Understanding how to properly manage urban stormwater to maximise its benefits for our community is a critical concern to civil and environmental engineers the world over.

The increasing pressures on and challenges for our stormwater systems results in flooding, erosion, and polluted receiving water bodies. Conventional large-scale piped drainage systems are under pressure from climate change and urbanization, leading to increased flooding, with negative consequences for people's properties and lives, particularly for coastal communities.

Integrated sustainable stormwater management offers the opportunity to tackle many of these issues, whilst achieving multiple benefits for our communities. However, its implementation is often limited by challenges including a lack of understanding in the community of the complex infrastructure issues; unclear leadership and responsibilities at all government levels; a lack of funding; a lack of business case based sustainable stormwater management solutions; uniform guidelines; and stakeholder participation.

Can these issues be overcome? How, and by whom?

The Department for Environment & Water (DEW) has produced discussion papers on the topic & seeks to address some of these issues for metropolitan Adelaide.

Join IPWEA SA for a frank and open discussion about how to better manage urban stormwater and potential implications or opportunities for local government.

The program includes:

• Chris Chesterfield, Professor of Practice at Monash Sustainable Development Institute- Is the Melbourne Model fit for purpose in 2021?
• Martin Allen, Principal Policy Officer, Department for Environment and Water (DEW) - DEW’s Urban Water Strategy
• Bruce Naumann, Manager, Salisbury Water: Why is the grass greener in Salisbury? Urban Stormwater – a valued resource in the City of Salisbury
• Rachel Murchland, Principal Civil Engineer, City of Mitcham: Stormwater - risk or resource
• David Trebilcock, General Manager, Stormwater Management Authority: The challenges for Stormwater Management