Challenging perspectives: an interdisciplinary exploration of urban stormwater management

Abstract

Urban stormwater management must address multiple social-ecological concerns as it adapts to present challenges and transitions towards sustainability. Concerns for physical stormwater infrastructure must be investigated and resolved in relation to diverse stakeholder perspectives. This research explored perspectives and barriers in urban stormwater management and their roles in the transition to sustainability. A dynamic simulation was developed to understand the systemic influence of environmentally friendly solutions on water quality in receiving environments in Project Twin Streams Catchment, West Auckland, New Zealand. Results showed that environmentally friendly solutions can reduce but not fully internalise the environmental impact of stormwater even in a catchment-wide implementation. Failure to integrate socialecological variables in the modelling process limits the usefulness of the model and the insights that can be gained. To address this, a qualitative modelling approach was undertaken that sought to understand pluralist perspectives in stormwater management and barriers that restrict the uptake of alternative solutions. Cognitive mapping was used to elicit and capture perceptions on problems and solutions in urban stormwater management. Three core perspectives were found to underlie contemporary stormwater management: conventional fixes, low impact solutions, and community development. These perspectives were diverse and conflicting. Conventional stormwater management created feedback loops that promoted the continuous construction of infrastructure to the detriment of environmental systems. Low impact solutions did not break this feedback loop. Community development failed to address urgent issues due to systemic delays. Importantly, none of the perspectives by themselves will lead to sustainable iv outcomes. This highlighted the need for integration of these different perspectives and approaches. Uptake of low impact solutions and community development was found to be hindered by physical, institutional, logistical and internal barriers. These barriers were caused by, and at the same time increased, the complexity inherent in stormwater management. Interactions between barriers were investigated and potential policy interventions suggested guiding managers in the development of effective policies that support the transition of urban stormwater management towards sustainability.