The Living Victoria Ministerial Advisory Council (the Council) was appointed by the Victorian Minister of Water to advise Government on water reforms to support a more liveable, sustainable and productive city. The Council recommended the use of the ‘Integrated Water Cycle Management' (IWCM) approach, which integrates water resources including storm and recycled water in its ‘Living Victoria Road Map' report to Government.
To assist with the reform process, the Council commissioned SGS for advice on the major reform area of ‘integration of urban and water planning'. Our report to the Council examined how institutional arrangements and planning systems could be reformed in Victoria to facilitate the development of a more ‘distributed' approach to water cycle infrastructure. The objective was to enhance opportunities for greater use of local water harvesting and recycling in the interests of enhanced metropolitan wide sustainability. We have also undertaken work for the Council on the impact of developer charges on house prices and housing affordability.