• Celebrating 10 years of the Water Campaign

  We are proud to announce the availability of our new book "A Decade of Action 2002-12: The Story of the ICLEI Water Campaign". This book, developed as part of our ten years of action in Australia, highlights some of the key findings from our 127 councils who have participated in the program over this time. Supported by Case Studies and Testimonials, this book showcases the program, our councils past efforts, and explores what we need to do into the future to move towards a more water friendly future. Available for download.

  You can also read the 2012 in Review.

• Grand Projects:

  Ever wanted to do the BIG projects in water management. Our Grand projects section has been given its own page. See here

  Read more  Case Studies from the Water Campaign™

• Australia's most sustainable city announced - City of Cockburn
  
  All of us at ICLEI Oceania congratulate the City of Cockburn in Western Australia has won the Keep Australia Beautiful, Australian Sustainable Cities Awards 2012. The announcement was made at the national awards ceremony hosted by the 2011 national winner and fellow ICLEI member, Kogarah City Council on 29th November.
  
  The Award recognises The City of Cockburn as a community which strives to improve their health and well-being in developing a connection to the natural environment, the local community and encouraging sustainability. The City has developed a wide range of tailored programs to empower the Cockburn community to improve their health and well-being and to develop a connection to the natural environment, the local community and encourage sustainability.
  
  
  In addition to winning the overall title, The City of Cockburn also picked up an award for Community Action and Partnerships, as well as Energy Innovation.

• Tea Tree Gully in South Australia wins Water Conservation at the Australian Sustainable Cities Awards 2012

   ICLEI Water Campaign wish to congradulate former ICLEI staffer, Jon Herd who left the Water Campaign Victorian Managers position to take up the position at the City of Tea Tree Gully who has won the Water Conservation category award at the Keep Australia Beautiful, Australian Sustainable Cities Awards.

  The City of Tea Tree Gully has worked hard to become a ‘Water Sensitive City’; that integrates water supply, wastewater, storm water and the built urban environment to become a sustainable community.

  Based on the strategic directions set six years ago with regard to a long term water use reduction, the Council of Tea Tree Gully has implemented an Integrated Water Resource Management Strategy as part of a corporate process to ensure its water security. Council has achieved its primary water security goals and is well progressed in maturing its water management network in an operational sense. This strategy has favourably placed Council in a position where it has reduced its water use from approximately 900Megalitres per annum (MLp/a) to approximately 450MLp/a.

  The recycled water (stormwater and treated waste water) generated from these activities now gives Council access to in excess of 1000MLp/a of water for use by Council, local schools, future developments, sporting groups, businesses and other councils who may wish to source additional water supplies.

• Weld Square Living Stream

  Environment Minister Bill Marmion has announced last month that City of Bayswater in partnership with the Swan River Trust will be undertaking a $300,000 project addressing the water quality in the Bayswater Brook stormwater drain. The project will transform 235m of open drain into a ‘living stream’ and reduce the amount of nutrients entering the Swan River.

  In order to assist with nutrient filtration and preventing their entry into the river 39,000 seedlings will be planted as part of the project, along with other improvements to the 3,700m² of drainage reserve within the Bayswater Brook Catchment. State government will provide 50% of the funding with City of Bayswater providing the rest as well as in-kind support. The planning and design stages of the project are planned to start early next year.

  The Living Steam project will result in improving the quality of the water along the drain reducing nutrients and other pollutants entering the Swan River, providing habitat for wildlife, and improving the amenity for the local community and visitors. It will also involve local primary school students with planting, weeding and monitoring of the water quality.

  City of Bayswater is committed to improving its water quality and reducing its water use through implementing actions such as these, and this has been proven through participation and involvement in programs and projects such as Bayswater Brook Total Water Cycle Project, Light Industry Audit Program, Water Campaign Program, Sustainable Landscaping Strategy, Local Biodiversity Strategy, and others.Ever wanted to do the BIG projects in water management. Our Grand projects section has been given its own page. See here

• WA Waterwise Councils Program. Shire of Peppermint Grove endorsed as Waterwise CouncilOn 26 November 2012 Minister Marmion announced the endorsement of Shire of Peppermint Grove as Waterwise Council.

