Fishermans Bend Water Sensitive City Strategy

The Fishermans Bend Water Sensitive City Strategy will be the largest water sensitive urban design project in Australia. It builds on sustainability goals for the precinct and will support the development of Fishermans Bend into a thriving place that is a leading example for environmental sustainability, liveability and innovation.

The Water Sensitive City Strategy applies world’s best practice in managing water as a resource and the impacts of climate change in urban environments. It will facilitate development, improve climate resilience, boost biodiversity and urban ecology, and reduce pollution from storm water runoff.

This is significant to Fishermans Bend given its location adjacent to the Yarra River and Port Phillip Bay. Fishermans Bend is planned to be Australia’s largest Green Star Community, setting a benchmark for sustainable and resilient urban transformation.

The Strategy was developed by the Fishermans Bend Taskforce, together with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Melbourne Water, South East Water, City of Melbourne, City of Port Phillip, Water Sensitive Cities Australia, and the Office of the Victorian Government Architect.

Read the Strategy here:

This is the first and largest strategy of its kind to see all the partners come together and it builds on the Fishermans Bend Framework(opens in a new window) sustainability goals.

Providing integrated water management (IWM) solutions that range from the precinct-wide and street-scale as well as initiatives for individual buildings, the Strategy includes:

• a precinct water recycling plant and third pipe network to deliver water security, reducing potable water use.
• integrated water sensitive urban design features at the street scale, including distributed storages in open space, rain-gardens and tree pits.
• green roofs, green walls, and smart rainwater tanks in individual buildings to reduce flooding and support Green Star sustainability measures.
• traditional civil engineering infrastructure of pipes, pumps, and levees to ensure protection from Yarra River overflows and flood management during times of high rainfall.

It is an innovative and cost-effective approach to managing water infrastructure, streets, and open spaces, delivering high quality urban form where water is a key feature in the landscape.

A Water Sensitive City Working Group with representatives from partner organisations, established during the development of the Strategy, will play a key role in implementation of initiatives under the Strategy.

The Strategy aligns with Victoria’s water blueprint – Water for Victoria, Victoria’s Climate Change Strategy and the Government endorsed Fishermans Bend Framework, which both commit to the need for a water sensitive city approach to managing water in urban environments, and contributes to delivering liveable, sustainable and climate resilient cities.