About Us
Vision for a water sensitive future
Vision for a water sensitive future
Climate change, growing urban populations and expansion in urbanised areas are all putting pressure on water management in our cities. Water demand is growing while rainfall that supplies our catchments is increasingly unstable. The impervious surfaces in our urban environments are conveying a high volume of polluted stormwater to our waterways, and are increasing the risk of urban flooding. It is clear that we need to work towards a sustainable vision for our cities that addresses the social, environmental and economic issues associated with water.
The vision for a water sensitive future aims to achieve a balance between the natural and built environment. A key element of the journey towards a water sensitive future is collaboration and partnerships across sectors. To support a water sensitive city greater communication is needed between community, business and social leaders and the government.
Clearwater is a leading capacity building program in sustainable water management that plays a critical role in shaping a water sensitive future. We provide technical training, tours, events, advice, tools and online information to build capacity of practitioners who plan, design and manage our urban environments.
Our events and resources are designed to build knowledge and learning networks that will accelerate the uptake of Sustainable Urban Water Management (SUWM) and enable organisational change. We have a strong focus on supporting leadership and peer learning by providing the opportunity for practitioners to showcase technical and organisational achievements.
The program is founded on partnerships and links with local, state and federal government, research institutions and commercial industry. Our recent partnership with the Centre for Water Sensitive Cities brings together specialist technical research, behavioural research and policy development with our strong expertise in capacity building. We are hosted and funded by Melbourne Water with special project funding provided by DSE, MAV and EPA.
Clearwater delivers training, events and advice to support water professionals in building knowledge and skills in the following areas of Sustainable Urban Water Management (SUWM)
- concept
- design and application
- process and planning
- leadership and organisational development
Our educational program offers an extensive range of events and includes
- principle training
- guided technical tours
- knowledge sharing events
- tailored events
Download Clearwater Brochure and find out more about our events and services.
Raffaela Crupi: Manager
Raffaela is responsible for the strategic development and management of the Clearwater program. She works with the team to identify and act on opportunities to develop and deliver innovative capacity building activities that support and promote interdisciplinary uptake of SUWM.
Raffaela has over 12 years experience in drainage and stormwater management, growth infrastructure planning and urban development, project management and Integrated Water Management (IWM). She has actively engaged with a wide range of stakeholders and customers from water retailers and government agencies to community groups and landowners on the implementation of IWM. She holds an honors degree in Evironmental Engineering from RMIT University.
Tania Struzina: Training Coordinator
Tania coordinates the development, marketing, evaluation and continual improvement of Clearwater courses and tours. She works with stakeholders and partner organisations to identify opportunities to collaborate on projects and events. Tania has a background in sustainability education / capacity building with local government and non-government organisations. She holds a Masters in Environment and Planning from RMIT University.
Melissa Cordy: Communications and Events Officer
Melissa has over six years experience in event management and stakeholder engagement. She coordinates the event delivery of Clearwater’s capacity building initiatives and manages the marketing and communications of the website, e-newsletter and other promotional activities. She has been involved in revegetation programs across the Mallee Region and holds a Diploma of Ecotourism.
Anna Jennings: Regional Stormwater Policy Advisor
Anna has a range of experience in public and private sector planning roles in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Her role is to work with the Regional and Rural Shire Councils to build capacity around WSUD, Integrated Water Management and the implementation of Clause 56.07 (best practice stormwater design in residential subdivisions) of the Victorian Planning Provisions. Anna holds a Masters in Planning from the University of Auckland.