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
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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 Presentation
Transcript of Bob Tilbury - Senior Associate, Water & Environment Sinclair Knight Merz
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• Increased water & energy
costs• Declining catchment yields• Unreliable water quality• Changes in community
values
“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”
A ‘business as usual’ approach to managing
water is not only inadequate, but bordering
on the irresponsible!
Sustainability uptake
• Varies among organisations• Increasingly,
Sustainability Strategy = Business Strategy
Strategy & Principles Practical Experience Insights
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
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
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’.”
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
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?
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
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
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
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
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
Thank you
