Training
Forums
Site Visits
Industry Analysis
Advice
Website
Training
We provide short, practical and up-to-date training and tours on key subjects such as integrated urban water management, stormwater harvesting and reuse, and construction of raingardens and biofilters. We also run networking events that facilitate peer to peer learning and discussion. We aim to assist those council planners, builders and designers, contractors and landscapers, and industrial engineers to become water smart and create sustainable cities, industries and communities.
In addition to our core training sessions, we also develop and provide training on special topics when there is a need identified by other organisations. Clearwater is always looking to establish partnerships and networks across Victoria that will continue to build knowledge and capacity to keep local government and industry professionals at the forefront of best practice urban water management.
Our trainers are experienced practitioners who are regarded as some of the best in the field with strong presentation skills. Our modules have been designed by reference groups of industry experts from influential industry associations and government departments who know the needs of industry sectors, their specific policies, regulations, relevant case studies and the issues they face.
The sessions provide overarching principles, technical information and case studies, in short 1/2 to 2 day sessions including:
MUSIC, STORM and audit tools for design
Selecting and sizing raingardens and stormwater systems (STORM)
Raingardens essentials
Stormwater harvest and reuse
Integrated urban water management
Kingston WSUD tours
For more details on these courses, see the Clearwater brochure
Hot Topics Forums
Through various partnerships, the following forums were held:
- Hot Topics 1. Launch, 2. Cl56.07 implementation and 3. Maintenance of stormwater systems with Melbourne Water
- Raingarden Design with Monash University and EDAW: Facility for the Advancement of Water Biofiltration (FAWB)
- Gross Pollutant Traps - types, effectiveness and maintenance
The excellent Hot Topic series of presentations and debates (4 per year) is an initiative coordinated by Melbourne Water in partnership with local councils and Clearwater. In 2008, sessions on advancements and challenges might include:
- Site Sediment control
- Winning ways with internal and external communications
- Bus tour of water sensitive urban design sites around Melbourne
- Gaining support for water sensitive urban design
- Asset maintenance
Site Visits
Site visits are an extremely effective way of sharing case study scenarios, new ideas and experiences
around barriers and successes. They allow people to see real working examples of technologies
and consider how the systems fit into the urban environment, meet the community's needs and
their aesthetic value. Another benefit of this method of training is that it provides an
opportunity for the incumbent of the site to showcase what they have done.
In terms of group dynamics, we have found that the informal nature of a site tour quickly
allows for group discussion in addition to the networking benefits.
In partnership with City of Kingston, Clearwater conducts half day site tours to WSUD sites developed over the past ten years to discuss successes and lessons learnt from each of the projects.
Industry Analysis
Clearwater is in a strong position, due to our high levels of interaction with diverse external
agencies and stakeholders, in that we receive a lot of industry information.
We have also been conducting formal evaluation throughout the year via our training
feedback surveys and in November 2007 we conducted an online customer survey.
These surveys and industry analysis are a vital feedback loop into the design and
running of our programs, our resourcing and negotiations with partners.
Our Customer Survey ascertained the impact and real levels of change due to contact with Clearwater - whether via training or forums, advisory or website services, their motivations and needs that may be relevant to the forming of policy, programs and promotions.
We see a key opportunity to conduct a broad industry survey of key professional sectors and are looking for partners to participate in carrying this out. Please call Clearwater's Manager on 03 9235 2506 to discuss this.
Clearwater intends to do these surveys on an annual basis to collect data on trends and areas for attention. We anticipate that the results will be of interest to others and are willing to share the information to others may benefit and similarly direct their programs to priority areas.
Advice
Nearly two thirds (64%) of respondents to a survey on Clearwater's programs (November 2007)
indicated that Senior Stormwater Policy Advisor (SSPA) assistance has been very useful
in accelerating their uptake and implementation of Clause 56.07 with a majority stating
that they would be comfortable in implementing Clause 56.07 within one year.
Significantly, 12% said that implementation would not happen without the
SSPA assistance being available.
Please call 03 9235 2108 to speak to Andrew Marshall, our Senior Stormwater Policy Advisor.
Website
To support you we openly share information about best practice, case studies, research and industry events.
This website and its content are free and open to all. As such, whilst here feel free to:
- Access the latest research via our Online Resource Library
- Share your research by uploading it to the Library
- View the current Clearwater and industry training events through Training/Events
- Pay for your Clearwater training events online
- Add your training events to the listings