About
Program Funding
The Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority’s(CMA) Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) Program is funded with $100,00 from the New South Wales Government’s Catchment Action NSW Program until 30 June 2012.
Program Objectives
The WSUD Program seeks to deliver the tools and resources necessary for Sydney Metropolitan Councils to achieve lasting receiving water quality improvements. While the Program’s ultimate aim is to increase the capacity and commitment of Sydney Metropolitan councils to implement WSUD, principal objectives include:
- Increasing the abilities and resources of individuals and organisations who are responsible for implementing WSUD;
- Facilitating the exchange of information and embedding of WSUD in policy, practices and on-ground works.
As a Sydney Metropolitan initiative, the WSUD Program has been designed to meet both stakeholder needs and wants while also delivering the region’s natural resource management targets defined in the Sydney Metropolitan CMA’s Catchment Action Plan. Read More
The relevant Sydney Metropolitan CMA Catchment Action Plan Targets include:
MTW 3.5 By 2012, an ongoing process of developing, implementing and revising stormwater management strategies or programs is established by all local councils and other significant stormwater managers in the catchment. Stormwater programs may be documented in the form of ‘stand alone’ Stormwater Management Plans or an element of councils’ management plans.
MTW5.2 By 2012, local councils have incorporated and implemented provisions in their revised Local Environmental Plans, Development Control Plans and related codes and policies that promote WSUD and other practices that reduce the impact of stormwater on the environmental values of waterways.
MTW5.3 By 2016, best practice stormwater management and WSUD practices are adopted and applied by all councils. Local councils are provided with information, tools and capacity building programs to support improved stormwater management and WSUD programs.
MTW5.4 By 2010, support the implementation of the Metropolitan Water Plan provisions that directly benefit local catchments including stormwater harvesting and reuse.
Program Delivery
To learn more about the WSUD Program’s delivery Click Here
Delivered in parallel with the Sydney Metropolitan CMA’s Botany Bay Water Quality Improvement Plan, Sydney Harbour Catchment Water Quality Improvement Plan and stormwater management projects; the WSUD Program is also managed in conjunction with other regional and national capacity initiatives.
It is through these initiatives and stakeholder networks (about 1,200 regional and nation wide practitioners), the Program generates cross-sectoral linkages – Government, Industry and Research; promoting communities of practice, which foster the transfer of information, tools and resources; and providing the means to learn with and from each other during our transition to a Water Sensitive City.
A council needs analysis targeting 8 councils in 2011/12 and delivered by the Program will inform the development and delivery of the following modules, which have been selected because of their tested adaptability to regionally identified knowledge gaps and capacity deficits:
- Monthly newsletter;
- Capacity Building Workshops;
- Technical Training Program;
- Cities as Water Supply Catchments – a 5 year national research program;
- Development of practical tangible resources and tools housed at wsud.org.
A comprehensive monitoring, evaluation and reporting program; will ensure the continued adaptation of the Program’s deliverables in accordance with evolving regional stakeholder needs.
Program History
To learn more about the history and evolution of the WSUD Program Click here
Formerly called the Water Sensitive Urban Design in the Sydney Region, it was initially managed from 2002 by Reid Butler and John Dahlenburg. John assumed sole management in 2003 and until he was superceded by the existing Program Manager, Kate Black in 2007. Still employed by the Sydney Metropolitan CMA, John is now Catchment Manager Climate Change & Water.
Since it’s commencement in mid 2002, the Program was cooperatively developed and coordinated by the Upper Parramatta River Catchment Trust (UPRCT), Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC), Sydney Coastal Councils Group (SCCG), NSW Stormwater Trust, and Sydney Water.
Initially, it was funded by the New South Wales (NSW) Stormwater Trust, UPRCT and Sydney Water; and by the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust Program and UPRCT from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2007. It was funded from 2007 to 2009 by the Sydney Metropolitan CMA as part of its 2006/2008 Investment Strategy and the Federal Government’s Caring for Country from July 2009 until June 2012.
