Three interrelated research themes form the basis of our research program and are collectively critical to achieve Climate-Resilient Water.
Collaborative governance
Transforming our social and regulatory systems to enable adaptive climate-resilient water options to become mainstream.
Reliable water
Transforming large supply systems to be more reliable given far greater climatic extremes, at less energy cost.
Future water precincts
Transform planning to create new localised resilient water supply, energy-positive precincts and systems at least cost and with greatest benefits.
Quality and innovation
Innovation 1
Our program is highly integrated, cross-disciplinary and original (see activity structure in figure below). To implement the vision, we will embed HDRs supported through Core Skills training, industry placements and participation in Design Challenges and CoP events. Our collaborative framework will create the new people, skills and capabilities for growth, productivity and competitiveness.
Innovation 2
The “Design Challenge” is a new process developed by the Team where all partners, students and wider stakeholders work in transdisciplinary competing teams to respond to scenarios on sites. The data-rich “Challenge” is now used by five universities across Europe, USA and Canada.
Innovation 3
We advance beyond applying new technologies to address related socio-economic barriers by strongly uniting major stakeholders, in site-based planning and Community of Practice. By connecting regulators, bulk suppliers, retailers and end users of water and service providers, this will enable achieving a collective vision.
Innovation 4
Our approach strongly advances integrated urban water management and governance – by looking at key links with other sectors, such as energy, as the essential way to future proof water and energy efficient cities.
The Centre will:
- Deliver a program of industry focussed research to address partner problems and needs through a suite of 25+ PhD and 25+ Masters students.
- Design and deliver a Training and Capability Development Program in collaboration with partners that will see more than 1000 partner staff members trained.
- Design and deliver a series of collaborative Design Challenges to bring together industry professionals and researchers to tackle a range of different metro and regional climate-resilient water supply challenges.
- Lead a Climate-Resilient Water Community of Practice to foster connection, conversation and learning from policy making and regulation to bulk water and utility planning and management and into supply chain delivery partners.
- Engage, disseminate and foster momentum to deliver climate-resilient water supplies nation-wide.