Financially Sustainable Options for Stormwater Management Funding in NSW

We are excited to announce that registration is now available for the upcoming Sustainable Funding Options half-day Workshop on Wednesday, 20 September at Campsie Customer Service Centre l Canterbury Bankstown Council, Campsie. This workshop will be presented by Craig Bush, Dr Andrew Thomas, Craig Naughton, Neil Keraunos & Alexa McAuley.

What you gain from this Workshop:

To ensure stormwater management projects, programs and assets achieve their desired goals a sustainable source of funding is required throughout the whole lifecycle. Current funding models, especially the Stormwater service charge, are not a sustainable option due to significant increases in costs relating to waste disposal, wages, and inflation (construction costs in particular) and no mechanism for review. However, due to the effects of urban expansion and climate change impacts, the need for well-designed and properly maintained stormwater management systems is only becoming more critical.

This forum will provide information as to how Councils are resourcing stormwater management in different ways and to discuss the benefits and or limitations of each option. Come to hear from representatives from Ku-ring-ai, Canterbury Bankstown, Blacktown, and Hornsby, and industry experts in this field. After the presentation, there will be an open forum for discussion regarding the options and opportunities to ask questions to the presenters and others.

Registration:

• Member – $125
• Non-Member – $225

Payment online at the time of registration by credit card only.

Details:

• Wednesday, 20 September 2023
• 9:30 am to 1:00 pm
• Campsie Customer Service Centre, Canterbury-Bankstown Council
• Registration includes morning tea catering

Please note that it is a requirement that all participants bring their own laptop to the workshop.

Spaces are limited, so be sure to secure your attendance early! Please click here to register.

Meet your Presenters

Andrew Thomas – Cooks River Alliance/Stormwater NSW

Over the past 30 years, Andrew has gained experience in industries as diverse as heavy industry, environmental management, and asset management across the government, consulting, research, and not-for-profit sectors. Andrew is currently the Executive Officer for the Cooks River Alliance and Acting President of Stormwater NSW (peak body representing the urban water management industry in NSW, Australia).  

 Craig Bush – Blacktown City Council/Sydney Water 

Craig has over 13 years’ experience in working with Blacktown City Council, the largest council by population in NSW, as the catchment projects officer and since 2021 as the Waterways Coordinator. He has a key focus on WSUD and integrated water management to ensure the best outcome for the environment and community.

Craig will start a new role in September 2023 as a Senior Stormwater Planner for Sydney Water.

Craig Naughton – Ku-rin-gai Council

Craig is a passionate environmentalist who wants to see all the great aspirational ideas that occur in the industry become sustainable long-term programs. By solving problems and working with people, Craig makes environmental solutions practical and achievable.

Craig is currently the Water and Catchment Program Leader at Ku-ring-gai Council.

Alexa McAuley – Civille

Alexa has more than 20 years’ experience in green and blue infrastructure policy, planning and design. Alexa has substantial experience consulting to local government and has helped many local government clients shift water-sensitive urban design from a niche practice to a mainstream activity. In 2021 Alexa reviewed the state of stormwater management in 20 councils across the Greater Sydney Harbour catchment, including a review of financial arrangements.

Neil Keraunos

Neil has been involved in catchment remediation for over twenty years in his role at Hornsby Shire Council. He has been responsible and has contributed to hundreds of projects in relation to treating stormwater pollution and has actively supported the principles of Water Sensitive Urban Design of remediating water pollution in urbanized catchments in regards to the catchment remediation rate program. Neil was awarded a Master of Science (Research) (UTS) in 2008 in water cycle management.