Cities of the future – just add water
The city of Melbourne.
The future of urban water management in the face of population growth and extreme climatic events will be explored at an upcoming lecture.
The management of urban water influences almost every aspect of the environment and quality of life. The free public lecture, Cities of the Future – Just Add Water, in Melbourne next week will highlight one of Australia’s urgent priorities; the management of existing water services and sustainable planning processes. Following the talk, the audience is encouraged to ask questions.
Uncertainties will be raised about the capacity of the country’s water resources to support a growing population and overcome increasing vulnerability to the effect of climate change experienced through periods of drought and severe flooding.
Professor Tony Wong, Director of the Centre for Water Sensitive Cities, and the nominated CEO of the CRC for Water Sensitive Cities, said the connection between sustainable urban water management and the vitality, prosperity and live-ability of urban environments is only beginning to be recognised.
“The breaking of the severe drought of the last decade with devastating floods in many Australian cities is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of our cities to the influence of a changing climate on water,” Professor Wong said.
“By the middle of this century, about 70 per cent of the world’s population will be living in cities where existing water services and planning processes are ill equipped to handle such growth and the accompanying economic and climatic challenges.”
Professor Tony Wong said cities of the future would be made up of water sensitive precincts with innovative water management.
“Planning that captures the innovation of emerging water technologies and green infrastructure play an important role in sustainability,” Professor Wong said.
Cities of the Future – Just add water will be held from 7-8pm on 27 June at the Monash Science Centre, Building 74, at Monash University’s Clayton campus.