Ku-ring-gai’s water sensitive city strategy draws from CRCWSC research outcomes

Ku-ring-gai Council has taken the bold step of creating a draft Water Sensitive City Policy to replace several current policies covering separate aspects of the water cycle.

This policy provides the framework for council to adopt and implement the management principles of a Water Sensitive City by responding to the issues of water conservation and water security, flooding risks, degradation of urban waterways and rising temperatures in a way that enhances the liveability of Ku-ring-gai.

The policy will replace the Council’s Riparian Policy (2004), Integrated Water Cycle Management Policy (2008) and Interim Water and Recycling and Reuse Policy (2011).

CRC for Water Sensitive Cities policy researchers have lent their expertise to assisting local governments such as Ku-ring-gai develop water sensitive city strategies. Local government staff have been enthusiastic about the learnings from attending policy workshops conducted by the CRCWSC project team from Strategies for influencing the political dynamics of decision-making (Project A3.3) and related projects in developing WSC policy and strategies.

The Council is now asking for feedback on the draft policy from interested parties and has placed the draft on public exhibition until Thursday 21 July.

The policy is expected to be released later this year, accompanied by a Water Sensitive City Strategy that will provide further details on specific actions, responsibilities, funding and targets.

Exhibition documents area available at these links: Draft Water Sensitive City Policy 2016 ; Water Sensitive City - Strategic Directions 2016

Hard copies are also available to view at Customer Services, Level 4, 818 Pacific Highway, Gordon, or at any Ku-ring-gai Library branch.