Water Sensitive Urban DesignWater Sensitive Urban Design --A Council Planners Perspective ?A Council Planners Perspective ?
Mike MouritzMike Mouritz
Director Environment & Director Environment & Planning Planning
Wollongong City CouncilWollongong City Council
examples from Kogarahexamples from Kogarah
My talk todayMy talk today
To help set set the contextTo help set set the context Consider the what, why, who and how of Consider the what, why, who and how of
WSUDWSUD Look at some examplesLook at some examples I hope to be a little provocative - push I hope to be a little provocative - push
my barrow my barrow Perspective based on my experiencesPerspective based on my experiences WSUD - term either loved or hated by WSUD - term either loved or hated by
practitioners and urban development practitioners and urban development communitycommunity
Values and Urban Water TechnologyValues and Urban Water Technology
No technology is value freeNo technology is value free Technologies are politics in disguise, or the Technologies are politics in disguise, or the
result of interplay of - result of interplay of - politics - values - politics - values - technical knowledgetechnical knowledge
Based on public health needs of 100 plus Based on public health needs of 100 plus years agoyears ago
Notions from the “Enlightenment” & Notions from the “Enlightenment” & “modernist” traditions - “modernist” traditions - – applied science could master then applied science could master then
environmentenvironment– economies of scale economies of scale – human health much more important human health much more important
than ecological healththan ecological health
Sanitary ConditionsSanitary Conditions
Floods Are RealFloods Are Real
Problems with 19th Century Urban Problems with 19th Century Urban Water ManagementWater Management
Receiving waters cannot sustain organic loads and, Receiving waters cannot sustain organic loads and,
especially nutrient loads from outfalls.especially nutrient loads from outfalls.
Urban creeks and wetlands are now valued inherently Urban creeks and wetlands are now valued inherently
i.e. for their ecological and recreational qualities i.e. for their ecological and recreational qualities
rather than their ability to channel or dilute wastes.rather than their ability to channel or dilute wastes.
Stormwater from sprawling bitumen-based cities is Stormwater from sprawling bitumen-based cities is
excessive in quantity and quality.excessive in quantity and quality.
Cost of “big pipes” infrastructure is becoming too Cost of “big pipes” infrastructure is becoming too
high.high.
Water supply augmentation solutions are becoming Water supply augmentation solutions are becoming
economically and environmentally questionable.economically and environmentally questionable.
(Source: Newman & Mouritz 1994)(Source: Newman & Mouritz 1994)
Times of Transition - The Shift is Times of Transition - The Shift is OccurringOccurring
Ecological integrity of urban and near Ecological integrity of urban and near waterways - (i.e. Brisbane River & Morton Bay)waterways - (i.e. Brisbane River & Morton Bay)
CSIRO 1992 & recent reports - highlighting CSIRO 1992 & recent reports - highlighting rethink of research prioritiesrethink of research priorities
World Water Vision & Framework for ActionWorld Water Vision & Framework for Action Asset management & replacement challengeAsset management & replacement challenge ““Why are we cracking up” - SMH - 25/7/00Why are we cracking up” - SMH - 25/7/00 Ageing pipes and Murky Waters - NZ Ageing pipes and Murky Waters - NZ
Urban Policy is ShiftingUrban Policy is Shifting
More livableMore livable More efficient in terms of land and More efficient in terms of land and
infrastructureinfrastructure More efficient in terms of energy More efficient in terms of energy
and resource useand resource use Even debate on “ecological Even debate on “ecological
footprint” footprint” (i.e. Sydney draws on 37 times it’s (i.e. Sydney draws on 37 times it’s area)area)
Water-oriented Goals for a Water-oriented Goals for a Sustainable City Sustainable City
Reduced import of water into cities.Reduced import of water into cities. Ocean and river outfalls made redundant.Ocean and river outfalls made redundant. Recycling of water for various urban and peri-Recycling of water for various urban and peri-
urban uses.urban uses. Recycling of nutrients and organics.Recycling of nutrients and organics. Creeks and wetlands an integral part of city and Creeks and wetlands an integral part of city and
managed for their ecological integrity.managed for their ecological integrity. Increased soft surfaces (and reduced urban Increased soft surfaces (and reduced urban
sprawl) for stormwater retention.sprawl) for stormwater retention. Reduced requirements for large pipes.Reduced requirements for large pipes.
