Researchers from have helped to develop a four-point plan to create more sustainable, liveable, prosperous and resilient cities.
The national urban management plan – which is also a bid for to build on the work of the beyond its current term of June 2021– aims to embed water-sensitive approaches into future urban planning for Australian cities and towns.
CEO of the CRCWSC Professor Tony Wong said Australia’s population was expected to nearly double by 2066 and 80 per cent of these people would choose to live in cities and towns, putting water resources and communities at risk.
“We need around $1.7 trillion of infrastructure investment over the next 20 years, including $80 billion of urban water infrastructure,” Professor Wong said.
“Government, private sector and research organisations have worked with us to develop the plan, to help cities ensure water-sensitive approaches become standard practice and allow them to adapt to climatic extremes in ways that support attractive, healthy environments and community wellbeing.”
Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» (EAIT) Executive Dean said innovation was critical to helping the world transition to water sensitive cities and towns.
“Applying research to real life projects, developing tools and utilising innovation will amplify the impact of our research in this area,” Professor Chen said.
“We have the knowledge, the innovation, and the integration of different disciplines to deliver significant impact, both locally and internationally.”
The plan was launched at the in Brisbane last night.
The conference involves interactive sessions on 16 topics, including city cooling, flood resilience, ecological and human health and wellbeing, and urban metabolism within a changing climate.
In addition to Professor Chen, who will present at the conference over the coming days, a top-notch line-up of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» researchers have contributed to the CRCWSC and the conference, including Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research Partnerships), ; Director of the Advanced Water Management Centre (AWMC), ; AWMC Research Fellow ; Deputy Director of the AWMC , AWMC's , Conference Chair, AWMC's , Director of the Centre for Policy Futures , and the former Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» EAIT Faculty Executive Dean (now Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» of Western Australia).
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