Presentations made by Michael, Peter and Mellissa are now available:
- Water resources, stormwater and waterways benefits of water conservation measures for capital cities – Peter Coombes
- Rainwater harvesting, issues and design – Michael Smit
- SA’s online stormwater assessment tool for small-scale development – Mellissa Bradley
Overview
Water Sensitive SA, in association with Rainwater Harvesting Association of Australia, invite you to join a discussion with Professor Peter Coombes who will challenge our thinking about the potential of rainwater and stormwater harvesting to deliver whole of society and system benefits via distributed solutions. We will also explore the myths associated with rainwater harvesting and reuse, and introduce the new Rainwater Harvesting Design Specification. The Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 together with Living Adelaide the 30 Year Plan Review, offers the best opportunity in more than 20 years to enable stormwater to support a Living Adelaide. Practical tools currently being developed to support industry to maximise the benefits of stormwater harvesting at the allotment scale will be showcased.
Topics
- Stormwater, waterway benefits and water resources benefits of water conservation measures for Australian cities – Professor Peter Coombes, Managing Director, Urban Water Cycle Solutions
- Rainwater harvesting, lets clear up the misunderstandings and talk about the Rainwater Harvesting Design Specification – Michael Smit, Executive Director, Rainwater Harvesting Association of Australia
- An on-line stormwater assessment tool for small-scale development – delivering the 30-year plan’s vision of a Living Adelaide – Mellissa Bradley, Program Manager, Water Sensitive SA
Our presenters
Professor Peter Coombes, Managing Director, Urban Water Cycle Solutions
Peter is currently the managing director of Urban Water Cycle Solutions that operates as an independent research, policy and consulting think tank. Peter is currently an editor of the Urban Book of Australian Rainfall and Runoff published by Engineers Australia. He is also a Professor of Hydrology and Water Resources at Swinburne University, and was most recently a Chief Scientist in the Victorian Government. During 2015, Professor Coombes was a contributor to the inquiry into stormwater management convened by the Senate of the Australian Parliament.
Peter has served as a member of the water advisory group to the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council, a member the advisory council on alternative water sources for the Victoria Government’s Our Water Our Future policy, a member of the advisory panel on urban water resources to the National Water Commission, an advisor on alternative water policy to the United Nations and a national research leader of innovative WSUD strategies in the eWater CRC.
His research interests include integrated water cycle management, water sensitive urban design, hydrology and flooding, water resources, economics, analysis of complex systems, and molecular sciences including water quality. He has generated over 150 scientific publications and designed more than 120 sustainable projects including settlements that generate all of their water resources and manage flooding. Professor Coombes was also a co-author of Australian Runoff Quality and a former chair of the Stormwater Industry Association.
Michael Smit, Executive Director, Rainwater Harvesting Association of Australia
Michael is the executive director of the Rainwater Harvesting Association of Australia and has a science background. Michael believes cities are integrated environmental, social and economic systems and all our actions should improve how urban systems perform.
Michael has an honors degree in urban planning and qualifications in economics, urban design, urban horticulture and philosophy.
Mellissa Bradley, Program Manager, Water Sensitive SA
Mellissa is a civil engineer with more than 20 years experience working within the fields of civil design, development assessment, policy development, environmental management and construction management. She has worked in development assessment in inner Sydney in the mid to late ’90s at a time when inner western Sydney was facing a massive transformation of low density to high rise housing. In recent years, Mellissa has worked with Local Government and the SA Murray-Darling Basin NRM Board to develop and implement integrated water management plans within peri-urban growth areas of the eastern Mount Lofty Ranges.
Her experience in engineering and planning, together with a history of developing and implementing capacity building programs for local government in catchment and urban water management, has brought Mellissa to her current role as Program Manager with Water Sensitive SA.