Water potential mapping for urban flood/drought resilience: A holistic approach to sustainable spatial planning and design by augmenting use, reuse and storage capacity of storm water in South East Queensland
As a result of climate change, cities around the world need to adapt to extreme weather. Brisbane, Australian subtropical city in South East Queensland (SEQ) has witnessed numerous floods in its history. Most recently the city experienced severe drought for seven years prior to the devastating 2011 flood. Due to these threats, coupled with the rapid population rise 55,000 new comers annually the demand for liveable public space, resilient green infrastructure and sustainable urban development becomes more significant. Recent studies also demonstrate the need for a clear vision to better implement water sensitive urban design (WSUD) features in public spaces and buildings which are currently lacking in many of the city's local neighbourhood plans. This paper presents a water potential mapping methodology that uses Geographic Information System (GIS) as a tool to identify new design opportunities in response to Brisbane's increasing population and associated pressure for new urban development. Specifically, the study aims to foster ideas developed and implemented by the SEQ private sector which supports liveable and resilient small lot infill development. In the light of this objective, the paper introduces a holistic approach to sustainable spatial planning and design, a practical procedure for the Brisbane City Council (BCC) to effectively mitigate the impact of flood and drought on urban development. The paper studies the Norman Creek catchment within the city boundary and presents exemplary urban analyses focusing on storm water, ground water, and open spaces. To frame the WSUD implications throughout the catchment, the paper considers specific water management strategies related to water surface movement (WSM) direct infiltration, filtration and Aquifer Storage and Recharge (ASR) and identifies suitable locations within the study area. Contaminated land parcels, slope, salinity, acid sulphate soil type, street and open space network data, and residential lots for each sub catchment are mapped to inform WSM, and filtration strategies. The remaining areas qualify for direct infiltration as well as local water storage hot spots within the catchment for further design and planning purposes. This paper presents the first part of a larger study carried out at the University of Queensland's School of Architecture. It lays the groundwork to further analyse urban environmental quality of greenblue infrastructure's hot spots identified in this phase. Future research will then combine current findings with socio economic data to substantiate future development zones: this will support the priority plan of the BCC, guiding implementation strategies and new sustainable development within the catchment.