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Working with Councils to manage stormwater
In October 2008, the Burnett Mary Regional Group facilitated the formation of
the Regional Council Stormwater Panel. The Panel is made up of representatives from North Burnett, South Burnett, Sunshine
Coast, Gympie, Fraser Coast and Bundaberg Regional Councils with a membership
that is still growing.
The objectives of the panel were to provide regular updates on changes to policy
relating to stormwater, facilitate the inclusion of stormwater into corporate,
planning and policy reviews and to provide access to training for local government
and their partners (such as consultants) to ensure best management practice of
stormwater in the future.
In March, Peter Curley of the Environmental Protection Agency (now a component
of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources) provided the Panel with
an overview of the proposed State Planning Policy for Healthy Waters which will
protect water Environmental Values by:
1. Avoiding/minimising wastes, contaminated stormwater and altered storm flows
in land use and development planning
2. Appropriately locating, designing, operating development to achieve Water
Quality Objectives.
The policy will also set regionally specific objectives for the minimum reductions
in developed site pollutant loads.
The Panel has also facilitated three training sessions, all of which have been
well attended by representatives of the State Government, council staff members,
engineering consultants, developers, nursery growers and Wetland Care Australia.
BMRG approached the South East Queensland Healthy Waterways Partnership about
their Water Sensitive Urban Design training program that is being delivered through
their Water by Design team.
Alan Hoban, who manages the Water by Design program, generously granted BMRG
permission to roll the training out in the Burnett Mary region using one of their
preferred training providers, Shaun
Leinster of Design Flow.
To date three workshops have been delivered:
Introduction to Water Sensitive Urban Design and Conceptual Design
Fundamentals of Bioretention System Design
Fundamentals of Constructed Stormwater Wetland Design
Further workshops are planned.
“The training has been very well received by both Council and industry – so we
view this as a great way forward in dealing with a very contemporary issue,” said
Sue Sargent who is coordinating Local Government Engagement on behalf of the BMRG.
For more information on the Regional Council Stormwater Panel or training opportunities
in Water Sensitive Urban Design, please contact Sue Sargent on (07) 4181 2999
ext 204 or sue.sargent@bmrg.org.au
For more information on the Water by Design program, visit the Healthy Waterways
Website: http://www.waterbydesign.com.au/
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