(Image: Graphic showing the comprehensive nature of the LGA survey and subsequent water management scores. Source: Swapan, M & Aktar, 2024)
Australia is reimagining sustainable cities and towns to address growing water scarcity concerns.
In response, the Hub has released the new Water Sensitive and Liveable Communities report.
It looks at the water challenges faced by regional and remote councils.
The survey gathered input from 102 councils. It found that many councils lack tools for:
- managing water
- reducing urban heat
- collecting stormwater.
Over 60% of councils lack integrated water management plans. This highlights a need for better coordination and tools.
Many also depend on outside experts to help with water planning.
The report highlights the need for local solutions to improve water management.
The late Curtin University Associate Professor Mohammad Swapan led the research with assistant Shamima Aktar.
Associate Professor Swapan’s passing is a great loss to the research community.
His passion for sustainable planning and water management leaves a lasting legacy.
This research supports councils' planning for climate change and managing water in better ways.
Read the full report now:
Report: Regional and Remote LGA National Survey (Dec 2024)
This article originally appeared as part of the February 2025 edition of NESP News.
