieve average nitrogen levels in effluent treatment of less than 10 parts per million by June 2002 in accordance with findings of the Brisbane River and Moreton Bay Study.
Jun 2000 Jun 2003 MWS/DMGRH Jun 2002 MWS Brisbane City Council Corporate Plan (2000/01) – Water and Sewerage Progam Attachment 1 10.1.1.7 Integrate approaches to sewage treatment, environmental management and local planning in the north east area of Brisbane to ensure co-ordination of related programs and achieve maximum community benefit by December 1999.

Dec 1999 MWS Program 10 – Water & Sewerage Outcome Indicator Target 10.2Sustainable water resources Demand on water is managed at sustainable levels.
Average water consumption per household.

300 litres/person/day.

Beneficial re-use of biosolids.

Increase by 10% per annum.

Reuse of sewage effluent to achieve potable replacement.

30 megalitres per day by 2002.

Strategy Action 10.2.1 Raise community awareness of the value of water.

10.2.1.1 ork jointly through SEQROC to reduce water consumption by December 2001.
Due date Responsible Officer Dec 2001 MWS/DMGRH 10.2.1.2 Promote demand management through consumption- based pricing and community awareness programs.

Ongoing MWS/DMGRH 10.2.1.3 Reduce the impact of industrial discharge on Brisbane’s Sewage Treatment Plants by pre-treatment programs.

10.2.1.4 Assist at least five major customers each year to develop waste minimisation plans using best practice and cleaner production technology.
Ongoing MWS/DMGRH Annually MWS/DMGRH 10.2.1.5 Promote re-use of sewage effluent to achieve recycling of 30 megalitres per day by July 2002.

July 2002 MWS Brisbane City Council Corporate Plan (2000/01) – Water and Sewerage Progam Attachment 1 Program 10 – Water & Sewerage Outcome Indicator Target 10.3Infrastructure provision Maintain and improve water and sewerage assets.

Performance cost projections of Capital Works Program.

100% of major capital projects completed on time and within budget.
Community satisfaction with Council’s performance in providing an adequate sewerage system.

77% of residents and 70% of business are very satisfied with Council’s performance in providing an adequate sewerage system.

Sewage overflows.

Monitor.

Strategy Action 10.3.1 Align water and sewerage services to the development of the City and region.

needs 10.3.2 Ensure effective operation, maintenance and timely and expansion of water assets.
replacement 10.3.3 Ensure effective operation, maintenance and timely and expansion of sewerage assets.

replacement 10.3.1.1 Ensure water and sewerage assets and services complement plans for the City’s growth.

Water and sewerage headworks charges are reviewed as part of the Council’s Infrastructure Charges Plan by June 2000.

10.3.1.2 Promote research and development to find innovative solutions to future delivery of water and sewerage services.
10.3.2.1 Develop a 30-year strategic plan for Brisbane’s water reticulation network in priority development areas by June 2000.

Due date Responsible Officer Jun 2000 MWS Ongoing MWS Jun 2000 MWS 10.3.2.2 Encourage and develop joint ventures that will enhance the performance of Brisbane’s water assets.

Ongoing MWS/DMGRH 10.3.3.1 Develop 30 year strategic plan for Brisbane’s sewerage network in priority development areas by June 2000.
Jun 2000 MWS 10.3.3.2 Increase the sewer capacity of the Camp Hill and Coorparoo section of the Norman Creek Catchment.

Complete final Stage by June 2002.

Jun 2002 MWS/DMGRH 10.3.3.3 Upgrade the North Quay to Breakfast Creek Sewer (S1) by June 2001.
Jun 2001 MWS Brisbane City Council’s Water Sensitive Urban Design Project Plan (Version 1) Attachment 2 Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) - Stormwater Project Plan Version 1 – April 2001 PROJECT GOAL To substantially increase the extent to which water sensitive urban design (WSUD) is used for stormwater management in Brisbane within the next 5 years (2001-2005) to: sustainably manage the City’s water resources in terms of the region’s environment, economy and community lifestyle; protect the health of the City’s waterways, as part of the regional 2020 ‘Healthy Waterways’ vision; demonstrate leadership in the SE Queensland region in terms of innovative, water sensitive urban designs and their implementation; minimise and/or delay the need for new water supply infrastructure; implement the Corporate 2010 vision of a Smart City and Clean and Green City with respect to stormwater management; minimise localised flooding; minimise the need for large, publicly funded and maintained, ‘end of pipe’ stormwater controls; and foster a new culture in Brisbane communities that sees stormwater as a resource.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES To raise awareness of WSUD within Council and the local development industry (primary) and broader community (secondary).

 To provide adequate guidelines and standard drawings for WSUD management practices.

 To establish legislative and policy drivers to encourage WSUD.

 To identify barriers for WSUD implementation and strategies to overcome them.

 To establish incentives for WSUD on private developments.
To increase the implementation of WSUD on Council projects and private developments.

 To help resolve WSUD-related problems in Council’s development assessment process.

 To foster the construction of some high profile developments in the City using WSUD.

 To evaluate the cost, performance and asset management implications of WSUD measures.

 To evaluate the impact of WSUD on the need for infrastructure at the estate scale (e.g.
fire fighting services, constructed stormwater drainage).

