Better Urban Drainage for Liveable Cities - Creating blue green infrastructure through science translation, collaboration and multi-stakeholder governance

Abstract

The paper describes drainage management as a wicked problem, where one agency's solutions to their objectives created problems for another; with competing storm water design objectives and a splintered approach to the spending of government monies for flood prevention, water quality, and the liveability of the City. At the strategic level, the issue was addressed through integrated water policy. The paper identifies how science and policy translation were used to achieve a radically different and sustainable strategic direction for the City. The City has taken advantage of an opportunity to re-envision assets from grey to blue-green in the regeneration of the drainage system; achieved through multi-stakeholder engagement, collaboration, and policy development as part of its transition towards a water sensitive city.