As cities and towns globally are grappling with the challenges of climate change and rapid urbanisation, communities and governments are recognising the importance of water in supporting urban liveability, sustainability and resilience for a city’s long-term prosperity.

In Australia, the concept of the water sensitive city (WSC) is now widely used to represent an aspirational state in which efficient, sustainable and productive water use and management is integrated throughout the urban system. Originally the concept was coined to refer to metropolitan areas but is equally relevant to regional cities. In a WSC, people can enjoy reliable water supplies, resource-efficient sanitation, protection from environmental threats, healthy ecosystems, beautiful landscapes, new business opportunities, and cultural and recreational pursuits that help build community resilience.

A Water Sensitive City incorporates innovative infrastructure, design and governance solutions. For example, water recycling at different scales through wastewater recovery and stormwater harvesting provides a diversity of water sources and improves the health of downstream rivers and creeks by reducing pollution and flow impacts. Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) integrates nature-based infrastructure into the landscape to provide hydraulic and water treatment functions, as well as amenity benefits such as an aesthetic environment and mitigation of urban heat island effects. Integrated and collaborative land use and water planning results in catchment-scale approaches to enhancing flood resilience and connecting areas of green and blue to create ecosystem and recreation corridors throughout the city. Citizens are active in caring for water and the environment as their sense of place and collective identity is nurtured through their connection with water.

The draft Water Sensitive Hornsby Strategy 2020 establishes a framework for Council to transition to a water sensitive city with six key objectives as follows:

• Hornsby’s natural environments are healthy and thriving with biodiversity
• Hornsby and its villages are full of beautiful blue and green spaces that connect people to their surrounding environment and the local community
• Hornsby Shire has engaged, empowered and active communities who value Aboriginal and multi-cultural connections to land and water
• A strong focus on water management supports safe communities and healthy, clean rivers and creeks
• Sustainable resource use is supported by integrated, multi-functional infrastructure
• Integrated and inclusive governance arrangements deliver a holistic approach to water management while meeting the challenges of growth.

To transition to a Water Sensitive City, the short to medium term transition needs can be summarised by the following five overarching strategies:

• Establish an internal Council working group and collaborate with state and federal agencies to oversee and progress the implementation of the water sensitive transition strategy
• Ensure water sensitive city outcomes are embedded in policy and planning
• Develop new knowledge for the range of outcomes needed to deliver Hornsby Shire’s water sensitive city vision, specifically community and Aboriginal engagement solutions
• Leverage partnerships and project opportunities to demonstrate and build the business case for multi-functional, water sensitive solutions
• Strengthen compliance for environmental and waterway health outcomes.

• Water is a precious commodity. Actively conserving water, reducing runoff and not littering all helps to protect stormwater quality. This in turn, protects local creeks, rivers, and estuaries and contributes to clean, healthy waterways and flood and drought resilience.
• Everyday actions to protect and conserve water contribute to the protection from environmental threats, the enhancement of beautiful landscapes and healthy ecosystems, new business opportunities, and conservation of nature based cultural and recreational pursuits.
• Simple actions you can take to help prevent stormwater pollution include:
  • Sweeping gutters and driveways instead of hosing.
  • Washing your vehicle on the grass, not on the road, then pouring any leftover soapy water on the lawn. Or go to a car wash.
  • Raking up grass clippings and placing them in the green waste bin.
  • Cleaning water-based paintbrushes over soil or in a sink connected to the sewerage system.
  • Putting cigarette butts in the bin.
  • Taking plastic bags with you when walking the dog.