Engeny’s project, Casey Green Wedge Western Port Integrated Water Management Strategy, has been listed as a finalist in the 2019 Stormwater Victoria Award for Excellence in Strategic and Master Planning. The City of Casey adopted an evidence-based approach to decide if further subdivision developments should be allowed to occur within Casey’s Western Port Green Wedge area. The Integrated Water Management Strategy provided vital information to support the community backed decision to protect the green wedge from further intensive development.
The desire to reduce allowable minimum lot sizes to accommodate additional land subdivision emerged as a major concern for many Western Port Green Wedge residents. The City of Casey initiated a planning review to determine if further development and subdivision should be allowed or encouraged within the Western Port Green Wedge. In order to inform Council decision a number of specialist studies were commissioned, including an integrated water management strategy for the area. The integrated water management strategy prepared by Engeny examined a number of potential subdivision and development scenarios. The water management strategy quantified the impact of proposed development on each of the following criterion:
- Western Port as a Ramsar listed wetland
- Surface water quality and flow regimes
- Peak flood levels
- Coastal inundation
- Groundwater use
- Potable water use and wastewater disposal
- Acid sulphate soils
With the information provided in this report and the other expert studies Council concluded that widespread increased levels of subdivision cannot be supported. The investigation also allowed Council to explain and justify its decision to the community.
