What: 5th Water Sensitive Cities Conference - online training

When: 18 March 2021

Water Sensitive Practice. Every city. Every day

We understand that not everybody wants to be an expert user of our Tools. So we’ve created these overview training sessions that provide a ‘taster’, so you can find out how the tools developed by the CRCWSC work and how you can apply them in your projects.

Training is aimed at new users of these tools and guidelines.

Tickets for each session are limited.

Training sessions 1-4 - Check your state program for local time

PLEASE CHOOSE ONLY ONE OF THE TRAINING SESSIONS 1-4 AS THEY RUN CONCURRENTLY

1. Visioning, including the Water Sensitive Cities Index

Find out how to apply the Water Sensitive Cities Index Tool to develop a water sensitive city vision and transition strategy for your city. You’ll learn how to use the Water Sensitive Cities Index to identify your city’s current water sensitive performance and diagnose strengths and weaknesses related to water sensitive systems and practices. You’ll hear from Dr Briony Rogers (Chief Research Officer, CRC for Water Sensitive Cities) and Wikke Novalia (Monash Sustainable Development Institute). Note – This training is not a part of the WSC Index Provider accreditation process.

2. Economics, including the INFFEWS Tool

Find out about how to apply benefit cost analysis and how to value non-market benefits, interpret these results and then incorporate them in a business case. Dr Buyani Thomy and Jim Binney from Natural Capital Economics will explain how to apply the INFFEWS Benefit Cost Analysis Tool and the Value Tool. This training will cover some basic economic theory, a worked example of benefit cost analysis in action (including non-market values) and then an in-class practical exercise.

3. Urban design, including the Infill Development Typologies

Find out why urban design is important for water sensitive cities, what factors affect water performance of urban design, and how water performance can be evaluated. Shelley Shepherd and Helen Brookes from Urbaqua will demonstrate the Infill Typologies Catalogue, the Infill Performance Evaluation Framework, and passive irrigation and green infrastructure guidelines.

4. The Scenario Tool

The CRCWSC’s Scenario Tool brings water, urban planning and urban heat factors together into one tool to assess the performance of a precinct. Find how about the Scenario Tool, what the tool can do and how to interpret the outputs. Dylan Cain from E2Designlab will demonstrate how to use the tool to design and assess water sensitive interventions using the tool’s various modules: the TARGET module, the Urban Water Cycle module, Urban Development module and Land Surface Temperature module.

Training sessions 5-7 - check your state program for local time

PLEASE CHOOSE ONLY ONE OF THE TRAINING SESSIONS 5-7 AS THEY RUN CONCURRENTLY

5. The NEW Actions module of the Water Sensitive Cities index

Find out how you can use the new Management Action Database module of the WSC Index to identify priorities and actions to improve your city’s water sensitive performance. Shelley Shepherd (Urbaqua) will demonstrate how to use the database to prioritise actions that will best improve your city’s water sensitive performance.

6. Water cycle assessment using mass balance approaches and the SUWMBA tool

Find out how to assess the flow of water into, through and out of an urban space, how different urban designs can affect its water cycle, and why it’s important. Associate Professor Steven Kenway (University of Queensland) will demonstrate how to define an urban space and then determine its water mass balance using the Site-scale Urban Water Mass Balance Assessment Tool (SUWMBA Tool). He will also explain how metrics from the SUWMBA Tool can be used to assess liveability, using the Infill Performance Evaluation Framework.

7. Managing urban waterways and groundwater systems, including the RESTORE Tool and Riparian guidelines

Find out how to manage urban waterways and groundwater systems. The RESTORE Tool is an Excel-based tool that helps waterway managers prioritise ecosystem components to repair urban waterways. You’ll hear from Dr Leah Beesley, the tool’s creator, and Ms Sally Boer from E2Designlab, an experienced freshwater ecologist who trialled the tool at Scrubby Creek in Queensland. You’ll learn about the CRCWSC’s Riparian design guidelines, which provide guidance on how to protect and repair the ecological services provided by riparian zones. You’ll also find out about ways to manage areas affected by high seasonal groundwater.