Brisbane City Council’s Water Sensitive Urban Design Project Plan (Version 1) Attachment 2 PROJECT TEAM André Taylor - Waterways Program (Project Coordinator for 2001).

Andris Krumins - Brisbane Water.

Bill Hodgson - Development and Regulatory Services (Plumbing Inspector’s Office).

Bill Manners – Development and Regulatory Services.

Brett Derrick - Development and Regulatory Services.

Bruce Baron – Development and Regulatory Services.


Jean Erbacher/Tonia Giobbi - Water & Sewerage.

John Atkinson – Development and Regulatory Services.

Khondker Rahman/Bruce McArthur - Waterways Program.

Michael Steer - Asset Support Group (also representing the interests of Local Asset Services).

Peter Kuras – City Design.

Rob Knottenbeld – Transport and Traffic Tony Weber - Waterways Program.
STUDY ARCHITECTURE The WSUD Project is part of Council’s new “Integrated Water Management Project”, and has linkages with Brisbane City Council’s Corporate Plan via the Water & Sewerage Program and Waterways Program (i.e.

under the Activities/Strategies ‘Stormwater quality improvement’, ‘Use partnerships to deliver better outcomes’, ‘Minimise flooding’).

The Project also aligns with Council’s new ‘2010 Vision’ under the strategic directions of becoming a ‘Smart City’ and a ‘Clean and Green City’.
PROJECT SCOPE The WSUD Project will cover: Stormwater recycling at the lot (i.e.

rain water re-use), estate and regional scale.

 Water sensitive planning and management practices for the management of stormwater from urban development (with a focus on medium density residential development, high density residential and commercial development).

 The impact of WSUD on related infrastructure (e.g.
sizing of pipes for water supply and stormwater drainage, fire fighting requirements).

Though it will not address wastewater management (e.g.

greywater reuse), opportunities to integrate with whole of water cycle projects or practices will be pursued whenever possible throughout the project.
EXTERNAL ASSISTANCE/SOURCES OF EXPERT ADVICE CSIRO Urban Water Program – Dr Grace Mitchell, Andrew Speers.1 CRC Catchment Hydrology – Assoc Prof. Tony Wong*, Dr Tim Fletcher & Sara Lloyd.2 Melbourne Water – Kevin Wood.

WBM Oceanics – Tony McAlister*.

University of SA - Dr John Argue.

University of Newcastle - Dr Peter Coombes, Dr George Zuczera.

* Involved in workshops to develop this plan.


1 2 A relationship exists with this group through Water & Sewerage Program and the ‘Integrated Water Management Project’.

A relationship exists with this group through Waterways Program and their involvement as an Industry Party to the CRC for Catchment Hydrology.

Brisbane City Council’s Water Sensitive Urban Design Project Plan (Version 1) Attachment 2 CHAMPIONS FOR THE PROJECT Mark Pascoe – Manager, Water & Sewerage.
Barry Ball - Manager, Waterways Program.

Bob Wallis – Manager, DRS.

ACTIONS See Table 1 (attached).

FUNDING/RESOURCES In 2000/2001 and 2001/2002 there is not a specific budget for WSUD.

A ‘Service Level 3 budget bid’ was made by Waterways Program for 2001/2002 but was unsuccessful.

Thus, to fund elements within the Action Plan, resources will be, and are being sourced from existing and related activities within Waterways Program and Water & Sewerage.
Obtaining some funding from the private sector may also be possible, if there is significant benefit from the proposed initiative (e.g.

for a high profile WSUD award scheme).

Some major developers (e.g.

Delfin) have also shown interest in incorporating a WSUD stage in their development.

Some of the associated design work will have City wide application.

PRIMARY MEASURES OF SUCCESS/FAILURE Short term • Status of actions included in Table 1.

Longer term (approx 3-5 years) in 1.


Gradual increase in the proportion of large developments (i.e.

those defined as ‘High risk’ the City Plan’s Stormwater Management Code) entering Council’s development assessment system that incorporate water sensitive urban design elements for stormwater management, as estimated by DRS senior staff (i.e.

senior engineering and ecology staff from DRS – Development Assessment and Major Projects).

1.
1.

Baseline @ April 2001 = 7.5% (median) and 15.4% (mean), 8 respondents.

To measure: survey by e-mail all senior DA engineers in Council and all ecologists in DA.

2.

Gradual increase in the level of awareness and degree of acceptance of the water sensitive urban design philosophy for stormwater management within core areas of Council (e.g.
City Design’s design area, Transport and Traffic, DRS – Development Assessment and Major Projects, City Planning, Waterways Program, Asset Support Group, Water & Sewerage, Environment and Parks).

2a.

Baseline @ April 2001 (awareness) = 3% (median) and 3.4% (mean), 21 respondents.

(where 1 = very low, 2 = low, 3 = acceptable, 4 = good, 5 = very good).

Brisbane City Council’s Water Sensitive Urban Design Project Plan (Version 1) Attachment 2 2b.
Baseline @ April 2001 (degree of acceptance) = 4% (median) and 3.4% (mean), 21 respondents.

(where 1 = very low, 2 = low, 3 = acceptable, 4 = good, 5 = very good).