(Source: Newman and Mouritz 1994)(Source: Newman and Mouritz 1994)
WSUD - Planning & Design ConceptWSUD - Planning & Design Concept
Codify emerging valuesCodify emerging values Part of new paradigmPart of new paradigm Optimise and integrate urban Optimise and integrate urban
planning and management of planning and management of urban water cycleurban water cycle
Range of scales and time Range of scales and time horizonshorizons
““A more humble and unified way of conceiving A more humble and unified way of conceiving the relationship between earth, water and the relationship between earth, water and human life” (Cosgrove 1990)human life” (Cosgrove 1990)
WSUD - a Tool for Catchment WSUD - a Tool for Catchment RepairRepair
I mean “repair” not just I mean “repair” not just management or “spinning management or “spinning wheels”.wheels”.
Catchment repair is about Catchment repair is about leadership - “developing the leadership - “developing the path forward”.path forward”.
Repair implies improvement.Repair implies improvement. Re-generative approach to Re-generative approach to
stormwater - part of an urban stormwater - part of an urban ecology that is healing.ecology that is healing.
Vision of a Co-evolution of HumanVision of a Co-evolution of Human Settlements and Ecosystem Settlements and Ecosystem
Hard and softHard and soft
technologies designed and applied to technologies designed and applied to optimiseoptimise
the production /consumption system ofthe production /consumption system of
the city in terms of health of regionalthe city in terms of health of regional
ecosystem, as well as human health andecosystem, as well as human health and
welfare.welfare.
WSUD WSUD
Optimising the rain that falls on the city Optimising the rain that falls on the city - water harvesting.- water harvesting.
Reducing the amount of water imported Reducing the amount of water imported into the city.into the city.
Optimising water balance and flood Optimising water balance and flood management.management.
Improving water quality.Improving water quality. Incorporating water related social & Incorporating water related social &
ecological objectives.ecological objectives. Spirit of the water. Spirit of the water.
The WSUD GuidelinesThe WSUD Guidelines
Menu of best planning and best Menu of best planning and best management practices.management practices.
Research and consultancy projects Research and consultancy projects illustrated the viability and illustrated the viability and potential.potential.
But some got the perception it was But some got the perception it was just about swales and wetlandsjust about swales and wetlands
““Treatment trains” - hard and soft Treatment trains” - hard and soft solutions.solutions.
Even linking art, architecture, Even linking art, architecture, technology and ecology.technology and ecology.
Recipes - design manuals being Recipes - design manuals being developed developed (Marino Evangilisti & Tony (Marino Evangilisti & Tony Wong in WA).Wong in WA).
The Ideal - a Policy Framework The Ideal - a Policy Framework of Agreed: of Agreed:
Urban design / planning Urban design / planning outcomesoutcomes
Environmental objectivesEnvironmental objectives Water resource Water resource
objectivesobjectives Plus design and approval Plus design and approval
process that support process that support thesethese
Design teams that know Design teams that know how to innovatehow to innovate
Concept is Evolving - Concept is Evolving - developing developing meaning of its ownmeaning of its own
Because it can capture the imagination of Because it can capture the imagination of practitioners & developers.practitioners & developers.
Inspired by Tony Wong and others in Inspired by Tony Wong and others in developing water quality design tools.developing water quality design tools.
Water harvesting practice and analysis of Water harvesting practice and analysis of John Argue, Peter Coombes, George John Argue, Peter Coombes, George Kuczera.Kuczera.
Realising distributed systems envisioned by Realising distributed systems envisioned by Richard Clark and others in scenario work.Richard Clark and others in scenario work.
In a Wider ContextIn a Wider Context
Consistent with best European & US & Japanese Consistent with best European & US & Japanese practice.practice.
i.e. - “New Ways with Rainwater” Gieger & i.e. - “New Ways with Rainwater” Gieger & Dreiseitl.Dreiseitl.
Within a more academic / discipline Within a more academic / discipline development context.development context.
