|
COASTS & OCEANS |
|
Urban Stormwater
Initiative |
|
|
| ||
| ||||
©
Sydney Harbour |
The Urban Stormwater Initiative was an program under the Australian Government's Living Cities program. The Urban Stormwater Initiative funded projects that tackled enhancing water quality in the waterways of major coastal cities by improving stormwater management. Projects that were targeted turned a problem into a resource through capture, treatment and reuse of urban stormwater. Strong industry source control, community education and water sensitive urban design were also encouraged. Funding is no longer available from this program.
Under the Living Cities program, the Australian Government has allocated $6.8m to the Urban Stormwater Initiative (USI). The USI is targeted at enhancing water quality in the waterways of major coastal cities by improving stormwater management.
 |
|
©
Underwater sewage outfall |
To achieve this target project partnerships within catchments were formed between:
Australian Government funding is acting as a catalyst for consortia to construct infrastructure that is innovative and exemplifies best practice in managing the quality of urban stormwater.
The projects serve as demonstrations of best practice to encourage uptake of improved urban stormwater management across Australia.
These nationally significant projects will be constructed and evaluated by July 2002.
 |
|
©
Pollution in Sydney Harbour |
All projects maximise Ecologically Sustainable Development through implementing natural resource management strategies.
Particular focus is on projects that turn a problem into a resource through capture, treatment and reuse of urban stormwater. Strong industry source control, community education and water sensitive urban design are also encouraged.
Senator the Hon Robert Hill, Minister for the Environment & Heritage, has approved projects from a range of consortia across Australia.
The first of the successful projects was announced as part of international celebrations of World Environment Day in Adelaide on 5 June 2000.
The USI is part of a suite of Australian Government programs under Living Cities targeted at monitoring and improving the health of urban waterways. Other Urban Waterways initiatives are the:
