Shire makes a splash winning water award 30 October 2019
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A strategy to guide the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale to meet its future water needs has been recognised with an Australian Water Association’s (AWA) Western Australian Water Award.
At the WA Water Awards on Friday, 25 October, the Shire, together with Wallbridge Gilbert Aztec, received the Innovating for Sustainable Water and Environmental Outcomes Award for its Integrated Water Management Strategy.
Key outcomes of the Strategy is to support Serpentine Jarrahdale to be a water-sustainable Shire, and to assist the Shire in securing funding to deliver sustainable water management practices.
The Strategy focuses on four precincts - Oakford-Byford, Oldbury-Mundijong, Hopeland-Serpentine-Keysbrook and Jarrahdale Township – and identifies innovative initiatives that will provide the best social, environmental and economic outcomes for the Shire.
Initiatives include a managed aquifer recharge, sewer mining, decentralised sewerage system development with 100 per cent re-use and integrated flood mitigation.
Shire President Michelle Rich said the Strategy, which was developed as a Shire-wide approach to sustainable water management, was designed to support population growth in a way that maintains liveability standards in line with community expectations.
Cr Rich said the Shire’s predicted population growth would result in increased pressure on water supply and wastewater management infrastructure in the region.
“Our Integrated Water Management Strategy is a proactive approach to sustainable water management well in advance of development occurring,” Cr Rich said.
“This can help improve system efficiency, cost and provide certainty for decisions that rely on water security.
“Having a strategically planned and carefully considered response to predicted water demand and supply availability also has the potential to be a blueprint for other councils in WA.”
Cr Rich thanked Shire staff, consultant Wallbridge Gilbert Aztec and the Serpentine Jarrahdale community who had all worked, and provided input, on the Integrated Water Management Strategy.
The Shire will now work with the Water Corporation and Department of Water to implement the Strategy.
The Shire’s Integrated Water Management Strategy can be viewed here.
Photo: Director General, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation Mike Rowe with Danni Haworth from Wallbridge Gilbert Aztec and Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale Director Infrastructure Service Steven Harding, Shire President Cr Michelle Rich, Coordinator Subdivisions Carl Done and Manager Subdivision and Environment Alan Rajah.