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Water

Sustainability

Urbanisation

Safeguarding Sunbury's water future

RPS drives community engagement for integrated water management

To support Sunbury’s rapidly growing population, Melbourne Water and Greater Western Water partnered with RPS to develop a forward-thinking Integrated Water Management (IWM) plan through effective community engagement and research.

Addressing Sunbury’s growing water needs

Over the next two decades (as of 2021), Sunbury’s population is projected to more than double, placing significant strain on water supplies, wastewater systems, and natural waterways like Jacksons and Emu Creeks. To ensure sustainable water management and safeguard local environmental values, Melbourne Water and Greater Western Water sought to create a comprehensive Integrated Water Management (IWM) plan.

A critical challenge in this process was understanding the community’s preferences for water management options, such as the use of recycled water and treated stormwater. To navigate this complex issue, RPS was commissioned to provide expert support in engaging the community and gathering actionable insights. Our creative and visualisation team brought this messaging to life via an explainer animation, using a co-design approach that combined existing assets with bespoke material to enhance trade-off concepts within the water environment.

Explore RPS Water for Australians

Sunbury's Water Future - creative concept on storm water — Sunbury's Water Future creative concept

Strategic water management research and engagement by RPS

RPS was engaged to design, deliver, and report on a community engagement and social research program to inform the development of Sunbury’s IWM plan. The team drew on their expertise in water management, communication, and creative services to meet objectives.

Sunbury's Water Future logos — WATCH: Sunbury’s Water Future explainer video

The program was executed in two stages:

Stage One: Desktop research to uncover baseline sentiments and values within the Sunbury area.

Stage Two: Community engagement and research activities to determine the community's preferences and priorities.

Key initiatives

Included:

Conducting an online survey with 430 respondents answering 15 targeted questions
Producing the Sunbury’s Water Future explainer video
Facilitating 4 two-hour online focus groups, involving 26 participants and three RPS team members to gather in-depth qualitative insights.

RPS specialists applied a combination of technical expertise and innovative engagement strategies to navigate the complexities of community consultation and ensure the program’s success.

The animation played a crucial role in helping stakeholders understand key concepts, ensuring that feedback gathered through the adjacent survey was well-informed and valuable.

Enabling an evidence-based water management plan

RPS delivered a comprehensive, data-based report with outcomes and findings that provided Melbourne Water and Greater Western Water with the community insights needed to make informed decisions. The program revealed consistent preferences and priorities across the community, enabling the development of a robust IWM plan tailored to the future needs of Sunbury and its surrounding areas.

By engaging RPS, Melbourne Water and Greater Western Water benefited from:

A clear understanding of community priorities for water management.
A data-driven foundation for sustainable planning over the next 20 years.
Enhanced stakeholder confidence through transparent and inclusive engagement processes.

Sunbury’s water future is now backed by actionable insights, ensuring the region is equipped to meet the challenges of population growth while protecting its vital water resources and ecosystems.