$30 million Federal funding for the CRC for Water Sensitive Cities
Nov 23, 2011
Federal Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research,
Senator the Hon Kim Carr, announced funding of almost $148 million
for world-class collaborative research and innovation under the
Australian Government’s Cooperative Research Centres (CRC)
program. Four renewals of existing CRCs and two new CRCs have
been successful in the 14th selection round. One of the two new
CRCs to be established is the CRC for Water Sensitive Cities, which
has received $30 million in federal funding. The total operating
budget for the CRC (cash and in-kind) over its 9 years of operation
is of the order of $124 million.
The CRC for Water Sensitive Cities will deliver the socio-technical
urban water management solutions, education and training programs,
and industry engagement required to make Australian towns and
cities water sensitive. Water sensitive cities are resilient,
liveable, productive and sustainable. They efficiently use the
diversity of water resources available within towns and cities,
enhance and protect the health of urban waterways and wetlands and
mitigate flood risk and damage. They also create public spaces that
harvest, clean and recycle water, increase biodiversity and reduce
urban heat island effects.
Western Australia has been a key partner in the development of this
bid and the establishment of the CRC for Water Sensitive Cities
will provide an amazing opportunity to bring researchers together
with industry to develop WSUD solutions for our local context and
share these innovations with the rest of the country.
One of the three national research hubs of the CRC for Water
Sensitive Cities will be based at the University of Western
Australia, with the other two hubs being located at the University
of Queensland and Monash University, the lead agency for the CRC. .
There will also be a Singapore research hub. UWA's Winthrop
Professor Richard Weller will lead the Water Sensitive Urbanism
research program, one of four research programs of the CRC for
Water Sensitive Cities. The CRC will build on existing research
efforts, particularly the Cities as Water Supply Catchments
research program, which will be merged into the new CRC.
Congratulations to the many people involved in the preparation of
the bid. What an achievement!
Additional information on the CRC selection can be found here and further information about the CRC for Water
Sensitive Cities is available at:
http://www.watersensitivecities.org.au/30-million-for-the-crc-for-water-sensitive-cities.
Stay tuned for more information regarding the CRC in the near
future.