Following the award-winning Waterwise Perth Action Plan 2019, Kep Katitjin – Gabi Kaadadjan Waterwise Perth Action Plan 2 was the second of successive plans in the State Government’s Waterwise program to establish world-leading waterwise communities for Boorloo (Perth) and Bindjareb (Peel) by 2030.
The Waterwise Program supports the State Government’s ongoing commitment to tackling the impacts of climate change on our precious water resources, through water-saving initiatives and the creation of climate-resilient, liveable urban spaces.
Kep Katitjin – Gabi Kaadadjan Waterwise Perth Action Plan 2 was delivered through the collaborative efforts of 11 agencies – the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation; Water Corporation; the departments of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions; Education; Communities; Finance; Planning, Lands and Heritage; Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries; and Primary Industries and Regional Development; DevelopmentWA; and METRONET.
The plan was developed with Danjoo Koorliny leaders and Bindjareb Elders on initiatives to heal the waterways and deliver enduring waterwise outcomes on Whadjuk and Bindjareb Country.
Kep Katitjin and Gabi Kaadadjan are the Whadjuk and Bindjareb Noongar terms for ‘water knowledge’.
Now implementation of the first two waterwise plans is finalised, the 11 partner agencies are continuing this journey of collaboration and coordination into the third waterwise plan.
Launched on 21 October 2024, Kep Katitjin – Gabi Kaadadjan Waterwise Action Plan 3 will take us past the halfway point in the journey to deliver the vision of leading waterwise communities for Boorloo and Bindjareb by 2030.
The third plan includes the key themes of climate change and resilience, affordable solutions, and walking together with Aboriginal people in caring for Country and informing waterwise design and management.
Hotter and drier days coupled with a growing population have made Western Australia look to the necessity of a waterwise future, to ensure Boorloo and Bindjareb remain liveable.
The Bureau of Meteorology reports that in Greater Perth (Boorloo and Bindjareb), the summer 2023‒24 mean maximum temperatures were 1–3°C above average and seasonal rainfall totals were 80‒99 per cent below the summer average rainfall at most sites. This data shows that we need to look at innovative ways to manage our water resources while also building resilience.
To support climate resilience and to protect our water resources, it is critical that we take the steps to transition Boorloo and Bindjareb to waterwise communities.
The scorecard, up to end of June 2024, shows just some of the water efficiencies, urban greening, tree canopy and heat-mitigation outcomes – as well as community engagement and education – that have been achieved through the first two plans.
These achievements include over 1 billion litres of water saved through helping households save water, and 23 billion litres saved by businesses.