To measure: survey by e-mail ‘EMC Net’ and the ‘WSUD Project Team’, asking each respondent to answer on behalf of their work area if possible (i.e.

not personally).

3.

Gradual increase in the level of awareness and degree of acceptance of the water sensitive urban design philosophy within the private development industry (e.g.
UDIA), including engineers, planners and architects.

3a.

Baseline @ April 2001 (awareness) = 3% (median) and 2.4% (mean), 8 respondents.

(where 1 = very low, 2 = low, 3 = acceptable, 4 = good, 5 = very good).

good).

3b.

Baseline @ April 2001 (degree of acceptance) = 2% (median) and 2.4% (mean), 8 respondents.
(where 1 = very low, 2 = low, 3 = acceptable, 4 = good, 5 = very To measure: survey ‘BCC’s Water Quality Management Technical Reference and phone survey the Head of IEAust (Qld Div), the Qld Chairman of the SIA, the President of RAPI, the Head of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, and the Head of Royal Australian Institute of Architects (Qld Chapter), asking each respondent to answer on behalf of their members if possible (i.e.

not personally).
not personally).

Brisbane City Council’s Water Sensitive Urban Design Project Plan (Version 1) Attachment 2 Table 1 – WSUD Action Plan (Stormwater) Actions Priority (H/M/L) Key BCC Person Responsible Start Finish Resources Needed Status (April 2001) WP Program (PWPOQ, SWPOI, SWPOQ).

Underway.

June 2006 (ongoing).

Staff time.

Information to stress economic rationale and present case studies.

Proposed tool kit $20,000.


Education, Awareness & Marketing In a proactive fashion, build awareness of WSUD (internally and externally), focussing on influential stakeholders such as senior BCC managers, major developers, industry group leaders (esp.

UDIA), planners, architects, surveyors & maintenance personnel (e.g.

LAS).

• • • Workshops.

• Conferences.

• The CRC-CH’s Urban Stormwater Quality DSS.

A simple WSUD information kit/toolkit (proposed by June 2003).

Seminars.

Industry newsletters.


• Ensure WSUD is promoted in the ‘Integrated Water Management’ Communication Plan.

Facilitate the Second National WSUD Conference in Brisbane (2002) with the SIA, AWA and IEAust.

As part of the above event, facilitate a ½ day bus trip for internal and external stakeholders to WSUD case studies at a variety of scales, focussing on practices that can be used on medium density residential subdivisions and townhouse/commercial developments.
H H M M Use visiting experts where possible and existing seminar programs.

Use links with elements of the new Qld Water Recycling Strategy (EPA = lead agent, Strategy currently only a draft).

Need to engage BCC’s senior planners at Daily Team Meetings.

Use infill examples as well as green field development.

WSUD included in the ‘Integrated Water Management’ Communication Plan.

BCC to manage with professional industry groups.

Possible synergies by running just prior to the River Symposium in September.
In the short term, there are not enough measures in place for this trip to be feasible.

Aim for 2002.

Keep a photographic record of all major demonstrate sites where BCC is heavily involved.

W&S (SP2IWM).

Underway.

WP Program (SWPOI, SWPOQ).

Sept 2002.

June 2001 and review annually.

Sept 2002.

Staff time.

Staff time.

WP Program (SWPOI, SWPOQ).

Sep 2002.

Sep 2002.

Cost neutral.

Staff time.

$5,000.


Brisbane City Council’s Water Sensitive Urban Design Project Plan (Version 1) Attachment 2 Actions Priority (H/M/L) Key BCC Person Responsible Start Finish April 2001.

Dec 2001.

Resources Needed $5 ,000.

(estimate only) Establish a high profile WSUD Design Award linked with the UDIA for new development in BCC that best meets the defined objectives of this Project.

Publicise examples of WSUD (including stormwater recycling) at the lot and regional scale.
H L WP Program (PWPOQ) with assistance from DMGRK Rainwater tanks – W&S (SP2IWM).

Other – WP (PWPOQ).

April 2002.

June 2006.

Staff time.

Status (April 2001) Link with the UDIA awards rather than the annual Healthy Waterways Award for more development industry impact.

System operating in Vic already.

May need several categories in the longer term (e.g.

small, large, design, construction).

Potential linkage with the Qld Water Recycling Strategy (i.e.
it has funded many demonstration projects across the State including stormwater recycling projects at a variety of scales – e.g.

the Gold Coast ‘Healthy Home’, St Rita’s school project).

Regional stormwater recycling will occur at the new Bridgewater Creek Wetland, Coorparoo.

There is also a promising proposal to reuse stormwater from QUT at the City Botanical Gardens.
Communication media options include: Totally Wild (TV), Brisbane Extra (TV), Courier Mail, UDIA magazine, BCC’s ‘Home Source’ magazine, the national SIA newsletter, SIA/IEAust/AWA seminars.

Focus on examples of WSUD in an infill/high density development context wherever possible.

Brisbane City Council’s Water Sensitive Urban Design Project Plan (Version 1) Attachment 2 Actions Priority (H/M/L) Key BCC Person Responsible Start Finish Resources Needed Status (April 2001) April 2001.

June 2006.

Staff time.


See comments above.

Rainwater tanks – W&S (SP2IWM).

