Water sensitive homes and buildings

Transitioning to water sensitive cities needs solutions at all scales, distributed throughout cities. At a building scale, using water efficient fixtures, water recycling and alternative water supplies, water smart landscaping and reducing the impervious footprint of homes can contribute significantly to the development of water sensitive cities.

The Currumbin Ecovillage is a 147 lot development in the Gold Coast Hinterland with sustainability at its heart. It demonstrates off-grid living and includes large rainwater tanks on each lot to provide drinking water.

A Melbourne development planned in collaboration between a water utility and a developer, which includes smart technology to provide rainwater for hot water supply, recycled water supply and real-time monitoring of water use, forthcoming storms and tank levels.

Demonstration of leadership in policy at a local government level, through the ground-breaking integration of local requirements for stormwater management in developments.

Josh Byrne led by example by building his own home using environmental principles and proving that sustainability can be affordable. Josh's house includes a range of water sensitive urban design and water efficiency measures.

The project aims to create 10 hectares of green infrastructure by 2021, to support a prosperous, healthy, cool and liveable city.

On 26 October 2018, Amendment VC154 changed the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) and all planning schemes, to introduce new stormwater management provisions for urban development and amend State planning policies related to integrated water management (IWM).

Moonee Valley City Council launched a Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) voluntary contribution scheme (VCS) for planning applicants to help them meet their development’s on-site stormwater quality obligations from 1 July 2019.

The multi-award-winning Queensland Children’s Hospital is Australia’s largest paediatric hospital and the largest capital investment in children’s health in Queensland’s history.

This infill development uses rainwater harvesting and raingardens to meet council flood mitigation requirements, rather than dedicated on-site ‘grey infrastructure’ like concrete pits, tanks and pipes.