Living streams - nature-based solutions for urban stormwater management

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Time:  12:30-2:30pm AEST     12:00-2:00pm ACST     10:30am AWST

Communities in urban areas are seeking connection with nature, while governments are looking for initiatives that cool urban landscapes and make our cities more biodiverse. Living streams offer a sense of place and community, connectivity and recreational opportunities along a network of linear trails. The act of daylighting creeks – opening up buried watercourses and restoring them to more natural conditions – brings stormwater to the surface, retains water in the environment, provides opportunities to slow the flow and remove pollutants, and enhance habitat for local fauna.

In this webinar we share the experiences of practitioners from across Australia who have transformed communities with a commitment to nature-based solutions for stormwater management through living streams.

Water management from a traditional owner's viewpoint, South Australia Corey Turner, Owner, Southern Cultural Immersion

Significant potential exists for better management of urban waterways through legislative protection of rivers as a living entity, with guardianship by traditional owners, and establishment of trusts to buy back land.

Living waterways framework, Queensland Rachael Nasplezes, Team Lead Climate Adaptation, Healthy Land & Water and Georgia Glidden, Scientist, Health Land & Water

The living waterways framework promotes the integration of stormwater systems and stormwater treatment into natural landscapes by incorporating the natural, historical and cultural elements of a site. It encourages interaction with water to inspire, promote adventure and discovery, and to educate visitors about the delicacy of our ecosystems.

New Town Rivulet project, Tasmania Nigel Vivian, Senior Project Manager, Sugden & Gee

The City of Hobart, in partnership with Glenorchy City Council, plans to restore the mouth of New Town Rivulet to a more natural, estuarine landscape, enhance the health of the River Derwent and protect habitat for local birdlife, while addressing the increasing risk of erosion from deteriorating concrete embankments.

Fairwater riparian corridor rehabilitation, New South Wales David Knights, Director, Civille

Insights into the drivers for the riparian corridor design to bring nature-based solutions into Fairwater, NSW’s first 6 Star Green Star – Communities rating.

Re-creating Neerigen Brook, Western Australia Helen Brookes, Director, Urbaqua

Neerigen Brook is a living stream created from an agricultural drain as part of the subdivisional and development process at the Springtime Development in WA. The brook was designed and constructed by the developer and is now managed by the Local Government as public open space.

Panel discussion

The National WSUD Community of Practice webinar series is proudly supported by: