Brisbane Hub discussion on transitioning towards a water sensitive city and role of the CRC

Approximately 50 stakeholders, comprising CRC participants, state and local government, private industry and students from South-east Queensland (SEQ) joined the CRC WSC Brisbane Hub for a Christmas drink and an important update on the status of CRC activities.

The two hour event took place over a Christmas drink at the IWC lecture rooms at The University of Queensland and aimed to:

• provide an update for SEQ stakeholders on CRC status;
• stimulate some interest and reflection on the role of leadership in transitioning to water sensitive cities by special guest speaker Dr André Taylor; and
• create an interactive dialogue on the current knowledge adoption pathways being used in SEQ and the potential role of the CRC to enhance adoption in the future.

Brisbane Hub Coordinator Professor Jurg Keller kicked off proceedings with a welcome and update on the establishment of the CRC and research projects in Program A, B and C. He also introduced Fiona Chandler to the CRC family as a Co-Leader for Program D – Adoption Pathways. Fiona’s focus will be to support research adoption activities in Qld, NSW and ACT.

Dr André Taylor challenged participants to consider how as individuals, we can each contribute to advancing water sensitive cities by:

• understanding the relevance of leadership to us and our organisations;
• recognising the challenge of building leader skills; and
• considering ways to strengthen the required skills.

The workshop component of the evening commenced with Fiona providing an introduction to Program D and summarised some of the objectives of the program and early thinking on ways stakeholders can engage with various adoption activities.

In small groups, participants discussed the current ‘pathways’ being used by stakeholders to access knowledge and research on water sensitive urban design and water sensitive city-related issues in SEQ. Conferences, professional literature and journals, immersion in research as an industry participant, and professional industry seminars were still viewed as the most popular choices to keep informed on important advancements in the sector. Water by Design,, a targeted capacity building program on water sensitive urban design hosted by the SEQ Healthy Waterways Partnership continues to provide an integral role in providing training, hosting forums and providing guidance for professionals on a range of policy issues. Looking to the future participants felt strongly that developers needed to be better engaged in the activities that helped communicate the value of water sensitive city style approaches.

Focussed discussions were also held on the concept of a creating a Community of Practice for water sensitive cities. Participants felt that a mechanism that would help build a network which connected stakeholders, facilitated knowledge sharing and peer-to-peer learning would be highly desirable and would help to create energy and momentum around the issue and connect with the wider community. Participants went on to discuss how individuals might interest and would a community of practice would ‘look’ like.
For additional information on the workshop outcomes please contact Fiona at Fiona.chandler@crcwsc.org.au or Brisbane@crcwsc.org.au