Enhancing the liveability of our cities Our commitment

Water is central to the liveability of We are asking our customers the communities and customers we what they value, to ensure we are serve. That’s why we put customers providing them with the products front of mind and contribute to and services they want. We are liveable cities. engaging with stakeholders to achieve multiple benefits on We face many challenges, with projects that improve community population growth, competition, outcomes. We are embracing globalisation and climate change innovation, investing in new at the forefront. The only certainty technologies and encouraging our about the future is that it will staff to continually seek better ways continually change. to deliver our services. To respond to these challenges we We are striving to be a forward are taking steps to ensure that our thinking organisation that influences cities remain great places to live and and effects positive change for work, as they grow and evolve. our customers. This is the start of We must be more than plumbers of Water’s journey towards the city, we must actively plan for enhancing liveability, a journey that our future, to provide value to our will build momentum for working customers and enable liveable, water together to achieve better outcomes sensitive cities. for our cities.

Kevin Young Managing Director

2 : Enhancing the liveability of our cities | 3 4 Sydney Water: Enhancing the liveability of our cities | 5 Enabling water sensitive cities

Sydney Water plays a key role in With so much growth ahead, ensuring that Sydney continues to be protecting our liveability is key one of the most liveable cities in the when planning for Sydney’s world. Over the next 20 years, our future. Population growth, urban city will welcome another 1.3 million densification, water security, people. This will require over half a and climate change all have an million new homes and commercial important role in how we enjoy precincts that support 625,000 jobs. Sydney and contribute to its prosperity in the future. The face of Sydney is also changing. By 2035 more than 15% of our population will be over 65 and about 18% will be under 15. We need to recognise the differences in lifestyle and expectations of different demographics to be able to respond to the needs of the diverse population we serve. 1.3 million more people over 20 years 500,000 new homes 625,000 new jobs 6 Sydney Water: Enhancing the liveability of our cities | 7 8 Sydney Water: Enhancing the liveability of our cities | 9 What is liveability?

Governments and industry leaders We acknowledge that the liveability in and across the world of a city is influenced by: have similar, yet varying, definitions of liveability. To settle on our • access to drinking water definition, we considered local and and sanitation international examples, documents • the availability of clean waterways and case studies. We also looked at • good transport networks how we might influence or interact • business and career opportunities with all of the attributes of liveability through the work we do. • affordable housing and living • appealing surroundings Liveability is all of the things that make a city enjoyable to live in. • strong social and cultural networks • a sense of place and belonging. A liveable city brings people together, enhancing interaction Enabling vibrant neighbourhoods, and promoting productivity in a communities and cities for the sustainable way. It addresses the people of Sydney, the Blue values and preferences of its Mountains and the Illawarra is community for amenity, a key focus in our approach to wellbeing and sense of place, enhancing liveability. while acknowledging that these may vary for different people in different places.

10 Sydney Water: Enhancing the liveability of our cities | 11 Water is central to liveability

Clean drinking water and reliable Productivity is also influenced by the sanitation is vital to life. The physical way our cities’ water is managed. and mental health of a city’s Well planned water, wastewater and residents is also influenced by water, stormwater services support growth. through the recreational spaces Our current and future business it supports, such as creeks and centres are dependent on our ability waterways, parks and playing fields. to deliver water for production processes, cooling and habitation.

12 Sydney Water: Enhancing the liveability of our cities | 13 14 Sydney Water: Enhancing the liveability of our cities | 15 What is our role? We have supported the health We influence liveability at We are taking a strategic and growth of Sydney and its communities for 125 years with the three broad levels across approach, looking at water and wastewater services we our customer base: our contribution: provide. We now recognise the need to expand on these services to meet the needs and expectations of our

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This approach will enable us to i continue our foundation work, n the anticipate and fulfil customer ne ar future expectations and prepare for infrastructure challenges in ty ci the future. le ho as a w 16 Sydney Water: Enhancing the liveability of our cities | 17 Our approach

18 Sydney Water: Enhancing the liveability of our cities | 19

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Ci res a Each of the programs is supported by ty Futu L our liveability themes. The themes are the mindset that drives all of the work we do.

20 Sydney Water: Enhancing the liveability of our cities | 21 Our themes Our programs – our liveability mindset – the work we’re doing

Connect Our People and Places Program We are listening to our customers to is working to understand what our understand their needs. Engaging with our communities value, better connecting customers allows us to contribute to the residents with their city and promoting the liveability of our city, by delivering quality many roles of water in the urban landscape. products and services that they value. Our Land and Waterways Program Collaborate focusses on improving waterway health, We are working with key stakeholders to minimising flood risks, enhancing natural ensure that we achieve broader outcomes and built environments, and aligning our from our work. These partnerships help land management with community values. us overcome jurisdictional boundaries and share resources, to reduce the cost of Our Growth and Servicing Program delivering quality services, and align our ensures we continue to provide clean, safe direction with relevant organisations. drinking water and wastewater services to meet the demands of our cities in the most Innovate effective way for all lifestyles. We are integrating innovative technologies to enable new and better ways to deliver our Our City Futures Program plans resilient, products and services, and help future-proof long-term water supplies, minimising the our cities. This ensures that our approach risks of climate change and reducing the is efficient, cost-effective and in line with energy intensity of our services. best practice.

