New SMEs join the CRCWSC

Two Chinese small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have joined the CRC for Water Sensitive Cities (CRCWSC).

ZiPu Environmental Planning and Design and Integrated Planning & Design Pty Ltd recently signed up as SME Associate Partners.

Integrated Planning and Design (IPD) focuses on urban landscapes in open spaces, streetscapes, commercial, residential, school and civic developments throughout the US, Australia, China and South East Asia.

IPD has worked closely with CRCWSC partner Kunshan City Investment and Development Planning Bureau since 2003, working on canal and waterfront upgrades and improvements, in addition to other projects.

IPD Managing Director Marius Brits said “it was through CRC expertise and involvement in Kunshan that these issues came to be viewed in the larger context by our clients and given policy consideration.” He said collaboration with CRCWSC allowed his company “to view our projects within the context of urban ecological systems and therefore the ability to design according to site-specific guidelines that consider the overall water treatment and habitat requirements.”

During 2010 to 2014, the ZiPu founders worked closely with CRCWSC on the design, development and construction of 10 demonstration projects in Kunshan. This led to the establishment of ZiPu Environmental Planning and Design Limited in 2014. ZiPu plans to collaborate with CRCWSC researchers in areas such as urban planning and design, landscape design and urban redevelopment.

International Engagement Manager (Asia), Jianbin Wang, met representatives from the two companies in China and said they were very interested in accessing the research and support offered by the CRCWSC.