Water efficiency plans
Project details
| Objective: | To design and develop principles to assist large and small enterprises develop and evaluate water-efficiency plans in Victoria. This will provide a framework for businesses across Australia to ensure water-efficiency plans are effective. |
| Funding: | Up to $283,850 plus applicable GST from the Australian Government towards cost associated with supporting the work program. Total value of the project is $668,500 with $384,650 being contributed by Gunningham and Associates Pty Ltd. |
| Jurisdiction: | VIC |
| Commenced: | September 2007 |
| Completed: | September 2009 |
Progress
About the project
Water-efficiency plans are increasingly required across Australia to encourage large and small businesses become better managers of their water consumption. The project aims to design and develop principles to assist large and small enterprises develop and evaluate water efficiency plans. This will provide a framework for businesses across Australia to ensure water efficiency plans are effective.
A major issue confronting the Victorian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), the agency responsible for overseeing the water efficiency plans, is determining precisely how these plans will be implemented 'on-the-ground'. This project will ensure the development of strategies and design principles that facilitate effective water savings plans which are cost effective and conserve water supplies. The work will be a partnership between the Victorian EPA, Gunningham and Associates and the Plastics and Chemicals Industry Association.
The Project will involve the following activities:
- an analysis of the regulatory and policy challenges and the development of provisional design principles for the structuring and implementation of Water Efficiency Plans
- the testing of the provisional design during the process of implementation within Victoria, relying substantially on stakeholder interviews - enabling identification of strengths and weaknesses and opportunities for improvement
- in the spirit of 'action research', refinements will be made during the implementation process to maximise the effectiveness of water efficiency plans, and
- disseminating the outcomes of the project to facilitate their adoption nationally.
Project benefits
The project aims to build collaboration between government and industry in the analysis of regulatory and policy challenges and to develop principles to assist the largest companies to develop and implement Water Efficiency Plans, which are now required under the Environment Protection Act in Victoria.
Across the country, jurisdictions treat water use efficiency plans differently. In some jurisdictions, the plans are required. In others, the plans are voluntary. Some jurisdictions provide incentives while others provide guidelines. This project will define the best method and the best implementation practices.