The City of Whitehorse required an Integrated Water Management (IWM) plan to assist in improved water management across the municipality in line with a water-sensitive city's vision and to support a range of related strategic outcomes. Such outcomes incorporate environmental, economic, and community benefits to help build urban resilience, responding to the challenges of climate change and urban development.
Morphum, in partnership with Jamie Comley Environmental Consulting, was engaged to develop the IWM Strategy for Council. Their approach was to engage as broadly and deeply with council staff as possible surrounding the planning, delivery, and ongoing management of the IWM initiatives to allow for a more relevant, meaningful, and well-supported strategy in the future.
We provided a crucial difference in the IWM plan by delivering Council with an interactive GIS-based online tool that they could use for ongoing IWM planning, monitoring, and reporting. We carried out the following:
We delivered Council a comprehensive action plan to support their IWM strategy. We utilised an interactive GIS-based online catchment assessment tool and provided Council with a plan for the next five years with timings, indicative cost, resource requirements, and responsibilities.
Implementing an IWM strategy will allow Council to prioritise and consider investing in various IWM opportunities. In addition, the strategy will value all water as a treasured resource, encourage healthy landscapes and waterways, and reduce the city's risk of flooding. You can read more about it here.
