The Productivity Commission has issued a new report warning that Australia’s water policy faces major challenges in coming decades if the country was to maintain urban liveability and green open space.
Productivity Commissioner, Jane Doolan said the combined challenges of population growth and changing climate meant Australia needed a new, integrated approach to urban water management.
“We will be spending billions of dollars on water assets over the next 20 years as our major cities become increasingly important as sources of economic productivity and growth,” Dr Doolan said.
“Decisions taken now will set up the nature of these new suburbs forever and we need to get it right.
She said the report, entitled Integrated Urban Water Management, showed that urban amenity and green open space were increasingly important in new growth areas and infill development.
“But they require water and can only be efficiently delivered if we take an integrated approach bringing together water authorities, land use planners, environmental regulators and local governments,” she said.
She said the report found the urban water sector had served Australia well but new challenges required an innovative approach.
“Water supply, wastewater and stormwater should be considered together so we can efficiently deliver water for household and industrial consumption, clean waterways and green open space,” Dr Doolan said.
She said the report noted that population growth had increased demand for water while climate change was likely to reduce availability.
“The report identifies 10 key impediments to a more integrated and effective approach.
“Integrated water management will help ensure all options are looked at and the best and cheapest option is implemented.”
She said the impediments identified by the Commission spanned Government policy, service planning and delivery, regulation and funding.
The Commission’s 103-page report can be accessed at this PS News link.