• Kalamunda shire awarded Milestone 5 Corporate
  

The Shire of Kalamunda has completed a re-inventory of its Corporate and Community water consumption and reported on progress towards the goals set in water conservation and water quality improvement areas.  The tasks undertaken for Milestone 5 will also support the Shire to reassess its water management goals and priorities, and to learn from actions taken to date.

Some projects undertaken by the Shire of Kalamunda include:

• Installation of meters on 42 of the Shire's lowland bores enhancing the Shire's ability to track and monitor water use
• Hydrozoning Fleming Reserve, estimated to save 19,400kL of water per year
• Installation of water efficient appliances at Norm Sadler Pavilion saving 1,387kL per year
• Installation of dual flush toilet cisterns throughout the Administration office saving 356kL per year
• Installation of waterless urinals at 6 Shire facilities saving 181.7kL per year
• Auditing of the effectiveness of irrigation systems annually. The most inefficient systems are identified and put forward for action to improve their effectiveness and efficiency. The Shire aims to address one park per year, through a process of calculations and analysis, and retrofit/repair to optimise the system.
• Irrigation of Ray Owen Reserve with water sourced from a combination of Shire owned dam and scheme water.   The Shire updated infrastructure to maximise the efficiency of both water and energy use, resulting in a reduction in scheme water use of 5,676kL between 2010/11 and 2011/12.

ICLEI Oceania congratulates the Shire of Kalamunda and looks forward to its ongoing partnership in its continuous improvement of water management.

• ICLEI, UNESCO-IHE and IWA have joined forces to publish a handbook on adapting urban water systems to climate change, aimed at decision makers within local governments and utilities. Author: ICLEI, UNESCO-IHE and IWA, 2011.  Adapting urban water systems to climate change – A handbook for decision makers at the local level. This document includes a case study of the City of Melbourne.

• Water Campaign™ in 2013: There are a number of ways for councils to be involved in the program in 2013:
• Become a Water Campaign™ participant and purchase a support package for the specific milestone you would like to achieve.
• If your council is an existing participant in a non-funded area - purchase a support package for the specific milestone you would like to achieve.
• If your council is in a funded area (parts of WA and metro Vic) you may be eligible to join and participate in the program without purchasing a milestone support package. 

For further information email Greg Hales, Water Campaign Australia Manager, or ph: +61 8 9364 0643. 

Download more information on the Water Campaign™ in 2012/13.

• New participants: There are now 127 Australian councils who have participated  in the Water Campaign™.  We would like to welcome our newest participants:  Shire of Denmark, Lake Macquarie City Council, Shire of Dardanup, City of Albany and the City of Greater Geraldton.

• Waterwise Council Training (WA): Waterwise Garden and Irrigation ~ recommended for grounds keepers and parks, maintenance, customer service & administration staff and Waterwise Water Auditing ~ recommended for building maintenance staff and administrators in this area, is now available online for participants of the Waterwise Council program.  For information, email the Water Corporation or phone 08 9420 2130 and you will be provided with instructions to access the training online.

• Waterwise Council Criteria ~ Criteria for councils to achieve Waterwise endorsement and to retain endorsement.

ICLEI Oceania congratulates the Waterwise Councils endorsed.

• Waterwise Community Toolkit: The Department of Water has developed a Waterwise Community Toolkit designed to provide land developers, local governments and householders with information on water-use efficiency, water conservation and non-drinking water sources in urban developments and in the community.  For enquiries relating to the toolkit email recycling@water.wa.gov.au

• Local Government water management programs in WA: Many local governments have been or will be approached to participate in a number of water management initiatives in Western Australia at the moment namely: Water Conservation Plans, Better Urban Water Management Planning and Stormwater Capacity Building (Department of Water) and the Waterwise Councils Program (Department of Water and the Water Corporation).  To assist Water Campaign participants better integrate these programs in their council, a short explanation of their relationship to the Water Campaign has been prepared.