Towards Strategic Planning for Ephemeral Living Stream Drainage Upgrades

Abstract

Many Australian suburbs are threaded with open drainage networks. However, a preoccupation with drainage functions means that most of this drainage land delivers few liveability benefits to surrounding communities. As a result, numerous Local and State Governments are engaged in providing Living Stream upgrades to drainage land. Nonetheless, questions remain about where such improvements should be targeted for maximum benefit. In response, this paper documents a Delphi survey of experts and a related geospatial suitability analysis using a wide-ranging set of urban, societal, and environmental criteria to determine which areas of drainage land are most suitable for upgrades in Perth, Western Australia, a city which experiences a Mediterranean climate. The novelty of the paper’s contribution stems from the highly seasonal rainfall and related ephemeral summer hydrology distinguish Perth from many other cities where Water-Sensitive Urban Design is well-established. Moreover, the inclusion and evaluation of both tangible criteria (e.g., areas with a shortage of Public Open Space) and more intangible criteria (e.g., areas with population experiencing psychological distress) in the suitability analysis are comparatively rare. The results indicate that Living Stream-oriented Public Open Space should be deployed in areas with limited Public Open Space reserves, urban forest degradation, increasing urban densification, and Urban Heat Island challenges.