Stakeholders' perceptions and preferences towards industrial water sensitive development in New Zealand.

Understanding stakeholders' perceptions and preferences is key to promoting Industrial Water Sensitive Design (IWSD). A questionnaire was distributed to stakeholders in a conventional New Zealand industrial area. The results showed that technological feasibility limitation, institutional inertia, and cognitive shortage were the main barriers to IWSD application, though stakeholders supported IWSD and preferred the vegetation-based measures.

Demonstrating the need to simultaneously implement all water sensitive design methods for aquatic ecosystem health.

The practices commonly known as 'Water Sensitive Design', or 'Low Impact Urban Design and Development', provide a comprehensive package of practices, (building blocks), that respect and work with the natural water cycle and enhance biodiversity. Much previous research has focussed on determining the sustainability gains achieved by the implementation of a narrow range of closely related techniques, such as the installation of at-source devices for stormwater retention and treatment. Other research has investigated the gains for the health of an ecosystem from the reduction of impervious surfaces, or from riparian revegetation, or from the clustering together of buildings.

Wetlands in The Netherlands and New Zealand: optimising biodiversity and carbon sequestration during urbanisation.

The halting of biodiversity decline of wetlands necessitates ecosystem protection, restoration and re-creation of all wetland types preferably in all suitable landscapes. As peat wetlands (bogs and fens) are superior as carbon stores, and because of their rarity they have a higher biodiversity value relative to other wetland types, they need to be prioritised for protection and restoration. The hydrological, pH, and nutrient conditions essential to each type of wetland that need to be understood and provided for during development are discussed for The Netherlands' and New Zealand.

Water localisation and reclamation: steps towards low impact urban design and development.

Numerous drivers are providing stimulus for increased water cycle localisation within urban neighbourhoods. This paper uses predominantly Australasian case studies to highlight trends, successes and challenges in the transition to neighbourhood centred water-based services using 'Low Impact' and 'Water Sensitive' design and development techniques. Major steps towards urban sustainability are demonstrated, for example, up to 70% reduction in the demand for potable water (Aurora, Melbourne), removal of contaminated stormwater and sewage effluent discharge to natural waterways vulnerable to nutrient or toxin accumulation, and up to 55% of the area of the greenfield site planted in indigenous species (Regis Park, New Zealand).