Triple-bottom-line assessment of water sensitive design options in a greenfield residential area

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a study from Brisbane, Australia, where the relative merit of seven stormwater management design options that could be applied in typical, greenfield, medium density residential areas were assessed using a triple-bottom-line assessment framework. This framework involved assessing the financial, ecological and social dimensions of each option in consultation with stakeholders. The assessment process included the use of multicriteria analysis, a multidisciplinary expert panel, a local social survey of residents who lived adjacent to alternative design options, two workshops involving typical citizens of Brisbane, consultation with traditional stakeholder groups, pollutant export modelling, and water reuse modelling. The scope of issues investigated during the process was very broad. In addition, the information obtained from the community survey and public workshops is likely to be indicative of commonly held views of residents in cities similar to Brisbane. The multicriteria analysis stage of the assessment highlighted both large and small constructed wetlands as having the greatest overall net value compared to other options in the Brisbane region. However, the expert panel’s preferred design option at the end of the process was bioretention systems located within the median strip of roads. Reasons for this discrepancy are explored.

Keywords:

• Expert panel
• low impact development
• multicriteria analysis (MCA)
• stormwater management
• triple-bottom-line (TBL) assessment
• water sensitive urban design

Additional information

Notes on contributors

A C Taylor

Until recently, Andre Taylor was a research fellow at Monash University both within the Institute for Sustainable Water Resources and the National Urban Water Governance Program. Andre is now undertaking PhD research on the leadership dimensions of urban water management (i.e. investigating ways to enhance the so-called ‘Champion Phenomenon’ - a phenomenon that is known to greatly accelerate the adoption of more sustainable forms of urban water management). He also works as a consultant to urban water management agencies across Australia and New Zealand.

Andre has worked for 15 years in the fields of environmental management and specifically urban water and waterway management. His has enjoyed the experience of working in five Australian States for consultancies, State governments, local governments and universities. Previous roles have included being Team Leader for water quality management within Brisbane City Council, the largest local government authority in the southern hemisphere.

Whilst working at Monash University, Andre led the development of the life-cycle costing module in version 3 of the Model for Urban Stormwater Improvement Conceptualisation (MUSIC) software, managed a project that investigated the use, value and evaluation of non-structural measures for stormwater quality improvement, and managed a project on triple-bottom-line assessment methodologies for proposed projects that aim to improve urban stormwater quality. All of these applied research projects delivered practical tools for the Australian stormwater management industry (e.g. computer models, technical reports and guidelines).

T D Fletcher

Tim Fletcher is Director of the Institute for Sustainable Water Resources at Monash University and a senior lecturer within the Department of Civil Engineering. He was the Leader of the Urban Stormwater Quality Program within the Cooperative Research Centre for Catchment Hydrology and one of the creators of MUSIC.

Tim’s research focuses on the prediction of stormwater quality (and its uncertainty), treatment performance, aquatic ecosystem responses, and integration within the urban water cycle.

Tim has also held a number of senior roles in the water and waterway management industries, including Water Resources Manager with the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, Senior Environmental Planner with Melbourne Water, and roles with Central Highlands Water.

Tim Fletcher co-chairs the UNESCO International Hydrologic Program project on data for integrated urban water management, and is on the Editorial Board of the Urban Water Journal.