Part of ecological conditions / opportunities Part of ecological conditions / opportunities approach - rather than constraints approach.approach - rather than constraints approach.
Consistent with labels like ecosystem planning, Consistent with labels like ecosystem planning, ecological design, ecotechnologies.ecological design, ecotechnologies.
About linking ecological planning/design with About linking ecological planning/design with ecological engineering.ecological engineering.
Berlin’s Potsdamer PlatzBerlin’s Potsdamer Platz
Integrated Integrated designdesign
Overcoming Barriers - Overcoming Barriers - ExamplesExamples
Two Urban RenewalTwo Urban Renewal AllawahAllawah Kogarah Town SquareKogarah Town Square DCP ControlsDCP Controls
Two WetlandTwo Wetland Moore ReserveMoore Reserve
Location Map Location Map
Moore ReserveAllawah
Kogarah Town Centre
Carss Park
Allawah -The Design Proposed:Allawah -The Design Proposed:
Solar passive design and natural Solar passive design and natural ventilation which would theoretically ventilation which would theoretically save 70% energy on comparable save 70% energy on comparable development.development.
Rainwater reuse for irrigation, toilet Rainwater reuse for irrigation, toilet flushing. flushing.
38 of the 42 bathrooms and car washing 38 of the 42 bathrooms and car washing saves 600, 000 l/year.saves 600, 000 l/year.
Stormwater & flood control coupled to Stormwater & flood control coupled to landscape and sub-surface treatment landscape and sub-surface treatment proposed to treat 93% of run-off.proposed to treat 93% of run-off.
Water AchievementsWater Achievements
Treatment of up to Treatment of up to 1:3 month flood 1:3 month flood control.control.
Rainwater for Rainwater for irrigation, car irrigation, car washing, toilet washing, toilet flushing for 38 or 42 flushing for 38 or 42 bathrooms.bathrooms.
EQUALSEQUALS 600,000 litres of 600,000 litres of
potable water saved.potable water saved. 93% of stormwater 93% of stormwater
treated to tertiary treated to tertiary standard.standard.
Passive Solar & VentilationPassive Solar & Ventilation
What We LearntWhat We Learnt It can be done … and is cost effective … on paper.It can be done … and is cost effective … on paper. Some of the Councillors believed we lost $$$ on Some of the Councillors believed we lost $$$ on
the land sale.the land sale. The developers bought without looking - but The developers bought without looking - but
looked for modification during construction.looked for modification during construction. Half the job - modifications where approved by Half the job - modifications where approved by
others, so much of the innovation was lost.others, so much of the innovation was lost. The development controls set the value land; The development controls set the value land;
what can be built and how, what can be built and how, Councils can/should build in the controls to get Councils can/should build in the controls to get
the outcomes they are looking for.the outcomes they are looking for. Confidence to implement firm stormwater controls Confidence to implement firm stormwater controls
in our normal Development Controls.in our normal Development Controls.
Kogarah Town SquareKogarah Town Square
10,000 m10,000 m2 2 site, where a mixed-use complexsite, where a mixed-use complex
Approximately 3000mApproximately 3000m22 retail and commercial, retail and commercial,
190 apartments,190 apartments,
A 1400mA 1400m22 public library and underground public public library and underground public
parking. parking.
