Victoria WSUD Asset Management System Process Review

Client: Six Victorian Councils (Moreland, Moonee Valley, Yarra, Brimbank, Greater Geelong and Melbourne) plus Melbourne Water (Living Rivers Grant)

Water Sensitive Urban Design

Water Sensitive Urban Design

Audit reports and anecdotal evidence have shown that many Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) assets (including wetlands, stormwater harvesting systems, swales and raingardens) are underperforming. This can be due to poor design, procurement, construction and/or maintenance issues.

Morphum Environmental, in partnership with Jamie Comley Consulting, are working with six Victorian councils (Moreland, Moonee Valley, Yarra, Brimbank, Greater Geelong and Melbourne) to develop a successful and sustainable approach to WSUD Asset Management, covering the entire life-cycle from planning and design, to construction, establishment, handover and maintenance. The initial review covered the following:

  • Conduct interviews, workshops and data review to map the current WSUD Asset Management processes and identify existing gaps (and strengths).

  • Draft succinct reports with summary of current WSUD Asset Management processes and systems, gap analysis and recommendations for improvements.

  • Finalise reports based on council and Melbourne Water feedback.

  • Prepare and deliver workshops to present individual reports to key council stakeholders.

Key deliverables:

  • Overall report summarising general findings, gaps and opportunities across all five councils.

  • Individual reports summarising findings for each council.

  • Joint and individual workshops with all councils (and key stakeholders) to discuss findings and next steps.

The project has been largely funded by Melbourne Water, through their Living Rivers Fund. An additional five councils have been approved to join the project through the Living Rivers fund in 2018/2019.