The south-west of Western Australia is one of the world’s most climate change-affected regions. In response to this pressing issue, the State Government committed to a coordinated, long-term approach to managing the region’s water and creating climate-resilient waterwise communities.
Holistic approach
Kep Katitjin – Gabi Kaadadjan is delivered by working across State Government, and in collaboration with Aboriginal people, industry, research, community, and local government.
Traditional Owners
The previous plan was given the Noongar name ‘Kep Katitjin – Gabi Kaadadjan’ meaning water knowledge in both the Whadjuk and Bindjareb dialects, to reflect the Country the plan covers, the Boorloo and Bindjareb regions. We have been given permission to continue to use those words as we honour and respect the knowledge and understanding that Aboriginal people provide in waterwise management, conservation and spiritual practices that have kept the Country and the people healthy and in balance. We thank them for that naming.
Waterwise partner agencies
Since 1 July 2025, there have been changes to former department names and functions and there are now a total of 10 government agencies working across the 43 actions in Kep Katitjin – Gabi Kaadadjan Waterwise action plan 3.
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA
- Department of Creative Industries, Tourism & Sport (CITS)
- Department of Education (DoE)
- Department of Housing and Works (DHW)
- Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (DPLH)
- Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD)
- Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER)
- DevelopmentWA (DevWA)
- METRONET
- Water Corporation (WC)
Looking ahead
While so much has been achieved by the program to date, the negative impacts on our precious water of a drying climate, population growth and urban intensification are as present as ever. 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.
The 43 actions in Kep Katitjin – Gabi Kaadadjan Waterwise action plan 3 set out the continued response to these challenges, strengthening and deepening action and collaboration, helping us to conserve our water resources, support urban greening, biodiversity, the tree canopy and urban cooling to create climate-resilient communities.
The role of water sensitive urban design and waterwise approaches to mitigate urban heat, optimise infiltration to groundwater and manage stormwater are becoming more vital to how we respond to and adapt our urban spaces.
Document design
The artwork for Kep Katitjin – Gabi Kaadadjan was designed by artist Darryl Bellotti.
Waterwise 3 is honoured to continue to show Darryl’s artwork. Darryl’s message, inside the back cover of the plan, describes his art and meaning of the blue and teal colours.
When designing this plan, green was chosen together with the blue and teal to reflect the interconnectedness of water with green features of our environment.
Water, urban greening and blue-green infrastructure are part of the solution to mitigate heat and adapt to climate change with multiple social, health, environmental and financial benefits.
Water story
The artwork for Kep Katitjin – Gabi Kaadadjan was designed by artist Darryl Bellotti.
Darryl shared what these plans mean to him:
“Without water we cannot survive. We, as Indigenous and non-Indigenous people alike, now have a shared responsibility of carrying out that obligation for the survival of culture, the people, and all living things.”
Listen on Soundcloud to Darryl’s story behind the artwork for Kep Katitjin – Gabi Kaadadjan.
Case studies
To demonstrate the outcomes achieved through Waterwise, we have produced 20 case studies to explain how waterwise agencies and broader stakeholders are collectively delivering waterwise outcomes at all scales and in increasingly integrated and innovative ways.
These on-ground examples demonstrate the momentum that is being gained and the way we are transforming our urban spaces on our journey to leading waterwise communities by 2030.
Waterwise Perth action plan 2019
Show moreThe Waterwise Perth action plan 2019 was the first of successive across-government plans intended to transition Boorloo (Perth) and Bindjareb (Peel) to be leading waterwise communities by 2030. The initial eight participating agencies worked together to deliver waterwise outcomes for Boorloo and Bindjareb.
Collaboration and walking together with a shared vision and objectives across all stakeholders lie at the heart of the Waterwise program. These principles are the foundation that enable innovative solutions to water and climate challenges and achieve greater overall benefit for Boorloo and Bindjareb communities. This way of working has been recognised by the Australian Water Association (AWA), with the Waterwise Perth action plan 2019 winning the association’s Organisational Excellence WA Award in 2023 and the national AWA award for Organisational Excellence in 2024.
Document link: Waterwise Action Plan 2019
Kep Katitjin – Gabi Kaadadjan Waterwise Perth action plan 2 (2022-2024)
Show moreThe success of this across-government approach led to three more agencies joining the collaborative effort to deliver Kep Katitjin – Gabi Kaadadjan Waterwise Perth action plan 2 (2022‒24). The second plan was also recognised with the AWA Western Australian Water Award 2025 – Organisational Excellence, for its collaborative, across-government approach and integration of Aboriginal water knowledge.
Document link: Kep Katitjin – Gabi Kaadadjan Waterwise Perth action plan 2
Kep Katitjin – Gabi Kaadadjan Waterwise action plan 3 (2024-27)
Show moreKep Katitjin – Gabi Kaadadjan Waterwise action plan 3 (2024–27) the latest iteration of the plan will take us past the halfway point in the journey to 2030.
Document link: Kep Katitjin – Gabi Kaadadjan Waterwise action plan 3 (2024-27)
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