Sustainability of water resources in peri-urban landscapes : learning from the journey of engagement

Water is vital to sustainability and liveability of cities and the peri-urban river systems play an important role in the supply of water for domestic use, agriculture, commerce, industry and the environment. It is therefore essential that peri-urban river systems are properly used and managed, especially under the pressure of urbanisation. Using the Hawkesbury-Nepean River system as an example, in this Chapter we discuss how management of the river system evolves under changing circumstances. We then examine the complexity of managing peri-urban river system and discuss a multitude of challenges and issues that have to be resolved to achieve sustainability of water resources in peri-urban landscapes. We also identify actions, engagement strategies and governance mechanisms that influence the outcomes of water resources management in a peri-urban context. Genuine engagement of community, government agencies and other stakeholders is an important vehicle to establish dialogue and achieve effective and long-term water resources planning at a regional scale. However, the engagement and programs for securing water futures in peri-urban landscapes is made more difficult due to a large number of stakeholders, agencies and interests involved and the changing roles of participants as government policy changes.