Good Practices and Innovations in Public Governance 2003-2011

2010 Category 3: Australia
country’s recorded history, known as the Millennium Drought. In the city of Gold
Coast, the water shortage has been compounded by rapid population growth. With a
current population of just over 500,000 residents and approximately 10 million tourists
per year, Gold Coast City expects its population to increase to 1.2 million by 2056.
This growth could increase the city’s water consumption from approximately 185
million litres per day in 2005 to about 466 million litres per day in 2056. Given the
challenges of increased population growth and climatic variability, a new and more
sustainable approach to water planning, management and use was urgently required.
The Solution
GCW responded to these challenges by developing the Waterfuture initiative in close
collaboration with the community and stakeholder representatives. Waterfuture consists
of three key strategies: the Pimpama Coomera Waterfuture Master Plan, the
Gold Coast Waterfuture (GCWF) Strategy, and the GCWF draft Recycled Water
Strategy.
The strategies encompass a complex suite of projects designed to maintain Gold
Coast’s high standard of living, which draws visitors and economic growth to the
city, while using water sustainably and securing water resources well into the future.
Projects range from the installation of rainwater tanks and recycled-water systems to
the construction of a new desalination plant and a new water pipeline. Other projects
involve raising the height of Hinze Dam and introducing measures to reduce customer
demand, minimize system leakage and otherwise conserve water.
All three Waterfuture strategies were developed using an advanced form of community
consultation, which included establishing community-based advisory committees
with representatives from environmental groups, industry, resident groups and
local government. This integrated, robust participatory framework formed the backbone
of the investigative, consultative and decision-making processes and was central
to the development of the strategies.
The advisory-committee process provided an open and transparent forum for exploring
appropriate initiatives to secure the city’s long-term water future. Supported by a
multidisciplinary project team and an independent panel of technical experts, the
advisory committees reviewed various options by using a structured multi-criteria
assessment process. This gave them an unbiased methodology for assessing the technical,
social, environmental and economic aspects of each proposed strategy.
The community’s deep involvement in developing and implementing Waterfuture,
Gold Coast led to a new appreciation for water that has resulted in behavioural
change. The community now understands and respects the importance of water conservation
and the need for a diverse, adaptable and sustainable plan for water secu-
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