Queensland Urban Utilities to participate in $100 million critical water research program

Queensland Urban Utilities will invest $1 million over nine years to participate in the newly established Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Water Sensitive Cities. The centre will undertake a national research program which aims to revolutionise urban water management in Australia by influencing and guiding more than $100 billion in water investments and $550 billion in private sector urban investment over the next 15 years.

The centre will deliver socio-technical urban water-management solutions, including education and training programs and industry engagement to ensure Australian towns and cities are water sensitive. Water-sensitive cities are defined as resilient, liveable, productive and sustainable. They efficiently use the diversity of water resources available within towns and cities; enhance and protect the health of urban waterways and wetlands; and mitigate against flood risk and damage.

Queensland Urban Utilities CEO Ian Maynard said the organisation was proud to be one of the nine essential participants in such a critical research project.

“Queensland Urban Utilities will invest $120,000 per annum for the nine-year life of the CRC, which will provide capacity and resourcing support,” Maynard said.

“We see our involvement with the CRC as critical to progressing total water-cycle planning and alternate water solutions within our service area.”

The CRC for Water Sensitive Cities was announced by the federal government last November and was granted around $30 million in federal start-up funding. Along with cash and in-kind funding from 74 participating organisations, including Queensland Urban Utilities, the centre has a total budget of more than $100 million over nine years.

In collaboration with its research, industry and government partners, the CRC will commence its research and industry partnership activities in July 2012. It is based at Melbourne’s Monash University with research nodes in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Singapore.