Revitalising Informal Settlements and their Environments (RISE)

The CRCWCS is advising RISE on community engagement and nature-based structural engineering solutions (such as constructed wetlands) for sanitation and clean water in developing countries.

The CRCWSC supports our Revitalising Informal Settlements and their Environments (RISE) partners in Indonesia and Fiji, adapting and applying water sensitive principles and practices in these developing countries.

Together, the CRCWSC and RISE want to demonstrate that a context-specific water sensitive approach can deliver sustainable, cost-effective health and environmental improvements. We are working with communities, governments, local leaders and partner institutions to co-design solutions that integrate green infrastructure (such as constructed wetlands) and strengthen the whole-of-life water and sanitation cycle.

Late in 2018, RISE kickstarted the trial of a new water sensitive approach to water and sanitation management in 24 informal settlements across Makassar (Indonesia) and Suva (Fiji). The goal is to enable water recycling and harvesting in these settlements, create green spaces, restore waterways and reduce vulnerability to flooding and climate change.

Designing Andhra Pradesh’s new capital city

In Amaravati (India), the CRCWSC is part of a unique opportunity to design a city the right way from the outset, incorporating all the features that are crucial to liveability, resilience and sustainability.

The CRCWSC is working with the State of Andhra Pradesh in India, to incorporate Australia’s world leading water sensitive practices into the state’s new capital city (to be known as Amaravati). We are helping design a city the right way from the outset, with all the features that are crucial to liveability, resilience and sustainability.

As well as helping implement best practice water management, this project will likely stimulate future urban water management opportunities for Australian businesses in India, and build capability among local partners.

The CRCWSC’s role includes:

• designing the stormwater and water management for the Government precinct of the new city, which aspires to showcase technology and a standard of living on a par with Singapore
• establishing demonstration sites in the neighbouring city of Vijayawada (40 minutes from Amaravati), to move that city towards its own sustainable urban water management.