ACHIEVEMENTS AND FUTURE NEEDS IN
WATER RESILIENCE FOR THE GREATER
BRISBANE REGION
THIS SYNOPSIS OF WATER MANAGEMENT, RESILIENCE FEATURES
AND FUTURE NEEDS OF THE GREATER BRISBANE AREA WAS
PREPARED AS A BRIEFING FOR THE RESILIENT CITIES LEADERS
FORUM AT THE AMSTERDAM INTERNATIONAL WATER WEEK IN
NOVEMBER 2015
DR PIET FILET AND FLOOD COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE MEMBERS
What has been achieved in creating water resilience in greater
Brisbane?
The greater Brisbane area is predominantly urban landscape in the lower part of the catchment and
semi-rural in the mid and upper part of this 13,670km2 catchment. The population in the Brisbane
River catchment is 1.5 million with a Gross Regional Product for the Brisbane economy of
$114billioni.
Four Local Government authorities, namely Brisbane and Ipswich City Councils and Lockyer Valley
and Somerset Regional Councils, administer land use planning in the “greater Brisbane” area. The
delivery of household water services in this area is provided by Queensland Urban Utilities
established in 2010. That agency works in conjunction with SEQ Water which manage the bulk
water collection and water storages in the catchment including the two large dams Wivenhoe (est
1984) and Somerset (est 1953).
The substantial economic value and large population residing and working in South East Queensland
(SEQ) means that the Queensland Government (through agencies such as DEWS, QRA, DNRM, DILGP
and DEHP) also take a significant interest in the planning and implementation of water resilience
initiatives.
As depicted in the figure below, the greater Brisbane area lies entirely within the catchment of the
Brisbane River network. Adjacent local communities are also interconnected with the SEQ regional
water management arrangements: to the north that includes the local government areas of
Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast and Noosa Councils and to the south Logan City, Redlands, Scenic Rim
Regional and Gold Coast City Councils. Together, this SEQ region has a population of 3.0 million.
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1.
Long history of joint regional planning and management
Since the 1990’s when growth and infrastructure (roads, water and energy) demands began their
rapid growth, there has been a need for regional planning alliances in South East Queensland (SEQ).
At times, a governance arrangement between Queensland Government Ministers and the Mayors of
the Local Governments in SEQ resulted in significant progress in collaborative planning and
investment. Exemplar initiatives included:
o
o
o
o
2.
the SEQ Regional Plan 2009-31ii that integrated a range of economic, social and
environmental outcomes for the region;
the ongoing Healthy Waterways campaign that committed collective catchment wide
actions by local authorities and land managers to improve water quality values across the
region. This effort was led by Local Governments, industries and residents supported by the
Queensland Government. The campaign was informed by priority science and social
investigations. Strategic opportunities and research investments were identified through a
multi-disciplinary expert panel.
regional water strategies including versions in 2010iii and 2015iv
approaches by Brisbane City Council on a water sustainability strategyv and a FloodSmart
future strategy 2012-2013vi
Water supply infrastructure and the grid
Long-term water management needs have long been a focus for SEQ. The extended regional
drought period in 2004-07 resulted in an interconnected water grid being established to create a 535
km network of potable bulk water pipelines that connect areas that have an oversupply of water to
those areas lacking water. The project went online in October 2008 and by November 2008 parts of
the region were receiving a diversified supply of water for the first time.
Noteworthy features in this network’s development include:
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Institutional change to enable role separation and commercialisation. This entailed
water utility businesses separating from the water resource regulators (DEWS) and the
establishment of a combination of grid manager, bulk water supply entity and regional
retail water utilities.
Integrated Asset Management and Operations which resulted in a networking of existing
storages to enable improved supply security and storage efficiency. In addition there
are now manufactured water assets, involving both potable recycled water and
desalination
For the benefit of Brisbane and Ipswich, communities downstream of a dual-purpose
dam, there is potential for its drought-resilience to be directly proportional to its floodresilience
As the network evolves other issues to be considered include:

Currently the biggest weakness in water resource management planning and operations
is “the strategic disconnect” between the flood and drought scenarios. This can be an
“Achilles heel” for long-term planning and there is now an imperative that current
initiatives such as the SEQ Water Security Program 2015-2045 consider this opportunity.
