Configuring transformative governance to enhance resilient urban water systems

► The effectiveness of governance reform in the contemporary urban water context in Australia is explored. ► 90 interviews were conducted with urban water practitioners across three Australian cities. ► Resilient water systems require a mix of centralised, decentralised, formal and informal governance. ► Decentralised and informal governance approaches are particularly effective in early stages of transformation processes. ► Formal and centralised approaches become more effective during later stages of transformation. Governance reforms are required to establish adaptive and resilient urban water resource management that takes into account complexity, uncertainty and immediate and long term change. This paper details the outcomes of a qualitative, social science research project, drawing on insights from Australian urban water practitioners (n=90) across three Australian cities to explore the effectiveness of governance reforms in the contemporary urban water context. The perceived effectiveness of current urban water governance strategies were assessed through the first application of a fit-for-purpose governance framework, which helps to assess whether the (anticipated) outcomes match the intended purposes of proposed and applied governance strategies. The research provides important insights regarding the need for a mix of centralised and decentralised, and formal and informal, governance approaches to support effective governance of water infrastructure during different stages of adapting to drought and transitioning to a water sensitive city that is resilient to immediate and gradual change. The research insights suggest that decentralised and informal governance approaches are particularly effective in early stages of transformation processes (i.e. adaptation and transition processes), whilst formal and centralised approaches become more effective during later stages of transformation. As such, we have identified a pattern of effective governance configurations during consecutive stages of transformation processes that could provide policy makers guidance in overcoming urban water governance challenges.