Enabling water sensitive greenfield development in Townsville

Summary

Over the next 20 years and beyond, Townsville will face water-related challenges and opportunities that provide impetus for a new approach to urban planning. A collaboration between the CRC for Water Sensitive Cities and Townsville City Council has elevated the profile of water through the  Vision and Transition Strategy for a Water Sensitive Townsville.  This report picks up where the Strategy left off, by examining the  institutional arrangements, particularly planning and service delivery functions, that can impede water sensitive urban development practices.  Our analysis proposes a multi-pronged program of intervention for Townsville that spans across  strategic leadership at the state and local levels, urban planning at the local level via the Townsville City Plan, and Council functions at the operational level.  It identifies 14 opportunities to strengthen Townsville’s planning and governance systems to advance its water sensitive agenda.

See also the companion report, Ideas for Townsville: Greening the public realm in a dry tropics city.