Water scarcity is one of Australia’s biggest challenges. For almost a decade, many parts of eastern Australia have been battling one of the most severe droughts in the country’s recorded history, known as the Millennium Drought. For the Gold Coast City, the water crisis occurred amid the second largest population increase in the country.

To meet the challenges of climate change and population growth, an innovative approach to sustainable water planning, management and use was urgently required. Gold Coast Water (GCW) a business unit of Gold Coast City Council (GCCC) responsible for water services for the city, initially responded by develop a Drought Security Plan, identifying leading water conservation and demand management measures to reduce potable water consumption. Entering unchartered waters, GCW then developed a series of key strategies in close collaboration with the community and stakeholder representatives. These strategies, underpinned by sustainability, diversity and adaptability, map the water future of the city’s needs for the next 50 years, and include:
• The Pimpama Coomera Waterfuture (PCWF) Master Plan,
• The Gold Coast Waterfuture (GCWF) Strategy, and
• The GCWF draft Recycled Water Strategy (RWS).

The robust consultation process employed throughout developing the Waterfuture strategies has resulted in the rapid implementation of complementary and synergistic water supply, demand management and recycled water strategies. These strategies encompass a complex suite of initiatives and projects which were crucial to maintaining the Gold Coast lifestyle while using water sustainably and securing water resources well into the future.