Other – WP (PWPOQ).

Rainwater tanks – W&S (SP2IWM).

Other – WP (SWPOI).

Underway.

Feb 2006 (ongoing).

$5-10,000 p.a.

for training.

$10-30,000 p.a.

for std drawing work.

Rainwater tanks – W&S (SP2IWM).

April 2001.

Feb 2006 (ongoing).

Staff time.

Other – WP (SWPOI).

WP Program (PWPOQ, SWPOI, SWPOQ).

July 2002.

June 2006 (ongoing).

Staff time (plus a few thousand).


Need to take opportunities to transfer knowledge from visiting experts and leading Consultants to DA staff (and others in Council).

Planning to run a stormwater quality management training course in June 2001 in Brisbane (4-5 days).

CRC-CH and IEAust involved (SWPOI).

Will include detailed design content for common WSUD BMPs.

Need to take opportunities to transfer knowledge from visiting experts and leading Consultants to DA staff (and others in Council).
For example: CRC- CH, CSIRO, WBM Oceanics.

Need to take opportunities to transfer knowledge from visiting experts and leading Consultants to DA staff (and others in Council).

For example: CRC- CH, CSIRO, WBM Oceanics.

Link with existing professional development programs where possible.

Seek to use the regional ‘Healthy Waterways campaign’ and the new Moreton Bay and Catchment Partnership to highlight some examples of WSUD across SEQ.
Build WSUD-related technical skills in Council’s Development Assessment area, through established professional development forums.

The focus shall be on developing detailed design skills for WSUD best management practices (as well as standard drawings with BMPs3 shown in a typical road configuration).

Provide WSUD-related monitoring information to key DRS staff through publications, the new CRC-CH DSS and through tailored seminars.

Use existing professional development forums.


Provide WSUD-related training to construction service providers to ensure that construction practices are compatible with BMPs (this has been a major issue in Melbourne).

M H L L Regional Leadership 3 BMP = Best Management Practices.

Brisbane City Council’s Water Sensitive Urban Design Project Plan (Version 1) Attachment 2 Actions Help the SEQ region to rapidly adopt WSUD through: • • • • Professional networking.

Seminars/training/conferences.


Site visits/demonstration projects.

Distribution of information (e.g.

via the Internet).

Monitoring/Evaluation of BMPs In partnership with the CRC for Catchment Hydrology, design build and evaluate the effectiveness and life cycle cost of: • Gross pollutant traps.

• Wetlands and ponds.

• Bioretention systems.

• Grassed swales.

Priority (H/M/L) Key BCC Person Responsible M All of the WSUD Project Team, but especially WP and W&S staff.

Start Finish Underway.


June 2006 (ongoing) .

Resources Needed Staff time.

Status (April 2001) Already underway.

In many ways, areas with large amounts of green field development space (e.g.

Ipswich) have a greater opportunity than Brisbane to successfully implement WSUD.

Thus, for the benefit of the Catchment’s receiving waters, adoption of WSUD in thee areas should be a priority.

H WP (SWPOQ).

Underway.

June 2003.

Approx.

$400,000 cash and in-kind p.a.

(funded).


(later, consider porous paving products and modular infiltration devices).

Incorporate the above monitoring results into relevant predictive models (e.g.

for stormwater the CRC-CH’s new Decision Support System) and training programs.

M WP (SWPOQ) with assistance from City Design’s modelling staff.

April 2001.

June 2003.

Staff time.


These monitoring programs need to: • evaluate the performance of these BMPs under Brisbane’s climatic conditions; focus on stakeholder concerns (i.e.

potential barriers to implementation) such as mosquitos, initial cost, maintenance costs, practicality; and evaluate their application in ‘green field’ and ‘retro-fit’ contexts.

• • Links with elements of the new Qld Water Recycling Strategy (EPA = lead agent, Strategy currently only a draft).


The draft strategy has a project on developing a Decision Support System for rain water tank-related decisions.
Brisbane City Council’s Water Sensitive Urban Design Project Plan (Version 1) Attachment 2 Actions Priority (H/M/L) Key BCC Person Responsible Start Finish Resources Needed Status (April 2001) H L H L In partnership with the CSIRO Urban Water Program, evaluate the performance and economics of stormwater recycling at the lot scale (e.g.

rain water tanks for toilet flushing and garden irrigation).

Investigate opportunities for aquifer storage and recharge in Brisbane (e.g.
feasibility of practices developed in South Australia).

As part of W&S’s Brazil Project, consult with homeowners re the acceptability of WSUD (stormwater and greywater) at the house lot scale.

In partnership with developers and potentially, Universities/CRCs/CSIRO, broadly evaluate the success of WSUD implementation in terms of market acceptance, design costs, construction costs, development assessment difficulties, post- construction building issues, maintenance needs, views of residents, etc.
on a couple of major WSUD developments.

Guidelines/Standard Drawings for BMPs Rainwater tanks – W&S (SP2IWM).

April 2001.

Dec 2002.

$20,000 See comments above.

WP (PWPOQ) and W&S (SP2IWM).

June 2001.

June 2002.

$10,000.

W&S (SP2IWM).

July 2001.

Dec 2001 $10,000.

WP (WPO2).

Oct 2001.

