Our Participants get hands-on access to new IRP2 tools

To give CRCWSC Participants first-hand experience of two new IRP2 tools, we recently ran free training sessions in Perth   (22  June) and Melbourne   (19  July).

Participants at the sessions trialled the BETA versions of our Benefit–Cost Analysis (BCA) Tool   (WP3) and Non-market Value   Tool   (WP2).   Professor David Pannell, who led the BCA Tool’s development, delivered the two sessions.

The attendees gained a better understanding of the principles and concepts of BCA. They were guided through a BCA of an illustrative water sensitive project: the restoration of an urban drain to a ‘living stream’ in Perth. In doing so, they learned how to:

• locate relevant non-market values available in the Non-market   Values   Database
• adjust (if needed) the values to suit the project under evaluation.

The results demonstrated how the two new tools can provide evidence that improves decision making around investment, and helps build stronger business cases.

We offered this practical training (and chance to provide feedback) to water sector professionals involved in economics, project evaluation, or business case development in water related projects. The attendees gave overwhelmingly positive feedback:

The step-by-step approach enabled people to follow the economic rationale and features of the tool, independent of background or level of experience with the tool.

The discussion of project development and set-up considerations against the baseline and the interpretation of results was highly valued.

The discussion of ‘with-versus-without’ principle, benefits considerations and data interpretation were considered highly instructive.

Commenting on the tools, the attendees appreciated the allowance for projects with staggered benefits, and with different phases and partners. They also valued the tool’s comparison of state guidelines, section for recording references and data sources, and online features and e-learning.

The IRP2 team built both tools in close   engagement with key stakeholders over the past 18    months. The team plans to offer training opportunities in early to mid-2019, so users can better understand and use these tools.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT IRP2 TOOLS

Contact Tammie Harold on +61 8 6488 5507 or at tamara.harold@uwa.edu.au.