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The increasing climatic variability (event frequency, duration and intensity) being
experienced will need new a series of integrated contingencies to manage these
potential impacts.
As a significant centralised water supply system, the next phase of complimentary
opportunity will be through decentralised initiatives such as rainwater tanks,
stormwater harvesting and local scale wastewater reuse.

3. Demand management and residential/commercial response during and post
2004-07 drought
At the height of the 2004-07 drought, a program called Target 140vii was initiated by the then
Queensland Water Commission (in collaboration with Local Governments, water utilities and peak
industry groups) to promote voluntary residential indoor water saving practices, behaviours and
attitudes. The campaign asked SEQ residents to reduce their average water consumption to140 L per
person per day (L/p/d). QWC overcame residents ‘restrictions fatigue’ and core belief that
businesses were major water users by:
o
o
personalising the problem (this is not someone else’s problem), and
individualising the solution (everyone can play a part).
Target 140 achieved permanent attitudinal and behavioural change, transforming SEQ residents into
world-class water savers. Over the eight month campaign, the average daily water consumption
dropped from 179 litres to 126 L/p/d, saving 20 680 million L.
Subsequent to this period it is evident that:

Water literacy among SEQ residents remains high, but the water efficiency gains made post the
millennial drought have at times been perceived as limited and there is a view that after the
drought it has been business as usual. However from January 2010 to January 2015 the daily
water production has fluctuated within the band 650 – 900 ML/day despite a steadily growing
population, which suggests that a level of water conservation attitude and behaviour is still in
place.

Supply Demand Management to improve delivery efficiency and effectiveness (physical
operations, cost-recovery, tariffs, restrictions and so on) and integrated/cooperative approach
to managing water supply across bulk and retail water utilities has been established. As the SEQ
Water Security Program 2015-2045 (below) demonstrates there is a focus on key elements.
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4.
Regional water quality management (point and diffuse source management)
The impact of a growing greater Brisbane region has had an environmental impact on the regions
waterways. The local creeks, the Brisbane River and the marine waterways of Moreton Bay have all
received significant impacts since settlement; although impacts have not been as acute in recent
times, there is a chronic long-term impact. During the 1990s, the Healthy Waterways campaign
(described in Section 1) used a science-based insight to initiate change and investment (eg sewage
treatment upgrades totalling $700million).
The challenge now is to sustain effective management practices and prioritise new investment,
particularly into diffuse source management. What is now needed is a mix of:
o
o
o
o
o
Catchment management actions – including riparian corridor restoration - to protect and
improve water supply sources;
Nutrient offsets programs to enable stream water quality outcomes;
Bubble licences for a portfolio of sewage treatment plants;
Effects Modelling to determine best value for money solutions to improve waterway health;
Ongoing annual report card assessmentviii to track waterway and catchment health and to
evaluate the effectiveness and commitment in management actions.
5. Joint institutional and professional efforts to integrate water management
practice
In addition to the collaborative regional planning, recent efforts of the last 10 to 15 years show
encouraging signs of securing aspects of a resilient water future. Approaches worth noting include:
1. The Resilient Rivers Initiative is a collaborative effort between the Council of Mayors (SEQ),
Queensland Government, SEQwater, Queensland Urban Utilities, Unitywater, Healthy
Waterways and SEQ Catchments to deliver coordinated catchment management that
protects our region’s water supply security, keeps soil on the land and out of our creeks and
increases the long-term resilience of our waterways. Resilient Rivers recognises that we can
deliver more together than individually.
