EIGHT organisations will work together to shore up Bendigo's water supply.
The key players in the city's water management this month agreed to collaborate and work together with a common agenda - becoming a resilient, water sensitive city prepared for future challenges.
"Bendigo's future climate is predicted to be hotter and drier with occasional intense storms," City of Greater Bendigo chief executive Craig Niemann said.
"With the agencies working together collaboratively, we want to achieve a more sustainable, liveable and resilient future.
Water innovation will be the driving force for the organisations.
The commitment is expected to result in the creation of cool, green refuges throughout Bendigo and options to revitalise the city's urban creeks.
Council's regional sustainable development manager, Trevor Budge said the first thing the organisations would do was meet and discuss investments.
The signatories would coordinate their infrastructure projects - a new approach, according to Mr Budge.
He said each organisation generally had its own works program.
Involved organisations include Coliban Water, Goulburn-Murray Water, the North Central Catchment Management Authority, Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation, and the Department of Health and Human Services.
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities are also signatories to the agreement.
"Collaboration and coordination between the involved agencies and the broader community will be critical for navigating current and future challenges and we've now agreed how this will be done," Coliban Water acting managing director Neville Pearce said.
Mr Budge believed there were efficiencies to be made in the way the city used water.
"We're not running out of water," he said.
"We're simply not using it in the best possible, optimum way."
The partnership follows the development of a 50-year Vision and Transition Strategy for Water Sensitive Bendigo.
The Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities ran the initiative with support from key regional stakeholders.
Mr Budge said a large group of community members was part of developing the program.
One hundred community members were estimated to have volunteered their time to be part of the process.
Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities chief executive Professor Tony Wong said the signing of the partnership was just the starting point.
"We are now encouraging all interested community members and stakeholders to get involved to make Bendigo a leader in sustainable water practices and management," he said.
Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Rodney Carter said the collaboration was a great opportunity to proactively prepare for the future.
"We are leading by example so we can drive information and create the best possible outcomes for current and future generations," he said.
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