• Partners
• Participants

Partners

New WAter Ways is a partnership between the WA Department of Water, the WA Department of Planning, WA Local Government Association, the Water Corporation, and the Urban Development Institute of Australia. A partnership group informs the New WAter Ways program and directs efforts that address the needs of the WA water sector. (see New WAter Ways Participants).

Coastal Catchment Initiative

The New WAter Ways program was originally set up with funding support from the Australian Government's Coastal Catchments Initiative.

The Australia Government has identified a number of urban “hotspots” around the country that require special attention and care in the form of management plans and Water Quality Improvement Plans. In Western Australia, three have been identified: the Vasse-Georgraphe, the Peel-Harvey and the Swan-Canning. The New WAter Ways program works in close consultation with the agencies and organisation involved in the implementation of these plans to support them in thier capacity building efforts. 

 

  

Department of Water – WA

The Department of Water leads the management of the state’s water resources to ensure they are planned and managed to meet community requirements, now and into the future. The department does this by informing the government and the community on quantity, quality, use and availability of water resources, and ensuring the delivery of effective management regimes.

The department’s responsibilities are addressed through four key program areas of water governance, water knowledge, water use and impact management, and capacity building. The department develops water governance by setting policy and planning frameworks along with effective water management mechanisms. To inform appropriate and best management practices, officers collect knowledge on ground- and surface- water resources. In addition, the department researches social, economic and environmental dependencies to ensure effective water use and supply. Care is taken to identify threats and risks to water resources and actions are then put in place to protect their integrity, undertake rehabilitation or restore them to a functioning condition. To ensure sustainability of actions, capacity-building programs along with research and development projects are put in place. These efforts combine to ensure community, government, industry, developers and other professional water managers have the right tools to utilise, protect and manage water into the future.

More information on the department and its programs can be obtained at www.water.wa.gov.au.

 

Department of Planning - WA

The Department of Planning (DoP) recognises that water resources planning issues must be integrated with other land use planning and development issues so that land and water planning are undertaken concurrently, rather than independently and consecutively. This is critical if better urban water outcomes are to be achieved in new development and redevelopment in Perth and across the Swan Coastal Plain.

The Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) indicated its support for Water Sensitive Urban design (WSUD) through endorsement of the State Planning Policy No 2.9: Water Resources.

It has subsequently released Better Urban Water Management (NAPC, 2008) which provides a framework for the consideration of water resources at each stage of the planning and development approvals system.

More information on the department and its programs can be obtained at www.planning.wa.gov.au.

 

 

Western Australian Local Government Association                          

The WA Local Government Association is the voice of Local Government in Western Australia. As the peak industry body WALGA advocates on behalf of the State's 142 Local Governments and negotiates service agreements for the sector. WALGA is not a government department or agency.

One of the ways in which the WA Local Government Association supports Western Australia’s member Local Government bodies is to work in the area of policy development. With an understanding of the needs of Local Government, the Association works on their behalf to draft and suggest policies on a number of key issues.

New WAter Ways does not reflect all of WALGA’s water policy, but rather, is a specific program that the Association is proud to support. WALGA has representatives steering New WAter Ways to ensure it assists Local Government in the most valuable ways; providing tools, information and professional development.

More information on the department and its programs can be obtained at www.walga.asn.au.

 

Water Corporation

The Water Corporation is committed to advancing Integrated Water Cycle Management as a viable option in managing the State's water supplies. This is in step with our 'Security through Diversity' approach that comprises both demand and supply initiatives in meeting the community's current and future water needs.

A clear strategy of the Corporation’s recently formed Water Efficiency Branch is to build clarity and understanding to the meaning of a “Water Sensitive Community” in Western Australia. As a partner in New WAter Ways, the Corporation addresses this strategy by sharing knowledge, building capacity and encouraging innovation as we move towards achieving consistency and best practice outcomes in water management principles.
In addition to creating and sustaining water efficient communities, the Corporation also recognizes and adheres to the principles of water quality management and water for the environment.

More information on the Water Corporation and its programs can be obtained at www.watercorporation.com.au.  

 

 

Urban Development Institute of Australia

The UDIA is the peak body representing all segments of the development industry. The Institute has been representing the urban development industry in Western Australia for more than 30 years.

More information on the UDIA and its programs can be obtained at www.udia.com.au.