China is looking to Australian water management and urban design to help build ‘sponge cities’ – urban centres designed to reduce flooding, improve water quality and reuse stormwater and wastewater.
The Victorian Government has partnered with China’s Jiangsu and Sichuan provinces to share knowledge on water management practices and water sensitive urban design (WSUD) for more liveable cities.
Victorian Minister for Water Lisa Neville travelled to China this past week to visit the Victoria-Jiangsu Innovation Park, which is part of a $8.5 million investment by the Kunshan City Government.
The innovation hub will feature a centre to promote water management businesses, including landscape architects, environmental engineers and water treatment technology companies, many of which are from Victoria.
Neville said the aim is to strengthen China’s resilience to water security issues in the future, but also to promote the expertise of the state’s businesses internationally.
“We’re promoting Victoria’s water management expertise, services and urban design to support jobs and grow the Victorian economy,” she said.
“It’s important to share Victoria’s best-practice policy and innovation with our global neighbours, to enhance quality and sustainability in the Asia-Pacific region.”
The Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities is also working with China to better support them to recycle water, save polluted and dry rivers and waterways, and address climate change challenges, population growth and potable water access.
Related video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnC940uJh84
by Water Source
