Mainstreaming describes the activities that shift new practices from being novel to becoming embedded as a new-normal practice.
What is our approach?
Our goal is to reach a point where large numbers of cities and towns are planned and built using water sensitive cities practices.
Mainstreaming WSC principles and practices involves:
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- bringing people and organisations together to create a shared vision for their city
- synthesising research into context specific solutions and scaling their application
- advocating for improved policy and practice
- building the enabling environment needed for implementation of these solutions at scale
- supporting better fit for purpose use of all water sources
- facilitating integration of structural, non-structural and nature-based solutions
- ensuring communities are empowered to participate in the urban water management.
Mainstreaming will be successful when:
We go beyond the champions: Individuals and organisations who are indifferent to WSC regularly adopt water sensitive practices, because these practices are accepted as feasible, robust, affordable and sensible.
We go beyond the water sector: The water sector integrates with other sectors to develop and deliver urban water solutions that deliver a range of services (e.g. improve amenity, mitigate urban heat, provide ecosystem services, improve health outcomes, and capture and reuse resources from waste).
How can we help you?
Our mainstreaming activities will focus on 3 elements:
Practices
Activities aim to make practices scalable. For example, a project might pilot a WS practice within a larger infrastructure or development project.
People
We move beyond ‘early adopters’ and ‘champions’. For example, a project might deliver capacity building activities or collaborations with other sectors.
Systems
Sometimes we need to work on the system that surrounds these practices, to overcome barriers to change. We do this by working on the ‘enablers of change’.
We undertake activities in hubs
Our hub-based structure means mainstreaming activities are shaped by the differing context in jurisdiction. Each hub identifies, prioritises and scopes mainstreaming projects.
Currently, we have hubs in Western Australia and Victoria.
We’re looking for partners
We’re excited by the possibilities Water Sensitive Cities Australia presents, and we welcome partners.
If you’re interesting in partnering with us, please complete a declaration form.
If you have any questions, talk to our Mainstreaming Leader Chris Manning (chris@wscaustralia.org.au).
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