The Western Australian Node of the Monash University-led Cities as Water Supply Catchments Research Program has been launched in Perth as a co-operative initiative between the University of Western Australia and Monash University.

 

“The WA Research Node brings together significant expertise, including researchers from UWA and, scientists from CSIRO and Edith Cowan University, who will work with 19 WA consortium partners to deliver industry relevant science which is suited to WA conditions,” State Water Minister Bill Marmion said.

 

The node at UWA will ensure that outcomes of the $20 million national program are adapted to suit WA conditions.  The locally based research group will address specific urban water management issues confronting WA.

 

The node will involve the appointment of an academic with expertise in urban water management, particularly in the context of Perth's sandy coastal plains.  Research will be guided by the recently released report Towards a water sensitive city - overview of the Stormwater Science Plan for better urban management (Department of Water 2010).

 

The node leader, UWA's Winthrop Professor Carolyn Oldham, said the Monash-led research consortium at the Centre for Water Sensitive Cities had a track record of delivering industry-relevant science.

 

"Our Perth node will focus on ensuring that we build on this success, adapting it to WA conditions.  Among its first activities will be to assess the impact of stormwater management on the health of wetlands on the Swan Coastal Plain and to look at the performance of stormwater management systems under local conditions," Professor Oldham said.