A Resilient Rivers Taskforce will be established to: (i)Provide community and political
leadership for catchment management across SEQ, (ii) Oversee and approve the Resilient
Rivers Regional Strategy, (iii) Determine and approve program and works priorities for the
Resilient Rivers Initiative, (iv) Provide governance for the Resilient Rivers Initiative until such
time as a statutory body is in place to take over this role and (v) Oversee any expenditure
and funding receipts for the Resilient Rivers Initiative
2. Brisbane River Catchment Flood Studies - the preparation of a floodplain management plan
for future proofing the regional communities against flood and water security issues has
seen significant background studies undertaken over 3 years on the hydrology and
hydraulics of the catchment. Input into this work has included a study into the optimisation
of Wivenhoe Dam. Of note in these studies and the collective work, is a joint investment by
State and Local Government authorities that involves a process of ongoing review and
awareness among key organisational officers. A challenge arising from this work is how to
engage the broader interested community and residents and businesses located on these
floodplains, with the significance and utility of these technical insights.
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3. Building a multi-disciplinary professional capacity in water management through a network
of interested colleagues willing to share, better understand and experience broader and
alternative insights into water management. Post the 2011 Queensland floods many
professionals (particularly in Local and State governments and in the consulting sector)
realised the limits of their awareness in dealing with flood risk management aspects that
crossed into their work responsibilities. As a result, a network of interested colleagues, from
a diverse mix of professions and organisation, have formed a Flood Community of Practice
to regularly share their experiences and showcase new studies and initiativesix.
Collaboration with Dutch water specialists through the Netherland Water Partnership has
added an international aspect to the network.
6.
Community awareness, their values and their commitment
The role and efforts of the people who live and work in the greater Brisbane and SEQ region to
achieve water resilience is critical. Their contribution include:


During the severe drought (2004-07) there was a fundamental change in community and
industry attitudes and behaviour around water. The achievements were remarkable, including a
daily water use that was the lowest of any developed country at that time. AS described, people
reduced their daily water consumption by more than 50% – from pre-drought levels of around
300L to 140L per person per day. Although some of these gains have slipped in recent years, it is
likely that much of this water conservation-conscious behaviour would rapidly return if another
drought happened.
Broad community engagement in water conservation is not being proactively monitored, and
water utilities are assuming that the community has no interest in discussing water conservation
when restrictions are unlikely. However a national survey and evaluation of water literacyx
showed Queensland has the best level compared to all Australian states, measured as the
percentage of respondents who got 80% and above of the water literacy answers correct.
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7. Enabling support
This achievement in water resilience in the greater Brisbane and SEQ region is a result of the
commitments of various local authorities and government agencies and the efforts of residents and
many motivated businesses. In addition, the significant efforts of other organisations, individuals
and complimentary initiatives has provided “a bundle” of enabling support to ensure these
opportunities were attained.
Specific credit for this enabling support can be attributed to:
 Individuals who provided outstanding leadership to galvanise the community and commit a
vision to action, for example:
 Lord Mayor of Brisbane Jim Sorley (1991-2003) was a champion for collective regional
action on water quality improvement to Moreton Bay
 Science advocates such as Professors Paul Greenfield (UQ), Bill Dennison (UQ and
University of Maryland) and Stuart Bunn (Griffith University) ensured decision makers
understood the key facts of the issues and opportunities for investment
 Community leaders such as Jennifer Simpson (water efficiency communicator) and
community catchment leaders such as Wayne Cameron (Bulimba Creek Catchment),
Anne Clarke (Oxley Creek Catchment Association) and Rob Whyte (SOWN) engaged and
supported an empowered local community of creek restoration volunteers.
 Science and research organisations that undertook the background investigations critical for
evidence-based decision making and for fostering many innovations in water and land
management practices, including:
 All the SEQ universities: University of Queensland, Griffith University, Queensland
University of Technology and Sunshine Coast University;
 National science agencies such as the Bureau of Metrology and CSIRO;
 Queensland Government agencies such as DSITI and research investigators in DPI, DNRM
and EHP;
 Various Cooperative Research Centres and allied research initiatives including the CRC
for Water Sensitive Cities, eWater, Coastal Zone Management, Catchment Hydrology,
Urban Water Security Research Alliance and National Climate Change Adaptation
Research Facility.
