bob tilbury - senior associate, water & environment sinclair knight merz
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Practical insights and lessons learnt from working with sustainability across major water infrastructure projects. Bob Tilbury - Senior Associate, Water & Environment Sinclair Knight Merz. Changing Context for Water Managers. Climate Change Water shortage crises - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Practical insights and lessons learnt from working with sustainability across major water
infrastructure projects
Bob Tilbury - Senior Associate, Water & Environment
Sinclair Knight Merz
![Page 2: Bob Tilbury - Senior Associate, Water & Environment Sinclair Knight Merz](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022051417/56814930550346895db66fe0/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Changing Context for Water Managers
• Climate Change• Water shortage crises• Increased water & energy
costs• Declining catchment yields• Unreliable water quality• Changes in community
values
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“Cost of water tipped to rise by 100pc”
“Water prices to rise by up to 60 per cent in Victoria”
“Water plant to guzzle energy”
“Utility prices: Water bills likely to rise 3% above inflation”
“Climate change accelerates water hunt in U.S. West”
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A ‘business as usual’ approach to managing
water is not only inadequate, but bordering
on the irresponsible!
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Sustainability uptake
• Varies among organisations• Increasingly,
Sustainability Strategy = Business Strategy
Strategy & Principles Practical Experience Insights
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The Top 10 InsightsInsight Organisation
FocusProject Focus Relevant to Both
Authenticity X
Not Just Technology X
Fit for the Future X
Increase efficiency to improved effectiveness
X
Early adoptionX
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1. Authenticity
• Real effort and leadership needed• Avoid ‘spin’ and ‘green-wash’• Failure reduces staff/community engagement
and the organisation’s brand• e.g. Public Sustainability Reporting
– Evolved from social, economic, environmental model– Themes reflect strategic priorities– Not just past performance: Future strategy &
direction
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The challenge – from principles to implementation in projectsSUSTAINABILITY PRINCIPLES WHEEL
11 1/9 %11 1/9 %
11 1/9 %
11 1/9 %
11 1/9 %
11 1/9 %11 1/9 %
11 1/9 %
11 1/9 %
ProtectHealth &
Wellbeing
ProtectAssets
PreventHarm
RespectOthers
FindEfficiencies
ConserveEnvironmental
Value
EnhanceCommunities
CreateValue
EnhanceEcologicalResilience
EN
VIR
ON
ME
NT
AL
SustainableManagement
of WaterServices
PREVENT SUSTAIN ENHANCE
Sustainable management of water services to make WA a great place to live and invest
In three years – “Sustainability underpins our culture – how we do business, from the way we provide water services to the way we purchase supplies.
…….fully integrate sustainability thinking into the ‘way we do things’.”
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2. Not just technology
• Not only What we do, but How we do it• An integrated, holistic way of thinking • Needs a catalyst – someone to drive it• e.g. Role of Sustainability Practitioner
– Avert the Project “tunnel vision” & isolated solutions
– WA wastewater upgrade program– Energy use/efficiency, design options, potable
water use, community engagement
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3. Design fit for the future
Sustainability Goals for 2022: fit for purpose assets that: Reduce the environmental footprint (use fewer natural resources) Have maximum beneficial outcomes for the community Operate to maximum effectiveness Are relevant to current and future demands & trends Zero potable water use 100% re-use of treated wastewater 100% biological control for odour Carbon neutral plant - GHG emissions reduced or offset Capacity and operational stability (10% extra capacity in all processes) Plant seen by the community as an asset to the local area
• What will the operating environment be like in 20 years?
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5. Early adoption
• ‘The solution is out there, not in here.’– think outside the box, or the Project– Understand connections, relationships – beyond
the site– e.g. Sustainability Framework: criteria to guide
decision-making• Reduced land take for infrastructure
– which would have constrained future options
• Calculate true energy consumption and GHG emissions– doubled operating costs
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The Top 10 InsightsInsight Organisation
FocusProject Focus Relevant to Both
Helpful Tools X
True stakeholder engagement
X
Divergent thinking
X
Enduring value for money
X
Beyond a green agenda
X
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7. True stakeholder engagement
• Social and community elements of sustainability– A recurring theme– Often dominate technical issues
• Getting beyond the “Design and defend” mindset• e.g. Dam upgrade project
– Community Reference Group achieved full consensus on preferred option
– Upgrade completed without complaint• e.g. HV power line route selection
– Community (technical) input improved selection process– Project completed 2 years early
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Industry Reflections
“People need a practical definition of sustainability to work with. You can’t just leave it to people’s sense of altruism – you need to make it about self interest for many to act. We have found that we will need to put it into KPIs or similar to really get a change in behaviour.”
Bob Humphries, Water Corporation, Western Australia
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Conclusions
• A sustainability approach has much to offer water managers
• Design that promotes long term value• Understand the gap in translation of sustainability• The challenge to operationalise • Business as usual is no longer an option
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Thank you