June 2003.

$20,000.

Links with elements of the new Qld Water Recycling Strategy (QDNR = lead agent, Strategy currently only a draft).
The draft strategy has a project on the economic issues associated with rain water tanks.

Links with elements of the new Qld Water Recycling Strategy (EPA = lead agent, Strategy currently only a draft).

The draft strategy has a very similar project.

See Nev Gibson (City Design) for details.

Possible use of ‘Your City Your Say’ forum.

The Brazil and Delfin proposals are obvious candidates at this time.

Need to engage either Universities, CRCs, and/or CSIRO to assist.
Wait until Sara Lloyd’s (CRC-CH) work in Melbourne is complete (major consultancy to be completed by Oct 2001) and build on that for Brisbane.

Brisbane City Council’s Water Sensitive Urban Design Project Plan (Version 1) Attachment 2 Start Finish Resources Needed Status (April 2001) Actions Develop locally applicable standard drawings for: • • • • Infiltration systems.

Bioretention systems.

Grassed swales.


Rain water tanks for house-scale and/or town house-scale stormwater recycling (with plumbing details).

Road treatments (eg.

flush kerbs, kerb cuts, swale crossings, swale protection).

• Priority (H/M/L) Key BCC Person Responsible H WP (PWPOQ, SWPOI) and W&S (SP2IWM) for rainwater tanks.

Dec 2001.

June 2003.

Say: 2001/2: $30k 2002/3: $30k Plus staff time (purchasers).
(These standard drawings will provide guidance on the placement of these BMPs in typical road reserves, and cover issues such as service placement).

In partnership with the CRC for Catchment Hydrology develop checklists for development assessment staff to use when assessing WSUD elements.

M WP (PWPOQ, SWPOI).

June 2001.

July 2002.

Minimal (versions already available in Vic).

Need to pull together information that is currently available across Australia.

This may help DA Officers now.


Need to build results from BMP monitoring programs into tailored drawings.

Must involve UMD purchasers (e.g.

T&T, WP, ASG, CP, W&S) to agree on the road reserve layout w.r.t.

BMP location.

Links with elements of the new Qld Water Recycling Strategy for rain water tanks (EPA = lead agent, Strategy currently only a draft).

Checklists have been developed in Victoria (contact Tony Wong).
Planing to develop locally applicable checklists as a product to be used in the mid 2001 WSUD technical design training (IEAust organising with CRCCH assistance).

(SP2IWM to incorporate wastewater and waterwise elements/messages into these checklists where possible).

Brisbane City Council’s Water Sensitive Urban Design Project Plan (Version 1) Attachment 2 Actions In partnership with the CRC for Catchment Hydrology and Melbourne Water develop a National Guideline for WSUD.
Priority (H/M/L) Key BCC Person Responsible L WP (PWPOQ, SWPOI).

Start Finish Dec 2002.

Dec 2006.

Resources Needed Unknown at this stage.

Status (April 2001) 4-5 year project.

In 2002 Program 4 of the CRCCH should be reviewed to judge its capacity to deliver a comprehensive, nationally applicable, detailed design guideline for WSUD.

BCC may have to inject some additional funds.

The guidelines should be linked to the Urban Stormwater Quality DSS being developed by the CRCCH (Program 4).
The guideline needs to have more detailed design information than the guidelines that BCC currently refers to (e.g.

the 1994 WA guideline contains a lot of conceptual design information, but no detail).

H WP (SWPOI).

Started.

April 2001.

Staff resources only.

Got strong support from the LM, MDRS, MDA, MWS, MWW about the WSUD direction.

But, haven’t got a lot of detailed design standards (an issue for ASG and DA especially).
Need all technical specialists to be flexible, accommodating, and help to ensure that we learn from successes and failures over the next few years.
Ensure key staff in Asset Support Group, Transport and Traffic, Waterways Program, Major Projects (DRS), City Planning and Local Asset Services: • support a few major WSUD demonstration projects on-the-ground over the next few years; understand such projects must be used by all as a mechanism to cooperatively develop our design guidelines, standard drawings, maintenance practices, asset management procedures, etc.
; and understand care must still be taken to ensure that the failure of a few high profile WSUD BMPs does not occur, as it may set back the WSUD philosophy several years/decades (the experience in South Australia).

• • Brisbane City Council’s Water Sensitive Urban Design Project Plan (Version 1) Attachment 2 Actions Priority (H/M/L) Key BCC Person Responsible Start Finish Ensure WSUD features in discussions held at the DRS “Coordination Panel” that occurs every afternoon at 3pm.

M WP (SWPOI).

Started.


Ensure WSUD is a focus of the proposed “Infrastructure Guidelines”.

H WP (PWPOS, SWPOI).

June 2001.

April 2001 (at least for the first year SWPOI or his delegate should be involved).

July 2002.

Lobby the Department of Natural Resources and the Institution of Municipal Engineers Association of Queensland to incorporate WSUD into the Queensland Urban Drainage Manual.

M WP (SWPOI).

Dec 2001.

Dec 2002.

Resources Needed Staff resources only.


Status (April 2001) Primarily staff resources (note additional resources highlighted above for std drawing development).

Staff resources only (at least initially).

