Supporting Indonesia to develop Nusantara

“Water sensitive principles have been successfully adopted in Australian and global cities to effectively manage water in terms of flooding, drought and pollution. The concept has helped transform cities in Australia and overseas in terms of infrastructure design, water policy, and governance. It has formed the basis for the development of similar programs such as China’s sponge cities and Singapore’s Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters Program.”

Professor Tony Wong

“Our ambition is to create the skills, know-how and also interconnections between agencies, needed to design a sustainable, sponge city that future proofs Nusantara to respond to pollution, drought, flooding and heat.”

Professor Diego Ramírez-Lovering

Water sensitive cities or sponge cities use green infrastructure that mimics natural processes of water filtration, drainage, retention and storage to help clean rainwater and reduce environmental contamination and flooding via improved drainage.

ADB, alongside Australia and Monash University are providing strategic expertise and strengthening institutional capacity in support of Nusantara's development. Monash Art Design and Architecture (MADA) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are delivering water-sensitive urban design training in Nusantara for members of the Indonesian government’s Nusantara Capital Authority (NCA).