Maddocks joins urban water co-op
Maddocks if the only law firm to join a cooperative research centre for water sensitive cities, aimed at improving the efficiency of urban water systems in Australia.
The soon-to-be established Co-operative Research Centre (CRC) for Water Sensitive Cities (WSC), comprises 74 national and international participants, including state and local governments, water utilities and land development organisations.
The CRC for WSC will deliver the planning, technology and decision support tools required to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of urban water systems.
The centre will help guide capital investments of more than $100 billion by the Australian water sector and more than $550 billion of private sector investment in urban development over the next 15 years.
According to Maddocks CEO David Rennick, “To be the only law firm participating in the CRC for WRC is a testament to the ability of our dedicated water team, which includes former Victorian Minister for Water John Thwaites, our reputation in urban planning and our strong history in acting for government.
The CRC for WSC has developed a nine-year research and development program to address the key challenges to urban water reform, which involves 21 high-priority research projects to be undertaken over the next four years.
Maddocks will contribute to the statutory planning for Water Sensitive Cities project, which will determine statutory planning mechanisms that can be adopted to facilitate and foster the development of Water Sensitive Cities.
The firm will also work on building better regulatory frameworks for Water Sensitive Cities, a projects to enable governments to establish innovative governance and regulatory frameworks, which support water-sensitive urban development.
"Maddocks has also been directly involved in the development and administration of water legislation and policy frameworks, and provided thought-leadership on a range of issues that are crucial to ensuring a sustainable future for Australia," said Rennick.
The CRC for WSC was selected by the Federal Government in November 2011 as one of six recipients to receive funding to research the major challenges and opportunities facing Australia.