Blacktown as a Water Sensitive City Phillip Birtles I’m Phillip Birtles – Water Rehabilitation Officer Have been at council since first of July. – 8 weeks. Natalie Payne – Maternity leave

What’s out west?

Actually, lots of people Blacktown Population 321,000 Predicted to rise to 415,000 by 2030 and then 500,000 by 2040 Canberra: 367,752 Northern Territory: 233,300 6% philippines, 3% indian, Fijian & Samoan, Large West African Population Lots of Languages = Hindi, Aribic, Punjabi, Urdu, Philipino 3% of the population is Urban Aboriginal/TSI (largest Aboriginal Population) Very Young – median age = 32, with 45% under 30yrs There are lots of renters ($300 average p/w) and lots of mortgage stress 60% of mortgagees pay $2000 p/m and median income is $1,386.That is at least 36% of their salary. Growth will be achieved by converting nearly 8,000 hectares of open farmland to residential suburbs and densification of existing areas, providing another 53,000 dwellings. This will dramatically affect our waterways and increase the demand for water.

Growth Centres

What is this going to mean for water supply? Graph from Metro Water Directorate

Can Blacktown make it as Water Sensitive City ? All this is going to have drastic impact on the natural environment in Blacktown. Eastern Creek

State Government Regulatory Drivers The BASIX SEPP = 40% reduction in potable mains water use for all new residential developments and redevelopments. Draft Metropolitan Strategy (2013) – Action 22.5 “Apply WSUD to integrate urban water cycle considerations with the planning and urban design for growth centres and urban renewal.” Metropolitan Water Plan – liveability outcomes

Growth Centres – a mixed blessing DCP was developed by the NSW Department of Planning & Infrastructure. Flooding, water quality and quantity, riparian & water conservation controls.

Blacktown City Council DCP – Part R Blacktown Council DCP (2006) Part R Water Sensitive Urban Design and Integrated Water Cycle Management Part R of the Development Control Plan provides: Design principles, objectives, targets and controls for the management of water conservation, stormwater and groundwater. Controls for development on waterfront land (riparian land).

WSUD and Integrated Water Cycle Management Blacktown Development Control Plan 2006 (Part R) Stormwater (water quality and waterway stability) Targets for % reduction in pollutant loads & SEI Water Conservation targets Residential - must comply with BASIX. Industrial and Commercial development - supply 80% non-potable demand through rainwater or stormwater harvesting. Public open space (such as irrigation, pools, water features), 80% of demand must be supplied from recycled water, rainwater or stormwater harvesting.

Blacktown City Council and WSUD Local Govt response to WSUD Blacktown 2030 Vision. “Pursue best practice sustainable water management to protect and improve the water quality of the local environment.” Council projects under the Environmental Stormwater Management Service Charge $25 per household = approx $3M p.a.

WSUD Audit Program Are private assets being installed correctly and maintained? WSUD Audit Officer Production of WSUD guidelines

Catchment Planning What do the community want in their catchment? What goal is realistic? This is an example water balance from the Bungarribee Catchment. The water balance was prepared as part of Councils Catchment Management Studies. The Bungarribee catchment includes parts of the suburbs Doonside, Blacktown, Arndell Park, Huntingwood, Bungarribee, Eastern Creek and Prospect. The catchment is highly urbanised and is dominated by residential and industrial land uses. The sub-catchment is 713 ha.

Creek & intervention monitoring What condition are out ecosystems in? What WSUD assets has council taken on? How much is it costing us?

WSUD Capacity Building Program – the 6 phases 1. Senior Management Interviews (19 participants) 2. Council staff survey and presentation (150 participants) 3. Rapid Assessment and Action Planning Workshop (50) 5. Strategic Plan 6. Action Plan 4. Data analysis and prioritisation planning What did this show us?

Asset Construction Transport & City Projects Asset Design Services Strategic & Precinct Planning Asset Planning & Support Sport and Recreation Services Building & Engineering Design Services Environmental Sustainability Development Services & Administration Civil & Open Space Maintenance Development Policy & Regulation

Status of Blacktown on the Continuum

A set of actions to address high priority institutional capacity building needs. The need to develop stronger relationships between key people within BCC who need to collaborate in order to implement WSUD Water Working group – Science policy partner..

Angus Creek Stormwater Harvesting 200ML project (originally a MAR scheme) Aust Government Water for the Future - $2.2M Blacktown International Sports Park Delivered this financial year

On-going Challenges (a personal perspective) Integration of Water Cycle Management in large release areas Infill complications Articulating the connection between community’s vision / what we require / what we monitor. Finding boundary lines between what needs to be solved for WSUD and organisational complexities Its an exciting time for WSUD

Blacktown Showground Redevelopment WSUD objectives for the Showground site: Providing an alternate water source to supply irrigation and use in facilities; Treating stormwater before it is discharged to Ashlar Creek; Ensure the catchment and aquatic ecosystem health is enhanced and/or maintained in the re-design; Integrating stormwater in the urban landscape to maximise its visual and recreational amenity. Council to insert its own information

Blacktown Showground Redevelopment A picture tells a thousand words…..

Questions?