CRCWSC Participants join the Queensland Government to help deliver the vision of WaterQ: a 30-year strategy for Queensland’s water sector

Three Queensland-based CRC for Water Sensitive Cities (CRCWSC) participants have been invited to join some of Australia’s leading water experts including scientists, engineers, environmental planners and a futurist to help deliver the vision of WaterQ: a 30-year strategy for Queensland’s water sector.

Announcing the make-up of the promised Water Expert Panel at an Australian Water Association breakfast in Brisbane on Thursday 21 August, Water Supply Minister Mark McArdle said the panel would develop a 100 day plan outlining ways in which innovation, research and development could benefit families, businesses, industry and farmers across Queensland.

WaterQ is the Queensland Government’s strong plan for a better water future and provides a long-term strategy for a water sector that will support increased productivity, economic growth, healthy communities and the environment.

“In working to achieve this vision the expert panel will challenge the accepted norms by questioning what we already do and why we do it,” Minister McArdle said. “The expert panel’s work will be about identifying on-the-ground solutions to help strengthen and grow the water sector,” he said. “I’m pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Mark Pascoe to chair the panel and lead this important group.”

Mr Pascoe has more than 40 years’ experience in the water industry having worked with organisations both in Brisbane and overseas including the Brisbane City Council and a number of private global water management companies. His extensive experience and deep insights into global trends and emerging technologies will be invaluable as the panel looks at solutions around infrastructure, service delivery, water quality and security that will benefit water service providers of all sizes right across Queensland. Mr Pascoe is currently CEO of the International WaterCentre and CRCWSC Participant.

The panel also includes two other CRCWSC Participant organisations:
Professor Poh-Ling Tan – Water Law and Governance Professor and Water Planner, Griffith University
Dr Cara Beal – Research Fellow and Urban Water Scientist, Griffith University
Chris Tanner – Professional Engineer, Director at Bligh Tanner Consulting Engineers (the first organisation that signed up as a CRCWSC SME Associate).

Other members of the expert panel include:
Steven Cork – Futurist and Director at EcoInsights
Rob Fearon – Director of Innovation Partnerships at the Queensland Water Directorate
Leith Boully – Director Seqwater, Chair Local Management Arrangement Project, Chair Healthy Waterways, Chair Australian Water Recycling Centre of Excellence, Member Infrastructure QLD
Jim Binney – Principal at MainStream Economics and Policy

Minister McArdle today also announced a Strategic Advisory Committee to ensure WaterQ’s key strategies are effectively implemented and remain relevant to the sector.

WaterQ is available at www.dews.qld.gov.au or by phoning 13 QGOV (13 7468).