Currently there is great potential for Council to be ‘sending mixed messages’ to developers in drainage design guidelines.

Namely, we are refining traditional drainage designs but also strongly promoting non-traditional techniques (without providing detailed design drawings).
This situation must be rectified.

BCC may have to partially support the amendment of this document.

It is suggested that 2001/2 should be a year where the necessarily revisions are discussed, scoped and costed.

Document best practice construction methods associated with WSUD.

M WP (PWPOQ) July 2002 July 2003 Say $5,000 To be done.

Draw upon Sara Lloyd’s work with Lynbrook (Vic) and major WSUD developments in Brisbane (2001/2).
Key issues = ‘do’s and don’ts’ of construction technique and timing of infrastructure construction on a multi-phased development.

Experience from interstate suggests that construction practices are just as important as design in terms of achieving successful outcomes.

Major Demonstration Sites Brisbane City Council’s Water Sensitive Urban Design Project Plan (Version 1) Attachment 2 Actions Priority (H/M/L) Key BCC Person Responsible Start Finish Underway.

Feb 2006.
Feb 2006.

H All of the WSUD Project Team, but especially WP (stormwater) and W&S staff (rainwater).

Work with developers/Council purchasers to implement examples of: • Stormwater recycling at the lot scale (e.g.

rainwater tanks for irrigation and toilet flushing).

Stormwater recycling at the estate scale.

Best practice WSUD in a medium density residential context (e.g.

BMPs in a street scape).

Best practice WSUD in a high density residential (e.g.

townhouse) or commercial context.


Best practice WSUD in car parks (e.g.

infiltration systems incorporated into landscaping, porous paving).

Best practice WSUD in a new subdivision incorporating natural linkages, water reuse, water harvesting, as well as water efficient fixtures and settings.

• • • • • Resources Needed Mainly staff time, but may need to bring in external experts and/or City Design.

Need $20,000 a year for specialist provider assistance.
Status (April 2001) SP2IWM (W&S) is maintaining a list of relevant projects that are underway in Brisbane.

Members of the WSUD should be assisting new opportunities to develop as they arise.

Current sites include: • Proposed Forest Lake stage (Grande South Estate, WSUD – stormwater/rainwater, low/medium density residential – mid market).

Brazil development (WUSD residential and industrial land, stormwater and grey water WSUD).
Calamvale Pines (WSUD, medium density, roof water tanks, grassed swales, infiltration systems).

Bridgewater Creek Wetland, Coorparoo (stormwater recycling on adjacent parkland).

• • • BCC should ensure that all developments are accessible for educational purposes (e.g.

accessible on bus trips).

Links with elements of the new Qld Water Recycling Strategy (EPA = lead agent, Strategy currently only a draft).

The Strategy has funded a number of demonstration sites across the State.
Brisbane City Council’s Water Sensitive Urban Design Project Plan (Version 1) Attachment 2 Actions Priority (H/M/L) Key BCC Person Responsible Start Finish Resources Needed Status (April 2001) Construct and maintain two BCC-funded bioretention systems.

M WP (SWPOQ).

Underway.

June 2001.

$100,000 - funded under the SQID Program.

Current projects: Hoyland Street, Bracken Ridge and Brookside Shopping Centre, Mitchelton.

On track.

These systems will be monitored with the help of the CRCCH in 2001/2.
These systems are in the context of treating car park runoff and road runoff, but the performance results/findings will be applicable to bioretention systems in other contexts.

Internal Promotion/Implementation Work with City Planning, Environment & Parks, Community Life, City Assets, Brisbane Water, Major Venues, and Transport & Traffic to implement stormwater recycling and WSUD stormwater management practices into Council managed infrastructure.

H Rainwater tanks – W&S (SP2IWM).

April 2001.

June 2006.


Staff time only (initially).

DMT/EMT presentations would be useful to “plant the WSUD seed”.

Need ongoing process, but an increased effort is needed in 2001.

Other - WP (PWPOQ).

Also worth working with City Design’s design staff.

Sporting venues, roads, park infrastructure and SCIPs seem to offer great opportunities.
Brisbane City Council’s Water Sensitive Urban Design Project Plan (Version 1) Attachment 2 Actions Priority (H/M/L) Key BCC Person Responsible Start Finish Resources Needed Status (April 2001) Promote examples of WSUD on Council projects via mechanisms such as City Link and the Lord Mayor’s Environmental Awards.

L Rainwater tanks – W&S (SP2IWM).

Other - WP (PWPOQ).

Feb 2001.

June 2006.

Staff time only.

As they arise.


Assistance to DRS (DA) Brisbane City Council’s Water Sensitive Urban Design Project Plan (Version 1) Attachment 2 Actions Seek resources in Waterways Program and Water & Sewerage Program’s 2001/2 budget to assist DRS (DA) to work through complex WSUD issues.

Priority (H/M/L) Key BCC Person Responsible H Rainwater tanks – W&S (SP2IWM).

Other - WP (PWPOQ).

Start Finish Resources Needed Status (April 2001) Underway.

June 2001.

Staff time only.


A SL3 budget bid for 2001/2 failed.

Funding is need to support the implementation of this Plan.

Support for DA (DRS) could be provided by: • creating a position (e.g.

part time, Band 7, Major Projects); bringing in external assistance (e.g.

consultants) as needed; and/or using skills in City Design as they develop.

