Risk management, recycled water and urban agriculture: examples from the UWS Hawkesbury campus

Roger Attwater, Lyn Anderson, Chris Derry

University of Western Sydney

Peri-Urban 2014

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Perspectives on peri-urban landscapes

Recurrent themes (Bryant 2003)• Interconnected geographically• Multi-functional regional system • Soc., econ., cultural, env. dimensions• Planning / managing change

International and regional studies• Planning perspectives and scenarios• Equity of services, eg water• Role of agri-industries• Roles local actors

Emerging conceptual toolkit• Resilience of peri-urban systems• Ecosystem services• Local actors / communities of practice

Case of UWS Hawkesbury campus• Peri-urban context• Role of risk management strategies

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Risk management at UWS Hawkesbury campus

Recycled water• Reclaimed water and stormwater• Landscape use and agriculture• Public health and ecological risks• Climate change adaptation

Ecological restoration• Priority conservation lands • Ecological integrity, pests, weeds

Bushfire mitigation• Research infrastructure, eg EucFACE• Asset protection, public safety

Farm business development• Cost neutrality: commercial +• teaching and research support • campus and land management

Risk management reflects• Landscape interactions• Multiple uses and values• Institutional drivers

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Discussion and conclusions

Resilience• Water recycling as buffering strategy• Improved choices for productivity• Mosaic of land uses and processes

Ecosystem Services• Design mimic processes• Regulate landscape functions• Transformation wastewater• Biodiversity and soil health

Communities of Practice• Focus for risk communication• Platform for teaching and research• Research and adaptive management• Broader regional partnerships

Hawkesbury campus• Exemplar of peri-urban management• Risk management strategies• Regulation of web of processes