Blacktown as aWater Sensitive City

Phillip Birtles

What’s out west?

Blacktown Population 321,000 Predicted to rise to 415,000 by 2030 and then 500,000 by 2040

Canberra: 367,752

Actually, lots of people

Northern Territory: 233,300

Growth Centres

Graph from Metro Water Directorate

Eastern Creek

Can Blacktown make it as Water Sensitive City ?

Draft Metropolitan Strategy (2013) – Action 22.5 “Apply WSUD to

integrate urban water cycle considerations with the planning and

urban design for growth centres and urban renewal.”

Metropolitan Water Plan – liveability outcomes

State Government Regulatory Drivers

The BASIX SEPP = 40% reduction in potable mains water use for all new residential developments and redevelopments.

DCP was developed by the NSW Department of

Planning & Infrastructure.

Flooding, water quality and quantity, riparian &

water conservation controls.

Growth Centres – a mixed blessing

Part R of the Development Control Plan provides:

Design principles, objectives, targets and

controls for the management of water

conservation, stormwater and groundwater.

Controls for development on waterfront land

(riparian land).

Blacktown City Council DCP – Part R

Blacktown Council DCP (2006) Part RWater Sensitive Urban Design and Integrated Water Cycle Management

Blacktown 2030 Vision. “Pursue best

practice sustainable water management to

protect and improve the water quality of

the local environment.”

Council projects under the Environmental

Stormwater Management Service Charge $25 per household = approx $3M p.a.

Blacktown City Council and WSUDLocal Govt response to WSUD

Are private assets being installed correctly and maintained?

WSUD Audit Officer Production of WSUD guidelines

WSUD Audit Program

Catchment Planning

• What do the community want in their catchment?

• What goal is realistic?

What condition are out ecosystems in?

What WSUD assets has council taken on?

How much is it costing us?

Creek & intervention monitoring

WSUD Capacity Building Program – the 6 phases

1. Senior Management

Interviews (19

participants)

2. Council staff survey and

presentation(150

participants)

3. Rapid Assessment and Action Planning Workshop (50)

5. Strategic Plan

6. Action Plan

4. Data analysis and

prioritisation planning

Asset Construction

Asset Design Services

Asset Planning & Support

Building & Engineering Design Services

Civil & Open Space Maintenance

Development Policy & Regulation

Transport & City Projects

Strategic & Precinct Planning

Development Services & Administration

Sport and Recreation Services

Environmental Sustainability

Status of Blacktown on the Continuum

200ML project (originally a MAR scheme)

Aust Government Water for the Future - $2.2M

Blacktown International Sports Park

Delivered this financial year

Angus Creek Stormwater Harvesting

Integration of Water Cycle Management in large release areas

Infill complications Articulating the connection between

community’s vision / what we require / what we monitor.

Finding boundary lines between what needs to be solved for WSUD and organisational complexities

On-going Challenges (a personal perspective)

Blacktown Showground Redevelopment

Questions?