CRCWSC Economic Evaluation Framework (IRP2) Workshop

Overview

On Thursday 8th of September, a  project-scoping workshop was held to progress the development of the CRCWSC Integrated Research Project #2 (IRP2) focused on generating a Comprehensive Economic Evaluation Framework.

The workshop focused on improving the way we undertake economic evaluations of different Water Sensitive Cities strategies or solutions has been identified as a national priority by our RAPs, and this project is the second of the planned Integrated Research Projects (IRPs) as part of the CRCWSC Tranche 2 activities. This project aims to develop a comprehensive economic evaluation framework to identify economic, environmental and community values of water-related investments. The planned project will also build on, and extend, the proposal that the CRCWSC recently submitted with other partners to Horticulture Innovation Australia (HIA) in response to a call from HIA on a similar topic. As explained before, we have since withdrawn that proposal from the HIA round and will develop it first with our industry partners, with possible involvement of HIA once we have an agreed proposal outline. This approach was mainly done to have sufficient time for the close research/industry collaboration necessary to develop a well designed project proposal with full commitment/input from our industry partners and practitioners. This aspect is very important from our perspective to ensure the project will be set up and implemented with a clear focus on delivering outcomes and solutions that are directly relevant and applicable for our partners.

To progress this proposal, the objective of the workshop was to develop a project proposal outline and agreed process to generate the full draft proposal over the following six weeks (by 21 October 2016). This timeline is important to have the draft reviewed by the CRCWSC Research Advisory Committee (RAC) and the Regional Advisory Panels (RAPs), plus the Essential Participants Reference Group (EPRG) before finalisation and submission for approval to the CRCWSC Board meeting in November 2016.

For further information, please contact Eloise Larsen e.larsen@awmc.uq.edu.au