March 4, 2026
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2026 is the year of the Fire Horse – a year for bold action. That sets the tone for an ambitious year at Water Sensitive Cities Australia.
It marks a transition in our activities, both in Australia and internationally.
Mainstreaming water sensitive cities: Phase 1 delivered
We wrapped up the Mainstreaming Program in 2025, which aimed to change the way cities are designed, built and managed by valuing water’s contribution to economic development, quality of life and the ecosystems of which they are part. We delivered projects, capacity building activities and related initiatives to support wider integration of water sensitive cities principles in urban environments in metropolitan and regional contexts.
We finalised 3 of those projects in late 2025 / early 2026:
- Identifying opportunities to embed water sensitive urban design innovations in infill developments and ensure they are retained through the approval process
- Exploring how Melbourne’s water sector plans and funds resilience investments
- Valuing the contribution green–blue infrastructure makes to the Perth–Peel region.
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Resilient Urban Centres and Surrounds: Phase 1 delivered
We’re also wrapping up Phase 1 of the Resilient Urban Centres and Surrounds (RUCaS) Program, our flagship international program aimed at promoting urban climate resilience in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam. Over the past 4 years, we’ve made significant headway on demonstrating the value of nature-based solutions (NbS), building capacity and fostering a network of NbS champions. You can read about recent activities:
- a workshop to build local capacity for environmental monitoring in Lao PDR
- a workshop on integrated water resource management and NbS to create a network of practitioners in Thailand
- a workshop on Wetland City typologies in Cambodia
- master planning and stakeholder consultation on introducing NbS at Can Tho University and the city more broadly in Vietnam
- a stormwater planter box that demonstrates NbS in practice as part of Bangkok Design Week 2026.
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LEARN MORE ABOUT RUCAS
And we’ll provide more information about Phase 2 in later editions of Watersense.
In this edition, you can also read about other work we are doing in the region, particularly projects that aim to improve outcomes for vulnerable groups including people with disabilities.
Climate change, water security and disability inclusion