22 Sydney Water: Enhancing the liveability of our cities | 23 z

24 Sydney Water: Enhancing the liveability of our cities | 25 Through the People and Places Connect: Better understanding our Program, we: customers’ liveability preferences • create shared places for people to enjoy This project is an initiative of our use, providing water saving tips and People and Places Program. sponsoring community events. We • value our neighbourhoods and communities Sydney Water is conducting are interviewing about 1,200 people • promote the importance of water in supporting research to better understand the online. The respondents come from areas all across Sydney, ensuring and enhancing urban living liveability values and preferences of our customers. that they represent the breadth and • celebrate our history. diversity of our customer base. We have a number of initiatives that Research like this has never been have the potential to contribute to done before by an Australian water Our priorities are: the liveability of our cities. These utility, and it will help us develop and include supporting urban greening, prioritise the liveability initiatives that • researching liveability preferences being more efficient with our energy our customers care about most. • developing liveability indicators that align with our customers’ preferences • creating bike paths, urban gardens and other community spaces on our land • operating tours of the historic and boiler house • understanding water’s role in urban cooling.

We are interviewing customers to find out what a liveable city looks like to them.

26 Sydney Water: Enhancing the liveability of our cities | 27 Through the Land and Waterways Collaborate: Program, we: Cup and Saucer Wetland • sustain healthy waterways and beaches This project is an initiative of the riverbanks with sandstone and native Land and Waterways Program. plants and treating stormwater • promote water sensitive and water smart cities Sydney Water has partnered with flowing from Cup and Saucer Creek • work with councils to better manage urban flooding Canterbury City Council and the into the . The wetland Sydney Metropolitan Catchment provides a freshwater habitat for • develop integrated land use strategies with Management Authority to construct local wildlife, improves the aesthetic local communities. a wetland as part of the Cooks of the area and features a seating River Naturalisation Project. We area and outdoor classroom for local are replacing deteriorated concrete residents to enjoy. Our priorities are: • naturalising Cooks River and Powell’s Creek • reducing the impact of sewer chokes on our customers • developing urban waterway models and improvement plans for the Parramatta and Cooks Rivers • undertaking flood management works at Green Square, Astrolabe Park and the Sydney CBD • managing stormwater for Rouse Hill and Botany Wetlands • understanding Sydney Water’s role in water sensitive urban design.

Cup and Saucer wetland one year after completion.

28 Sydney Water: Enhancing the liveability of our cities | 29 Through the Growth and Servicing Collaborate: Smart infrastructure Program, we: for a growing city • deliver clean, safe drinking and This project is an initiative of our quickly and cost-effectively, reducing Growth and Servicing Program. the need for large-scale pumping wastewater services Sydney Water is partnering with stations and treatment plants. • promote affordable living choices developers to find the most economically and environmentally We are also working with councils to • align city and water planning effective servicing option for include water in the early stages of new developments. precinct planning. This will enhance • develop smart servicing options to the liveability of communities support rapid urban growth. We are evaluating where through water features, irrigation decentralised systems could deliver and drought proofing parks, better value in the community. For gardens and sports facilities, and Our priorities are: certain locations, decentralised reducing the heat-island effect of systems can be delivered more urban development. • continuing to provide high quality water and wastewater services • collaborating with Urban Growth NSW, Department of Planning and Infrastructure and major developers to align city and water planning, and deliver smart servicing options • optimising asset performance to improve operational efficiency • enabling growth through streamlining our developer processes • developing tools to support innovative servicing options in greenfield areas.

A customer establishing a garden in a new release area.

30 Sydney Water: Enhancing the liveability of our cities | 31 Through the City Futures Innovation: Program, we: Resource recovery at Bondi • build resilience to climate change This project is an initiative of our We are also investigating how we City Futures Program. Sydney Water could use other waste streams, such • drive efficient use and recovery of resources has invested in new technologies as glycerol, to increase the amount of • find innovative ways to provide future services to reduce our energy use and energy generated at our wastewater generate renewable energy. We have treatment plants. This innovation will • respond to customer expectations and installed cogeneration plants that reduce operating costs and carbon market forces. produce energy using gases from emissions, allowing us to keep our wastewater treatment plants and customer bills low and reduce our harness this energy to help power carbon footprint. Our priorities are: the plants. • increasing energy recovery at our wastewater treatment plants • predicting future water demand to ensure the future of Sydney’s water • increasing our solar, wind and hydro energy production • improving quality, consistency and beneficial re-use options of biosolids generated by our wastewater treatment plants • adapting our assets so they are climate change ready.

Staff performing maintenance at a wastewater treatment plant.

32 Sydney Water: Enhancing the liveability of our cities | 33 Let’s keep talking

We all want a bright and vibrant future for Sydney. Enhancing liveability is much more than setting targets and tracking performance. It’s also the relationships we form and the problems we solve along the way together. This is our starting point. We will keep engaging, listening and learning, so we can build on our foundation work and drive innovation in the community. Together we can actively enhance the liveability of our cities.

34 Sydney Water: Enhancing the liveability of our cities | 35 For more information visit sydneywater.com.au

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