Latest News
18.05.2010
Smart Water Fund Round 7 grant recipients announced
The Smart Water Fund today announced $2 million in Round 7 grants for seventeen innovative Victorian water projects.
The grants come as part of the Victorian water industry’s commitment to developing new and innovative ‘next generation’ solutions to water conservation, water recycling and biosolids management.
Announced today at the Melbourne Zoo, itself a Round 7 grant recipient, the funding winners represent a diverse range of businesses, research institutions and community groups.
The Melbourne Zoo received a grant to test a new water treatment process to help manage bacteria levels in the Pygmy Hippopotamus pool.
Using novel ‘Silver Water’ technology the Zoo will be able to better manage the quality of the Hippopotamus pool, saving 3.4 million litres of water per year by reducing the frequency of changing display water and saving energy by reducing the need for UV water treatment and gas consumption required to heat a new body of water.
The trial will allow the Zoo to measure the effectiveness of the technology, with a view to expanding its use across the Zoo’s many displays, and complements the extensive water conservation and educational programs already underway.
The Fund will also support Grocon’s Pixel project at the former Carlton Brewery site. The Pixel building will be Australia’s first carbon neutral building and the lowest water consuming commercial building in Australia by incorporating a range of innovative features including vacuum flush toilets, a green roof and living wetland areas and an anaerobic digestion blackwater treatment plant.
Other projects announced include four research projects, to be managed by Water Quality Research Australia, that will investigate new approaches to recycled water quality verification, water treatment processes, residential greywater reuse and small scale desalination technology.
Smart Water Fund Chief Executive Officer Christine Cussen said that the Round 7 grant recipients should be proud of the leadership and innovation they have demonstrated in their approach to water conservation.
“Each of these projects provide us with new understanding about how we can use our water resources more sustainably and the Smart Water Fund is pleased to support these organisations in their efforts to develop and share innovative new ideas” Ms Cussen said.
Click here for a full list of Round 7 funding recipients.
11.03.2010
Smart Water Fund welcomes new CEO
The Smart Water Fund has welcomed its new Chief Executive Officer to the team as it gears up for a busy 2010.
Christine Cussen joined the Fund in January and brings with her a strong background in business management, research management and technology commercialisation in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, sustainability and healthcare sectors in Australia and internationally.
Having held senior management roles in both multi-national corporations and start-up businesses, Christine possesses a passion for business strategy and seeing research move from the lab to market.
Christine’s senior management and leadership experience include roles as General Manager Innovation and Technology at Orica, Managing Director of Eiffel Technologies Ltd and Chief Executive Officer of ICI Pharmaceuticals Australia and New Zealand.
Christine is very excited with her move into the water sector saying that it is an industry that has undergone major changes in recent times but one that also faces many challenges in the face of climate change.
“The water industry has evolved in response to drought and climate change, and innovation has played a key part in this change,” she said.
“With the Smart Water Fund, the Victorian water industry has a vehicle setup which can continue to lead the industry’s collaborative research needs and help foster innovation in the way we supply, use and think about our water resources.”
“Innovation, sustainability and business excellence are passions of mine, and I look forward to working with the Smart Water Fund to continue to deliver innovative, sustainable water solutions for the benefit of the water industry and the wider community,” Christine said.
2010 also marks a new step in the evolution of the Smart Water Fund with a new governance structure being developed. The Fund will establish new governance arrangements which will consist of a Smart Water Fund Board including the Managing Directors of the Melbourne water businesses and a representative of the Department of Sustainability and Environment.
The Board will oversee the delivery of the Fund’s strategic business plan and offer strategic advice on the research priorities of the water industry and support the integration of research outcomes within their own organisations.
“Round 7 is the beginning of a new phase of investment from the water industry in innovation, with the successful grant recipients to be announced in April,“ Christine said.
With a new CEO on board and a number of key strategic projects underway, 2010 looks set to be a big year for the Smart Water Fund.
11.03.2010
Rossdale Golf Club nominated for Prime Minister's Water Wise Award
The Smart Water Fund congratulates Rossdale Golf Club on being announced as a finalist for the inaugural Prime Minister’s Water Wise Award.
One of five national finalists, Rossdale Golf Club was nominated for its integrated stormwater harvesting and aquifer storage and recovery project.
Working in partnership with the CSIRO, the Club received funding from the Smart Water Fund to implement Victoria’s first aquifer storage and recovery project (ASR).
The project has seen the Club reduce its drinking water usage by 56 per cent, saving 35 million litres per year while still providing a high quality course for local golfers.
This innovative approach to water management combines the harvesting of stormwater from a nearby drain with traditional dam storage and the innovative ASR process.
ASR is the process of using natural underground aquifers as storage medium for treated urban stormwater that can then be used as required.
In Rossdale Golf Club’s case, stormwater collected during the winter months is stored within an aquifer until needed during the dry summer period.
Smart Water Fund Chief Executive Officer Christine Cussen congratulates Rossdale Golf Club on being recognised by this prestigious award.
“To be nominated as a finalist for the Prime Minister’s Water Wise Award is a fantastic achievement for the Rossdale Golf Club and for the CSIRO research team, backed by the Smart Water Fund, who has contributed to the success of this project,” she said.
“This project is a great example of research being applied to create real life water saving solutions”.
“With such positive results, the lessons learnt by Rossdale Golf Club are already being leveraged by other golf clubs and local councils across Victoria who are investigating the potential of ASR,” Ms Cussen said.