Global roundtable discusses urban streams, ponds and wetlands

Rehabilitating degraded urban waterways through actions such as replacing pipes with more “naturalised” waterways or daylighting can bring economic, environmental and social benefits, according to a new opinion piece by a CRC for Water Sensitive Cities (CRCWSC) researcher.

Dr Meredith Dobbie, Research Fellow in the Cities as Water Supply Catchments – Society and Institutions (Project A4.1) in the CRCWSC, was invited to discuss the topic for The Nature of Cities, a virtual magazine about cities as ecosystems.

Dr Dobbie, who is also Chair of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects Victorian chapter environment committee, is currently researching community perceptions of raingardens at a streetscape level and has a long-held interest in urban nature.

A proposal for an urban stream to be daylighted captivated public interest this year in Melbourne when urban renewal expert Gilbert Rochecouste proposed that Williams Creek, channelled in a stormwater drain under Elizabeth Street in the city, be daylighted.

The Nature of Cities draws on the work of more than 180 writers worldwide for sections such as the Global Roundtable, which invites experts from various countries to contribute on environmental topics.

Read Dr Dobbie’s article here.