Waterways transformation and green stormwater infrastructure: enabling governance for Adelaide’s River Torrens Catchment, Australia

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper explores the enabling governance conditions for implementing green stormwater infrastructure to transform waterways. Using Australia’s largest integrated stormwater management project in Adelaide’s River Torrens Catchment as a case study, we explore four key governance dimensions and their shifts over time: actors, rules of the game, discourse, and resources and power. Overall, 11 enablers emerged from these dimensions. These include collaboration and coordination, bipartisan support, regulation enforcement, knowledge and beliefs, leadership and expertise, and incremental funding. The paper reflects on the prevalence of these factors and provides recommendations to revitalize polluted waterways and address riverine flood risk.