• • Seek additional resources in future budget cycles to assist DRS (DA) to work through complex WSUD issues.
Provide a single point of contact for DRS in relation to stormwater WSUD policy (Khondker Rahman).

M H Rainwater tanks – W&S (SP2IWM).

Other - WP (PWPOQ).

WP (SWPOI).

Dec 2001.

June 2002.

Staff time only.

Underway.

June 2006 (ongoing).

Staff time only.

The option chosen for 2001/2 will depend on budget constraints.

It is also hoped that the WSUD Project members (e.g.

from Waterways, City Design, Asset Support Group) will develop their skills with time to be a source of assistance to DA staff.
See above.

May need to build greater awareness at senior levels in the organisation to ‘prepare the ground’ for a future ‘Service Level 3 bid’.

Suggest a joint DMT, EMT and E&C Strategy presentation in Mid 2001.

Done – but need to maintain this role to ensure DRS are aware of it.
Brisbane City Council’s Water Sensitive Urban Design Project Plan (Version 1) Attachment 2 Actions Priority (H/M/L) Key BCC Person Responsible Start Finish Provide points of contact for DRS in relation to stormwater recycling policy (incl.

rainwater tanks).

H Rainwater tanks – W&S (TSPO).

Underway.

June 2006 (ongoing).

Resources Needed Staff time only.

Status (April 2001) Done – but need to maintain this role to ensure DRS are aware of it.

Other - WP (SWPOI).
Other - WP (SWPOI).

Incentives and Economics Establish a WSUD Design Award (see details above under the heading “Education/Awareness”).

Gather social and economic information on: • the local consumer’s needs/wants w.r.t purchasing properties with WSUD elements (drawing upon new research in Melbourne); costs and sale rates of WSUD properties compared to traditional designs (national and local data needed); and life cycle costs associated with stormwater recycling and major WSUD management practices (e.g.
grassed swales, etc.).

• • - M Rainwater tanks – W&S (SP2IWM).

Underway.

Feb 2006 (ongoing).

Other - WP (PWPOQ).

May need to commission a consultancy in future years (say $20-25,000).

A major consultancy is underway in Melbourne and will finish in late 2001.

Work in Brisbane could build up these findings.

Life-cycle cost information and consumption/sale rate information will be gathered as part of demonstration projects.

Possible University Masters Thesis project here if the opportunity arises.
Brisbane City Council’s Water Sensitive Urban Design Project Plan (Version 1) Attachment 2 Actions Priority (H/M/L) Key BCC Person Responsible Start Finish Resources Needed Status (April 2001) Improve DA processing time for WSUD elements: • Examine ways that Council’s DA processing time can be improved for leading and cutting edge WSUD proposals so that they are advantaged (preferable) or at least not disadvantaged.

• Web site proposal to be examined further • (i.e.


a site with the latest advice, references, hot links, standard drawings, and BMPs matched with typical development types).

Also need to use ‘WSUD Project Team’ as a way of fast-tracking policy decisions in Council for major developments with WSUD elements, rather than a series of time-consuming, bilateral discussions.

Investigate opportunities for DA incentives (eg.


new fee structure, positive publicity) where WSUD is incorporated in the development (e.g.

% imperviousness approach adopted by Kogarah City Council).

H Web site: WP (SWPOQ with help from WPA2, SWPOI, SP2IWM) to establish, but all WSUD Project Team members to add information as it becomes available.

WSUD Project Team: can be used by DA Officers as needed.

Web site: Dec 2001.

Web site: Dec 2002.

$10,000.


Already started for the current Delfin proposal – where a special team is helping to ‘fast track’ the DA process to get a major development on the ground with innovative WSUD elements.

It is critical that the web site (when established) be used to house new information from new DAs, Local Plans, Infrastructure Charges Plans, inter- state WSUD projects, demonstration projects and new research outcomes.
All WSUD Project Team members to participate in this task.

M DRS (SEAW).

April 2001.

Dec 2001.

Staff time only.

DRS’s fee structure is being revised.

For major, high profile and innovative WSUD Projects, Waterways Program may be able to facilitate political involvement to raise the development’s public profile (e.g.

a launch involving the LM or Deputy LM).


Brisbane City Council’s Water Sensitive Urban Design Project Plan (Version 1) Attachment 2 Priority (H/M/L) Key BCC Person Responsible H WP (SWPOI) with input from PWPOS, PWPOQ, SWPOQ.

Start Finish Resources Needed Status (April 2001) Underway.

June 2001.

Staff time only.

M WP (WPO5).

April 2001.

April 2002.

Staff time only.


There are concerns that recent ICPs may rely too heavily on regional stormwater infrastructure and provide no encouragement for on-site WSUD.

Work has begun to develop a methodology for considering water quality in the context of ICPs.

Specifically, criteria have just been developed that provide guidance on when regional infrastructure should be adopted as an alternative to (or in addition to) on-site WSUD.
This initiative seeks to apply a ‘user’s pays’ philosophy to stormwater discharge, like taking waste to landfill and the use of reticulated water.

Such a policy would apply to existing development and provide a financial incentive for WSUD features to be added via renovation/landscaping.