New Town SquareNew Town Square
Best practice urban and environmental design Best practice urban and environmental design
features - Solar Kogarah & WSUDfeatures - Solar Kogarah & WSUD
partnerships
Cultivate opportunitiesko
gara
h t
he v
ibra
nt
alt
ern
ati
ve
HIGHTRADE
large livable terracesbathrooms and kitchens located on external wallscross ventilation
high thermal mass
active street edges
space and light and air
Environmental design
kogara
h t
he v
ibra
nt
alt
ern
ati
ve
Aspiring for quality
Integrated design outcome
kogara
h t
he v
i bra
nt
al t
ern
ati
ve
Water System DesignWater System Design
Water System DesignWater System Design
ObjectivesObjectives detention - flood controldetention - flood control conservationconservation treatment - receiving waterstreatment - receiving waters awareness - public awarenessawareness - public awareness aesthetics - quality of design & constructionaesthetics - quality of design & constructionDesign PrinciplesDesign Principles fit for purposefit for purpose recyclingrecycling minimise treatmentminimise treatment design to match objectivesdesign to match objectivesDesign CriteriaDesign Criteria structural implicationsstructural implications buildabilitybuildability maintainabilitymaintainability cost effectiveness - avoidance of duplicationcost effectiveness - avoidance of duplication
“Clean”
Area
Roof 5172.6 sqm 55%
Terrace 770.6 sqm 8% 64%
Landscape 1497.6 sqm 16%
Setback 634.5 sqm 7%
Townsquare 1257.0 sqm 13% 36%
Total 9332.3 sqm
“Dirty”
Surface AreasSurface Areas
All Roofs
5172 sqm
Water Feature
Pump/sump
Private Terraces
770 sqm
Town square
1257 sqm
Main Storage 1- clean
Landscape courts
1497 sqm
Screen/ silt trap
Control pit
Filter / disinfection
Control tank
at high level
Toilet flush+ Carwash
Main Storage 2- dirty
Sewer
Stormwater
Potable water top-up
OKeefes Lane
GPTScreen/silt
trap
Control tank
at high level
Irrigation
Balance
Flows
Kogarah - its happeningKogarah - its happening
Moore ReserveMoore Reserve
14.2 ha 14.2 ha Rubbish tip until late 1970’sRubbish tip until late 1970’s 2 square kilometre catchment2 square kilometre catchment Ecological restoration strategyEcological restoration strategy
– off line wetlandoff line wetland– leachate treatmentleachate treatment– bushland restorationbushland restoration– recreationrecreation– investigated landfillinvestigated landfill
ConsultationConsultation
Moore Moore Reserve Reserve Masterplan - Masterplan - version 1version 1
Artist impression that went wrongArtist impression that went wrong
Agreed Agreed MasterplanMasterplan Funds from Funds from
StormwateStormwater Trustr Trust
Georges Georges River River Foreshore Foreshore trusttrust
CouncilCouncil
Moore Reserve Wetland Moore Reserve Wetland ConstructionConstruction
Kogarah DCP Controls - ObjectivesKogarah DCP Controls - Objectives
Manage floodingManage flooding Pollution preventionPollution prevention Encourage reuseEncourage reuse Minimise changes to natural hydrologyMinimise changes to natural hydrology Cost effective stormwater systemsCost effective stormwater systems Establish standardsEstablish standards
Impervious Impervious Surface area - Surface area -
the main the main controlcontrol
TechniquesTechniques
Other techniquesOther techniques
Funding Catchment RepairFunding Catchment Repair
Challenge of delivering Stormwater Challenge of delivering Stormwater management plansmanagement plans
Significant scale - no mechanism to Significant scale - no mechanism to implement across Sydneyimplement across Sydney
Kogarah $10 million - first phaseKogarah $10 million - first phase 50,000 people, 18,000 households50,000 people, 18,000 households Scaled up to Sydney - $700 Million to Scaled up to Sydney - $700 Million to
$1Billion$1Billion Threshold problems need bold Threshold problems need bold
political responsespolitical responses
The Funding / Policy ProposalThe Funding / Policy Proposal
Establish ‘institutional arrangement’ - Establish ‘institutional arrangement’ - councils and/or trusts and/utilities to councils and/or trusts and/utilities to borrow at state government loan rates.borrow at state government loan rates.
Create a “loan pool” of up to $1 Billion for Create a “loan pool” of up to $1 Billion for long term - low interest public long term - low interest public infrastructure financing endorsed by the infrastructure financing endorsed by the Treasury.Treasury.
Establish a “catchment repair” levy Establish a “catchment repair” levy collected by councils / trusts.collected by councils / trusts.
Implement community agreed catchment Implement community agreed catchment repair plans.repair plans.
Back of envelope calculationsBack of envelope calculations
Borrow $700 million @ 6% over 30 years with Borrow $700 million @ 6% over 30 years with monthly repayments of $ 4,196,854 per monthly repayments of $ 4,196,854 per month.month.
