Waterways is part of the ACT Government’s broader strategy of responsible water resource management to ensure the future sustainability of the ACT community. A Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) General Code has been prepared based on the principles of WSUD which aims to integrate the management of the total water cycle into the urban development process.

The guidelines set targets for potable water reduction, wastewater re-use, stormwater quantity and stormwater quality. These guidelines and these targets are outlined and discussed.

The objectives for stormwater quality management will be achieved by the combination of regional works undertaken by the ACT Government and by local works undertaken Government or the private sector as part of new developments and redevelopments. The responsibility for meeting targets for development or redevelopment sites lies with the developer (Government or private) or builder, while responsibility for meeting the regional or catchment-wide targets lies with Government.

To assist in planners and engineers relationships for the sizing of ponds, wetlands and biofilters to achieve both developer targets and separate regional targets have been formulated for catchments that are 40% to 100% urbanised. Sensitivity testing of the size of local and regional measures for the cases 30%, 50% and 70% imperviousness for a 100% urbanised catchment was also undertaken. These sizing relationships are described.

It is concluded that the guidelines and the sizing relationships will assist in the implementation of WSUD in the ACT in accordance with the objectives of the WSUD General Code.