This context is particularly relevant to Brisbane City.

Actions Ensure BCC’s policy with respect to Infrastructure Charges Plans (ICPs) encourages: • • on-site WSUD primarily; and regional infrastructure (e.g.
wetlands) where there is a high benefit:cost ratio and specific criteria are met.

Investigate the option of charging a ‘Stormwater Levy’ as part of BCC rating scheme.

The system could be based on a simple classification scheme (e.g.

High degree of impervious area / Medium / Low), which includes a mechanism where the levy can be reduced if a rate-payer can demonstrate that WSUD has been implemented without adversely effecting assets or causing nuisance.
Policy and Legislative Drivers Brisbane City Council’s Water Sensitive Urban Design Project Plan (Version 1) Attachment 2 Resources Needed Staff time only.

Actions Priority (H/M/L) Key BCC Person Responsible Start Finish 1.

Underway.. 2.

Underway.

3.

May 2001.

1.

Dec 2001.

2.

Feb 2006 (ongoing).

3.

Dec 2001.

H 1 and 2: Rainwater tanks – W&S (SP2IWM).

Other - WP (PWPOQ, SWPOI).

3: WP (PWPOQ, SWPOQ) and W&S (SP2IWM).

Effectiveness of City Plan: 1. Review the City Plan (e.g.
the House Code, Stormwater Code) and suggest amendments to create strong drivers for stormwater recycling.

2.

Continually monitor the effectiveness of the new City Plan (esp.

the Stormwater Management Code) as being a strong driver for WSUD with respect to stormwater planning and management practices.

(Recommend changes to the WSUD Project Team if considered necessary).

3. Review the definition of ‘WSUD’ in City Plan and re-write to ensure it addresses stormwater, wastewater and water efficiency.
Status (April 2001) Note: • • A review is currently underway of the Stormwater Management Code (i.e.

Kerry Doss working for City Planning).

Any short term changes should be included in this process.

Encouraging rainwater tanks and greywater reuse is not currently a feature of the City Plan.

More effort will be required in these areas compared to stormwater management.

Plumbing standards may also need to be reviewed.


Links with elements of the new Qld Water Recycling Strategy (EPA = lead agent, Strategy currently only a draft).

Work with Pollution Prevention, Health and Safety to increase the level of stormwater recycling on Environmentally Relevant Activities administered by Council under the EP Act ’94.

L WP (PWPOQ) to work with DRS (PHTS) and PPH&S (SPOEP).

June 2001.

June 2002.

Staff time only.


May need to review standard DA conditions, train DRS officers and/or build information into relevant audit protocols.

Asset Management Investigate ways Council can require WSUD BMPs to be built on lots after subdivision development is completed (e.g.

how can BCC ensure rainwater tanks are built on lots by putting development requirements on a subdivision developer?).

M W&S (SP2IWM).

April 2001.

Dec 2001.

Staff time.

$5,000 for legal services.


Tony McAlister (WBM Oceanics) indicated that this issue has been addressed by other local authorities.

The issue is likely to be similar to how Council manages on-site septic tanks.

The Integrated Planning Act 1997 may need to be reviewed in terms of BCC’s ability to place a covenant on the title.
Brisbane City Council’s Water Sensitive Urban Design Project Plan (Version 1) Attachment 2 Actions Priority (H/M/L) Key BCC Person Responsible Start Finish M M M H M ASG (SAORD).

Underway.

ASG (SAORD).

Underway.

WP (WPA1).

April 2001 (baseline).

W&S (PAIWM).

Underway.

WP (PWPOQ).

Underway.

June 2006 (ongoing).

June 2006 (ongoing).

June 2006 (ongoing).

June 2006 (ongoing).

June 2006 (ongoing).

Resources Needed Staff time only.

Staff time only.

- - Status (April 2001) Staff time only.


See details at the front of the Plan for how these KPIs can be measured simply.

Staff time only.

Water and Sewerage Program has started this.

WP’s files will be transferred when the system is operational.

Staff time only.

Started.

Ensure that for WSUD BMPs, the issue of asset transfer from the developer to the builder to the owner is considered at the approval stage.
Seek to ensure that BMPs are designed so that there is an incentive for the owner to maintain them (e.g.

a rainwater tank that reduces ones water bill, a vegetated swale that is aesthetic).

Project Management Measure KPIs as defined in this Plan (i.e.

determine a baseline by April 2001 and measure annually thereafter).

Create and maintain a simple database and filing system to keep salient details of all major WSUD projects in BCC (stormwater and greywater projects).

When opportunities arise (e.g.


through the regional Urban Stormwater Information Group, BCC’s Urban Environment Advisory Committee or BCC’s Water Quality Management Technical Reference Group) raise the issue of WSUD and seek feedback from key stakeholders on opportunities and barriers to success.

Administer the WSUD project (e.g.

coordinate meetings, provide linkages with related programs of work, foster exchange of information between BCC, Melbourne Water, CRC-CH and CSIRO, etc.).

M WP (PWPOQ).
M WP (PWPOQ).

Underway.

June 2006 (ongoing).

Staff time only.

Started.

It has been suggested that the Group meet monthly in the short term.

The Group can also be used to provide an integrated response to major development applications.