Assessing innovative urban water servicing options for a greenfield development site in Brisbane

Abstract This paper presents results from the analysis of options for providing water services to an urban greenfield development located in Brisbane, with the options ranging from current conventional practice through to site scale self-sufficiency. Options were assessed and compared in terms of water and contaminant balance, infrastructure costs, water charges and social acceptance. The analysis has shown that the total water cycle impacts of providing water services to this site could be greatly reduced through the adoption of innovative approaches. The study has also provided a detailed understanding about the cost drivers of the various options, enabling a more cost-competitive alternative to be developed and analysed in the later stage of the study. A number of impediments to change have also been highlighted; some of these are briefly discussed.