Water by Design eNews 22 January 2010

In this issue:

1. Fast-tracked approvals for green developments
2. Sustainability leadership course
3. Food Sensitive Urban Design
4. Short course in urban design
5. Showcase your good work
6. Active forum discussions
7. Events calendar

Fast-tracked approvals for green developments

Sustainable Case Managers have been appointed to fast-track well planned and environmentally friendly developments, Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Minister Stirling Hinchliffe announced in December.

Mr Hinchliffe said the implementation of Sustainable Case Managers within the Department of Infrastructure and Planning’s regional offices would ensure green development proposals were recognised and rewarded.

“Developers with large-scale and highly sustainable proposals in the development assessment system should be able to use a ‘green door’ to get an answer sooner,” Mr Hinchliffe said. (media release)

Sustainability leadership: How to facilitate positive change

The Australian Water Association (AWA) Qld Branch is offering a full day training course presented by Andre Taylor who blends a water background with the latest theory in leadership including skills and techniques on how to be an effective sustainability leader. You will walk away with a personal action plan for your own development as well as a better understanding on how to make change happen in a positive way. This session is brought to you be Deloitte, the Young Water Professionals and the Sustainability Specialist Network.
1-day Personal Development Course
18 February 2010, 8am – 4.30pm, Brisbane
AWA Member Price: $300 plus GST, Group Discount (5 people): $1000 plus GST.

For registration and further details click here.

FSUD: Food Sensitive Urban Design

Urban agriculture is getting some renewed attention, with CSIRO Publishing releasing Darrin Nordahl’s “Public Produce – The New Urban Agriculture” (link).

In the latest edition of CSIRO’s Ecos Magazine, the concept of ‘food sensitive urban design’ is discussed as contributing to resilient, sustainable communities by diversifying food sources, making use of local resources, reducing transport and refrigeration needs, and spreading risk across different distribution channels. All of this contributes to positive community dynamics, not to mention greater food security. Read the article.

Essentials of Urban Design short course

This 10 day course aims to provide an understanding of basic principles and practical tools to engage in urban design in a systematic manner. There will be a series of illustrated lectures covering the ideas and principles but the core learning activity will be a supervised hands-on design exercise.

The course will be taught by Adjunct Professor Tony Hall. Until 2004, Tony was Professor of Town Planning at Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, UK. He was also an elected member of Chelmsford Council and led its planning policy for seven years culminating in a government award for the quality of the built environment in 2003.

Venue: South Bank Campus, 15 – 26 February. The tuition fee will be $1500 (GST inclusive). Closing date for registration is 29 January 2010.

Contact: Ms Lynne Bradshaw

Administrative Support Officer, Griffith School of Environment

Urban and Environmental Planning Discipline, Griffith University

Telephone: 07 373 55344, Fax: 07 373 56684, Email: l.bradshaw@griffith.edu.au

Showcase your good work

We’ve got a new case study register on the Water by Design website, but it needs your input. We know there’s been lots of water sensitive urban design occurring across the region and now you can showcase your favourite projects online. We’re looking for examples of good work, as well as examples of those projects where good intentions haven’t necessarily been realised for various reasons. There’s an easy to complete form for submitting your case studies and uploading photos. Its a great opportunity to raise the profile of your work and gain recognition in the industry. Take me to the case study page.

Active forum discussions

The WSUD community is currently discussing the following topics on the online forum:

• New draft MUSIC Guidelines for SEQ (read and discuss)
• Rocla CDS Filternator and Humes Hydrofilter (read and discuss)
• WSUD options for highly urbanised town centre type developments (read and discuss)
• Coarse sediment removal – bioretention pods (read and discuss)

View a list of all foum discussion topics on the Water by Design website here.

Water by Design Events Calendar

Our award winning training program continues in 2010 with the following courses:

February 2010

25th – Fundamentals of Bioretention Design (Brisbane) (details)

March 2010

25th – Fundamentals of Constructed Wetland Design (Brisbane) (details)

April 2010

29th – Fundamentals of Swale and Sedimentation Basin Design (Brisbane) (details)

May 2010

6th – Construction and Establishment of Vegetated Stormwater Systems (Brisbane) (details)

If you’d like to attend a course that isn’t scheduled above, or are interested in in-house training, please let us know via email to info@waterbydesign.com.au. Full course offerings.

Other courses and events

Stormwater Modelling Training Course: xpswmm and xpstorm.

This course is offered by XP Software in Brisbane 15, 16, 17 March (details)

Water by Design is a program of the South East Queensland Healthy Waterways Partnership. Further information on the Partership and its programs can be found at www.healthywaterways.org.