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Webinar: Nature-based Sustainable Urban Draining

This Webinar on 30 November 2021 is focusing on how we move to a nature-based approach to urban rainwater management. The importance of managing urban rainfall and surface water is increasingly being recognised in terms of environmental impact. This and the increased risk of flooding due to climate change, means that we need to adapt our approach to urban planning and design in Ireland and plan for greater resilience, environmental protection and sustainable living.

This Webinar is focussing on how we move to a nature-based approach to urban rainwater management. Following the Urban Planning and nature-based surface water management Webinar in November 2020 which was attended by approx 500 people, and the Significant Water Management Issues Report, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) engaged in an intensive round of consultations across Local Authorities, Government Departments and Agencies, professional bodies and other stakeholders during 2021 to produce:

A Scoping Report with a roadmap of proposed steps towards the implementation of nature-based solutions.
Produce an Interim Guidance Document.

The Webinar will outline the progress made since November 2020 and, as well as launching the outputs of this scoping stage, the webinar will hear from a number of speakers from Ireland and from Wales who will outline their experiences in this area (see programme below).

The presentations will be followed by a panel discussion and
Q&A session. As part of this Webinar, we will:

Launch the interim guidance document to assist planners, architects, urban and transport designers, landscape architects and engineers in their respective roles in planning and implementing a nature-based approach to the management of rainwater in urban areas.
Provide an overview of the outputs from the scoping stage consultation including the roadmap of proposed steps that would facilitate the widespread integration of nature- based solutions into future urban planning, design and all urban projects.

Agenda – 11:00 to 13:00, 30 November 2021

Welcome	Minister Malcolm Noonan TD, Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Background to Seminar & Scene Setting	Fran Igoe, Southern Regional Coordinator, Local Authority Waters Programme
Policy – Nature-based Solutions as a Programme of Measure in the RBMP 2022-2027	Lisa Egan, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
Key Note: Practical Retrofit of SuDS in High Density Residential Areas – The Welsh Experience	Ian Titherington, Lead Drainage Engineer of Cardiff City Council
Nature-proofing Local Authority led projects in Ireland Incorporating Nature-based SuDS into a public realm URDF Funded Project	Leonore O’Neill, Senior Project Officer, Clare County Council
Raising the Ambition – Incorporating Nature-based SuDS into Large and Small LA Projects	David Joyce, Director of Service, Cork City Council
Nature-based Surface Water Management: National Guidance and Implementation Strategy Scoping Study Recommendations National Guidance 2.Implementation Strategy Scoping Study	Adrian Conway, Project Lead and ex Dublin City Council.

Who should attend?

Planners, urban and transport designers / engineers, architects and landscape architects, environment, climate, biodiversity, heritage, parks and landscape professionals within local authorities and from the private sector.

Successful implementation of a nature-based approach to urban rainwater management requires a multi-disciplinary and cross sectoral approach. Therefore, we encourage the participation of anyone whose work directly or indirectly impacts on the planning, design, construction, maintenance or enjoyment of our urban spaces and our urban environment.

Register to attend

This event is for planners, urban and transport designers / engineers, architects and landscape architects, environment, climate, biodiversity, heritage, parks and landscape professionals within local authorities and from the private sector.

If you are interested in attending please contact info@lawaters.ie

About author

EPA Catchments Unit

Administrator

The EPA Catchments Unit is based in Dublin, and the team is involved with catchment science, chemistry, ecology, hydromorphology, modelling, Geographic Information Systems and planning. We work with the wider EPA, all of our local authorities, the Local Authority Waters and Communities Office, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, and other public bodies and Departments to ensure we have the best available data and information about our catchments.

Who is involved?
Quite simply, everyone in Ireland has a role to play. This can be from something as simple as making sure you don’t pollute your local stream, or a local community working together to establish a Rivers Trust to enhance the rivers and lakes in their area, to a Government Department or Agency helping a Minister implement a new policy to help protect and enhance all our water bodies.

This website has been developed and is maintained by the Environmental Protection Agency, and is a collaboration between the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Local Authority Waters Programme.

Local Authority Waters Programme

The Local Authority Waters Programme coordinates the efforts of local authorities and other public bodies in the implementation of the River Basin Management Plan, and supports local community and stakeholder involvement in managing our natural waters, for everyone’s benefit.

Environmental Protection Agency

The EPA is responsible for coordinating the monitoring, assessment and reporting on the status of our 4,842 water bodies, looking at trends and changes, determining which waterbodies are at risk and what could be causing this, and drafting environmental objectives for each.

Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Department is responsible for making sure that the right policies, regulations and resources are in place to implement the Water Framework Directive, and developing a River Basin Management Plan and Programme of Measures to protect and restore our waters.