Sydney's population of 4 million people with Sydney's population of 4 million people with average household size 2.7/household average household size 2.7/household equates to a rate-base of 1,476,564 equates to a rate-base of 1,476,564 households.households.
Therefore, monthly repayment per household is Therefore, monthly repayment per household is approximately = $2.84/hsld/mth. Allowing approximately = $2.84/hsld/mth. Allowing
for for exempting for low income - under $1 per exempting for low income - under $1 per week week per household.per household.
Catchment repair service as Catchment repair service as business opportunitybusiness opportunity
Stream restoration, flood management, open Stream restoration, flood management, open space improvement, localised water harvesting.space improvement, localised water harvesting.
May also become a developer - to redevelop May also become a developer - to redevelop areas along drains.areas along drains.
Outcome higher quality housing and living Outcome higher quality housing and living steams.steams.
In new subdivisions integrated water services - In new subdivisions integrated water services - water / waste/ compost/vegetation management.water / waste/ compost/vegetation management.
Might sell nutrient rich water and feed stock into Might sell nutrient rich water and feed stock into eco-industrial cluster.eco-industrial cluster.
Identifying BarriersIdentifying Barriers
““Green technologies”- hindered by Green technologies”- hindered by technical, economic, institutional technical, economic, institutional barriers.barriers.
New “artifacts” don’t fit the New “artifacts” don’t fit the selection environment / institutions selection environment / institutions which supports old regime.which supports old regime.
““Power relationships” often hinder Power relationships” often hinder innovation - innovation - usually professionals and usually professionals and their bureaucracies - change is slow if not their bureaucracies - change is slow if not cultivated.cultivated.
ImpedimentsImpediments
Physical mismatch Physical mismatch
Know-how mismatch Know-how mismatch
Financial Financial
Institutional inertiaInstitutional inertia
Lack of community acceptability Lack of community acceptability
Political Political
World -views/belief systemsWorld -views/belief systems
Summary - Enhancing InnovationSummary - Enhancing Innovation
Covered some history, philosophy, Covered some history, philosophy, practice, my visionpractice, my vision
Dialogue - reflection, sharing, Dialogue - reflection, sharing, considering - provoking our imaginationconsidering - provoking our imagination
Catchment repair - explicit about our Catchment repair - explicit about our values - ‘big P - little p’values - ‘big P - little p’
Enhance our technical know how and Enhance our technical know how and community ownership community ownership
Priorities - Priorities - Policy FrameworkPolicy Framework
World views - be clear about our World views - be clear about our values and our goalsvalues and our goals
Selling catchment repair Selling catchment repair Institutional arrangement - Institutional arrangement -
overcoming resistanceovercoming resistance Policy integration - range of scales Policy integration - range of scales
and time horizonsand time horizons
Priorities - Priorities - Professional PraxisProfessional Praxis
Willingness to integrate across Willingness to integrate across
institutions and professional boundariesinstitutions and professional boundaries
Partnerships - public / public - public / Partnerships - public / public - public /
privateprivate
Role of professional bodies - facilitate Role of professional bodies - facilitate
Priorities - Priorities - TechnicalTechnical K Know-hownow-how
Ecological literacy - understanding Ecological literacy - understanding
the nature of the placethe nature of the place
Menus, recipes, ingredients - Menus, recipes, ingredients -
guidelines, manuals & toolsguidelines, manuals & tools
Working with community - building Working with community - building
skills skills
Priorities -Priorities - Demonstration Demonstration
Learning by doing - document Learning by doing - document
Outside the square - most creative Outside the square - most creative
innovation outside the systemsinnovation outside the systems
FinallyFinally
"Water is the precious life "Water is the precious life substance of the earth. Its substance of the earth. Its value to the environment, value to the environment, climate and life of our world climate and life of our world will be increasingly will be increasingly recognised. Violated, recognised. Violated, humiliated, piped, humiliated, piped, contaminated, less and less contaminated, less and less can it unfold its selfless can it unfold its selfless qualities and fulfil its life-qualities and fulfil its life-supporting task. Awareness, supporting task. Awareness, care and perceptive care and perceptive consciousness are beingconsciousness are being asked of humanityasked of humanity."."
Herbert Dreiseitl
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