WSUD Education and Improvement Workshops: Wollondilly shire council

Case study: Sharing WSUD learnings through facilitation

Wave Consulting facilitated two workshops for Wollondilly Shire Council to help with capacity building and set up future mechanisms to discuss the implementation of water sensitive urban design in Wollondilly, as part of its vision to become a water sensitive city.

Workshop facilitation
Dharawal and Gundungurra lands, Wollondilly

Key facts

40 attendees in 2 workshops over 2 days

'Space to fit' is the main issue in delivering WSUD assets

The problem

Wollondilly Shire Council approved an Integrated Water Management Strategy and Policy, along with Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) guidelines, in 2020. However, the adoption process of WSUD, particularly in the context of new guidelines that reflect the unique water issues and values of Wollondilly and the Nepean River, is always challenging.

The Council required Wave to help facilitate internal and external workshops to review the issues around the implementation of these guidelines.

The solution

Water NSW funded Wollondilly Shire Council to conduct two workshops facilitated by Wave Consulting. One workshop was with Council staff engaged in any area of the implementation of the WSUD guidelines. The other workshop was with key developers within the Wollondilly Shire area.

The primary goal of the Council workshop was to kick off a ‘Water Sensitive Wollondilly’ Working Group with representatives from Environmental Services, Open Space, Engineering, and Assets teams.

The results and impact

Overall, the workshops were seen as a great success and an important start to sharing learnings and good WSUD examples. As a result, Wollondilly Shire Council committed to an ongoing process to engage and increase awareness of the WSUD guidelines. The Council was also active in sharing the workshop event on social media channels as a means to raise awareness.

Key recurring themes and messages came out of the WSUD workshops

An overarching theme that emerged from the workshops was the need for Council resources to assist with development applications, engage with developers and the public, and to audit/monitor projects related to WSUD.

Developers shared their desire to see a reduction in the uncertainty in the approval process, including improvements in approval timelines, as well as more flexibility in the process. They also seek more detail on the design and engineering methods, that could be addressed with the development of WSUD Standard Drawings. Site-specific issues (e.g. topography) and how to implement WSUD while meeting competing interests were of top concern for developers.

Council discussed ways to reduce maintenance issues and increasing planting densities and proper plant selection as ways to reduce maintenance issues in the establishment period. This was also raised in the context of assisting in the long term as they are handed over to Council.

All participants shared an interest in more public engagement and education around WSUD and spoke of this as a key opportunity for developers and Council to partner together.

Participants expressed interest in meeting again in six months to continue to learn together, improve the process, and work towards achieving Wollondilly's vision to be a water sensitive city.