Posted in Water Management

$100 Million for stormwater harvesting and reuse projects

The Australian Government is calling for applications for funding to support eligible stormwater harvesting and reuse projects under the National Urban Water and Desalination Plan: stormwater harvesting and reuse grants round. Projects are sought that capture, treat and use stormwater to ease the pressure on drinking water supplies and deliver improved water quality to our urban waterways.

Project funding is capped at 50 per cent of eligible capital costs, with a minimum project size of $2 million (eligible for funding of $1 million). Project work must be completed by 30 June 2016. Applications close Wednesday 7 December 2011. For more information including guidelines and the application form, click here.

Can Tourism Operators Manage Water Sustainably?

The relationship that water has with the tourism sector is complex. While the UNWTO has recognised that water is an essential component of tourism, the problem of overuse has also been highlighted as worldwide fresh water resources become scarcer.

The challenge for sustainable water management exists in many parts of the world and is no longer confined to arid destinations, high volume tourism destinations or developing nations. A significant portion of the water use in the tourism sector is associated with accommodation and hospitality. Responsibility for the way that water is used in accommodation venues is vested in both the accommodation operator, who controls that water at the source and the tourist, who can control their own use.

This means that the type of market that the accommodation venue aims to attract has a significant impact on the type and amount of water use that is required for their operation. In looking at different styles of accommodation, this research identifies the optimal ways of managing water for each style. While the water use reminder card currently available in many venues may encourage some responsible tourists to reduce their water use, more substantial responses from accommodation venues will be required to meet future water reduction use objectives.

 Mrs La Vergne Lehmann, PhD Candidate University of Ballarat

“Taking Care of Business: Sustainable Transformation” The Conference  15th & 16th September  – Radisson Resort, Gold Coast, Australia