Common challenge and need

Planning and undertaking an analysis or project on climate change impacts on water, land, ecological values, infrastructure, liveability or some other aspect of the built or natural environment, is a task you and many colleagues are facing or engaged in. At some stage in your efforts, how are the results of your impact assessment work made available to guide next steps with other colleagues, organizational decision makers or impacted stakeholders?

This field of work continues to build and evolve. If you are not a climate change specialist it may feel that you are forever in some form of "catch-up" mode doing what you can to keep abreast of what is best to do.

Workshop offering

At this workshop we aim to continue knowledge sharing on climate change and water modelling and use that we have done at previous QWMN events (see links at bottom of the page). The focus this time will be on the cycle of how one best scopes or undertakes a climate change impact assessment project will be a feature we explore with both presentations and small group activities.

The types and access of climate change information will be an initial workshop focus - as this is key starting point for any project. Here in Queensland we have access to a wealth of data and information at the Queensland Future Climate and we will look at what is on offer. What are the questions that you want to answer, plus what types of information do you require as you plan and scope your projects?

To see how colleagues have applied climate change information we will showcase:

How does a detailed investigation (research based) look at impacts on the water cycle?
What issues can a local government consider when looking at a future under climate change?
How does the planning and design of an infrastructure project accommodate climate change impacts?

Plenty of your questions along the way will ensure we clarify and fully understand the different approaches being used. We hope to collate where you think the information, capability and access to tools is strong and contrast that with the areas where there are gaps in support that you might need to do your work.

Case study presenters

For this 4 hour workshop we have invited a mix of speakers to ensure we hear about the breadth of work being undertaken with various water, planning and infrastructure projects, namely:

The Climate Projection and Services team at Qld Department of Energy and Climate - Ralph Trancoso Science Leader Sarah Chapman Principal Scientist and Rohan Eccles Principal Climate Data Scientist to explain options with Queensland Future Climate and dashboards
Cassady Swinbourne - PhD Scholar UQ whose research focuses on the co-benefits and trade-offs between different components of the urban water cycle, with a particular focus on how these interactions manifest in WSUD infrastructure and during periods of droughts and high rainfall.
Richard Sharp - Senior Planner at Water Technology has worked with a mix of local and interstate local governments and will share applications on responses to coastal hazards, flooding and heat
Scott Losee - Director of Losee Consulting has a 20 year experience in looking at climate change responses for organisations, verification assessments of infrastructure projects and diverse and evolving ways to use climate change information

In addition, Emma O'Neill Associate, Environment and Planning, Aurecon will assist in scene setting the workshop. Emma will pose some common questions that organisations have as they grapple to know what are the best ways to consider climate change impacts in their future planning and risks.

Be part of the workshop

We welcome your participation and regardless of your role in Local or State Government, water utilities, consultant companies, research/University, regional NRM groups, industry advocates or other organisations we believe that the diversity of roles will enrich the discussion and sharing of experiences at this workshop. Typically our workshops are a mix of students, early career professionals and seasoned practitioners comfortable to participate in our interactive workshops.

Plus on offer is a chance to meet new colleague opportunities and networking throughout the event and especially on conclusion on the outdoor verandah. Please register so we can reserve your place and also help cover the modest afternoon tea and end of event catering costs at this venue.

Links to previous events

Input and overview into the critical review of climate change on water modelling – June 2019

Climate change data for water modelling and decision making – November 2019

Making our water models climate change ready, what’s involved? – May 2020

Ways to frame uncertainty June 2020

Modelling and communicating the impacts of climate change - August 2021

Dealing with climate change forecasts in research and analysis - June 2022