The scale and complexity of challenges that the urban water sector must address are increasingly crossing scientific disciplines, industry sectors and jurisdictional boundaries – Australia’s future investment in urban water research needs to be coordinated, goal oriented, sustained, and supported by industry, State and Commonwealth governments to better inform this reform process. 

A significant portion of Australia’s urban water research investment is managed by industry (Water Services Association of Australia, Water Quality Research Australia), the Commonwealth Government (National Centre of Excellence in Desalination, Australian Water Recycling Centre of Excellence, National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training, National Water Commission) and State Government (Smart Water Fund, Urban Water Security Research Alliance, Goyder Institute for Water Research) entities.

These entities are typically not R&D providers themselves but engage industry and researchers to identify and negotiate research priorities, and then commission and manage R&D project investments to achieve a set of objectives. Collectively, Australia’s utility sector and these urban water research ”brokers” are managing an investment estimated at approximately $250 million cash over the next five years. 

Using these urban water brokers as a starting point, efforts are underway to explore the opportunity to design and implement a more cooperative and efficient national approach to urban water research investment and management.  

Following OzWater 2010, the Australian Water R&D Coalition was initiated. The coalition provides a mechanism for the CEOs and directors of these entities to understand and share information on their respective business models, discuss and agree core areas of interest, and discuss opportunities for alignment of effort and joint funding initiatives. 

The broader urban water community had an opportunity to hear more about the R&D Brokers at OzWater 2011, wherecoalition participants organised a workshop to discuss the concept of urban water brokers and explore the broader communities’ views on a range of initiatives.

Information on the Coalition organisations can be found in the workshop booklet prepared for the AWA OzWater11 conference. The presentations from the AWA Ozwater 11 Workshop session Investing in the Urban Water R&D Landscape in Australia can be accessed through the AWA OzWater 11 website.

If you would like to understand more about the work of the Coalition please contact Australian Water Recycling Centre of Excellence CEO, Mark O'Donohue at mark.o’donohue@australianwaterrecycling.com.au.