 Peak industry groups, environmental and community groups whose representation and
voice for their sector ensured impacts and their involvement was not overlooked.
To all these “enablers”, the achievement of water resilience are also a credit to your efforts and
thank you.
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What are the next steps for building enhanced water resilience in
greater Brisbane?
The priority water resilience requisite for greater Brisbane is to establish and initiate
progress along a pathway that will
(i) deliver a "Resilient governance" arrangement for greater Brisbane and
(ii) describe the arrangement of investment/commitments and benefits/outcomes in
terms of "Blue growth" economic measures.
A. For this pathway to be successful in achieving water resilience, the steps will
entail:
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a leadership that sets the vision - that a collaborative governance arrangement can then
pursue
a vision that has a duration that is enduring, independent of the political cycle and is driven
by an engaged community perspective
a political and community behaviour that ensures there is an enduring proactive
commitment to better manage the future impacts of future extreme water events (periods
of droughts and flood events)
a liveability excellence for everyone, where surplus water underpins a vibrant region with
lush sub-tropical avenues, all year round use of outdoor “smart-irrigated” sporting fields and
fountains where people flock to celebrate and relax in the splendour of a water resilient
world city
B. In building water resilience in the greater Brisbane area, questions and options
to be resolved include:
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how can a City achieve an agile set of solutions - where being more drought tolerant and
being more flood tolerant are integrated?
how a City such as Brisbane that is embedded within a unique geographic intact catchment can ensure that all issue of urban (lower catchment) and rural (upper catchment) water
management are interlinked so that there are compatible economic, social and
environmental outcomes ?
compelling simple solutions that can drive a paradigm shift in water resilience
new ways of financing these initiatives - they need seen to be seen to be an upfront
investment that avoids any future heightened damage costs of a major flood event or an
enduring drought
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management for water resilience needs that must shift from "managing for averages" to
managing for a future where severe shocks can come at any time
ways to establish an effective governance arrangement: the greater Brisbane region
stakeholders/decision makers need to embark on a pathway of steps that can both form and
implement a governance partnership that is enduring and can proactively deal with future
water shocks
ensure that current and future community/residents and commercial entities fully
understand and truly value that we do have fresh water, locally produced food in the upper
catchments, safe and healthy water environments and affordable water services - far too
much is taken for granted and too often people are far too complacent to protect their
values
ensure that the community is fully engaged in "designing" the future water management
needs and in doing so that their understanding of this as a fundamental/prime needs is
never compromised by political inaction or shifting priorities
 the City of Brisbane 2022 Vision of a New World City to provide a broader economic
framework/opportunity that can enable steps to a smarter and innovative water
management future
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Key References
i
Brisbane Economic Development Plan 2012-2031
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/sites/default/files/20151012-brisbane_economic_development_plan_20122031-jul_2015.pdf
ii
South East Queensland Regional Plan 2009-31
http://www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/resources/plan/seq/regional-plan-2009/seq-regional-plan-2009.pdf
iii
SEQ Water Strategy 2010 – Queensland Water Commission
https://www.dews.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/32734/seqws.pdf
iv
SEQ Water Security Program 2015-2045 SEQ Water http://yourseqwater.com.au/waterforlife
v
Water Smart Strategy – BCC http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/sites/default/files/20150921watersmart_strategy-2015.pdf
vi
Brisbane’s FloodSmart Future Strategy http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/community/communitysafety/disasters-emergencies/types-disasters/flooding/flood-policy-plans-projects/brisbanes-floodsmartfuture-strategy
vii
Target 140 Case Study Profile - http://www.pria.com.au/documents/item/728
viii
Health Waterways Annual Report Card http://healthywaterways.org/report-card
ix
Flood Community of Practice http://www.watercentre.org/services/communities-of-practice/floodcommunity-of-practice
x
A National Survey of Australian’s Water Literary and Water-related attitudes - CRC Water Sensitive Cities April
2015 http://watersensitivecities.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/WaterLiteracyReport-FORWEB.pdf
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