Water Sensitive Bendigo is about working together to become a thriving inland city, where water innovation supports healthy people, green environments and resilient systems.
Water Sensitive Bendigo was developed in response to a research project led by the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities in 2018. The project engaged our community to develop a vision for a water sensitive Bendigo, and identified strategies and actions to achieve it. We've established a cross-agency partnership to make this vision become a reality through proactive and collaborative water management between agencies, industry and community.
Becoming a Water Sensitive City aims to protect and enhance our natural waterways in urban catchments by reducing pollution in stormwater runoff and keeping water in the landscape longer. Recycling water within our properties is ecologically responsible and a cost-effective use of a scarce resource.
Water-Sensitive Urban Design re-defines water management and conservation in a practical way. Designing new housing and other developments to incorporate WSUD ensures that water is used as efficiently as possible. Instead of removing water from a site without treatment, and creating water quality and quantity problems downstream, it looks to store, reuse and treat water at every possible opportunity.
A cross-agency partnership has been created to coordinate and commit to Water Sensitive Bendigo, resulting in a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) . The MoU expresses the working arrangements for Water Sensitive Bendigo, including:
- A governance structure for cross-agency collaboration which includes the formation of a working group and a forum for decision makers;
- a commitment to form a network of community members and professionals;
- a coordination role for the City of Greater Bendigo; and
- a requirement to develop and deliver a three year implementation plan.
The MoU was signed by five Partner Organisations: Coliban Water, City of Greater Bendigo, the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, and the North Central Catchment Management Authority. It is also signed by three supporting organisations: Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities, Department of Health and Human Services and Goulburn-Murray Water. The MoU allows for additional organisations to be added as required.
Vision and Transition Strategy for a Water Sensitive Bendigo
Water Sensitive Urban Design Toolkit
Contact us
Email any queries and comments to [email protected]
Reimagining Bendigo Creek Plan
