Is WSUD sending money down the train? Getting a handle on WSUD lifecycle costs.

Despite WSUD devices being in place for several decades now, reliable information on installation and operational costs remains elusive.

This webinar will help address this issue by reviewing the current state of knowledge of WSUD lifecycle costs, showing the link to best- practice asset management and concluding on how we can improve our data collection, cost estimation and accounting for WSUD.

In this webinar you’ll hear from a number of leading stormwater practitioners involved in lifecycle costing and management of WSUD.

Member Rate: Free Attendance
Non Member Rate: $50.00

Who Should Attend this Webinar?

This webinar is targeted for those across the industry who are involved in all aspects of planning and budgeting for Water Sensitive Urban Design.

Presenter Spotlight

Jeff Roorda
BE (hons), CPEng, MIE Aust, LGE, RPEQ
Director Infrastructure & Project Delivery Services Blue Mountains City Council

For over 40 years, Jeff has been working on developing infrastructure policies, strategies and plans with government organisations in Australia, Asia, New Zealand and USA. He holds an Honours Degree in Civil Engineering, is a Chartered Professional Engineer and was awarded the NSW Local Government Engineers Medal in 1984.

Jeff’s current role includes infrastructure disaster recovery at the City of Blue Mountains, following five back-to-back natural disaster declarations. This work includes collaborating with Governments and communities to develop future policies, strategies and plans to strengthen infrastructure and improve biodiversity and water management for a climate change future and build community and government resilience to cope with future disasters.

Presentation Overviews…

Jeff Roorda
Director Infrastructure & Project Delivery Services, Blue Mountains City Council

Presentation: City of Blue Mountains Managing Water and Biodiversity

Local government areas have been hit by significant external impacts. The 2019–20 Australian bushfire season, or Black Summer, was one of the most intense and catastrophic fire seasons on record in Australia. Then, during the disruption of Covid19, five natural disasters and major storm events in 2021 (March and November) 2022 (February and June) and 2024 (April) all of which significantly impacted waterways.

Landslip damage in the City of Blue Mountains alone, exceeds $78 Million spread across 109 separate sites. This paper presents case studies using an evidence based approach to managing stormwater that involves collaboration by our three levels of government, the university sector and community. Water Sensitive Blue Mountains Strategic Plan sets out actions needed to mimic natural hydrology & treat water as a valued resource.

Chris Manning
Water Sensitive Cities specialist, Water Sensitive Cities

Presentation: Understanding the Lifecycle Costs of Water Sensitive Solutions

Water Sensitive Cities Australia is collaborating with partners to improve understanding and estimation of lifecycle costs, ensuring decentralized systems are considered early and properly resourced for optimal benefits. Chris’ presentation will also provide a project update and outline potential next steps, subject to funding.

Sally Boer
Founding Director, E2Designlab

Presentation: Strategic Asset Management for Improved Financial Planning of Green Infrastructure – MidCoast Council and Sydney Olympic Park Case Studies

Sally’s presentation will share strategic asset management approaches developed for MidCoast Council and Sydney Olympic Park Authority to support improved financial planning and management of WSUD and ecological assets. These projects developed costed and prioritised maintenance and rectification schedules to address present-day issues, as well as long-term asset management plans and budget forecasting that lays the foundation for cost-effective management.

Rob Catchlove
Director, Wave Consulting Australia and Wave Maintenance

Presentation Overview

Modelling and budgeting for WSUD costs and maintenance has been a problem for councils and practitioners for decades. This presentation will walk through empirical evidence of the actual costs to maintenance, and built and rectify, WSUD assets.

This is based on an actual maintenance contractor, Wave Maintenance, and modelling from Wave Consulting Australia, with over 5 years of on ground
experience and real costs for the cost of raingardens, swales and tree pits. It will explain why costs can become CHEAPER over time, with good maintenance, asset managers can extend the life of an asset, and increase the benefits of the assets.

It is critical to understand the variables that influence estimating maintenance costs (the largest cost in the estimation of life cycle costs), and that any discussion on costs and life cycle needs to first be asking ‘compared to the cost of not having this infrastructure in place’.

For more information regarding Stormwater NSW Technical Events, please contact GEMS Event Management Australia on +61 2 9744 5252 or email registration@gemsevents.com.au