[go with the flow]

Water Sensitive Urban Design

We know water. Your project deserves water systems that do more than just meet code. We help you manage stormwater, mains, and rain water in ways that reduce risk, cut costs, and support healthier places and waterways.

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Trusted by companies
big and small
[here's how we can help you]
Planning and certification can feel complex. Stormwater management, council requirements, authority approvals, not to mention balancing compliance with your project goals. We make that process easier. Our role is to guide you through the red tape, model practical solutions, and give you confidence that water will never be the sticking point in your project delivery.

Urban Stormwater Quality
We help you design stormwater systems that meet best-practice quality targets and integrate seamlessly into the urban environment.

+ MUSIC modelling
We use MUSIC (Model for Urban Stormwater Improvement Conceptualisation) to simulate treatment performance and optimise stormwater systems. This ensures your project meets best practice targets for pollutant reduction while integrating with the site’s natural water cycle. Along with meeting Green Star Waterway Protection requirements.

+ STORM / Blue Factor reports
We prepare council-ready reports that demonstrate compliance with local stormwater quality objectives, helping you avoid approval delays and costly redesigns.

+ Low-impact development design
Our designs minimise environmental disturbance by incorporating permeable surfaces, swales, and natural filtration systems that enhance urban liveability.

Need to meet code without overdesigning?

Ask us how →
Drainage Strategy Development
Clear, compliant drainage strategies reduce risks, prevent flooding, and smooth the approval process.

+ Council and Melbourne Water requirements
We navigate technical guidelines and local authority expectations, making sure your drainage strategy is fully compliant while streamlined for approval.

+ Onsite detention and retention systems
We help inform practical OSD solutions to manage peak flows, reduce flooding risks, and support sustainable water reuse opportunities.

Planning for low emissions or Green Star targets?

We can help →
Integrated Water Management
We bring together potable, rainwater, and green infrastructure strategies to create efficient, resilient water systems.

+ Potable water use optimisation
+ Rainwater harvesting and reuse
+ Green infrastructure integration

Want to reduce risk of defects, non-compliance, and costly rework?

Talk to us about your enclosure →
Compliance and offset contribution
Meeting policy and offset requirements can be complex — we make it straightforward and cost-effective.

+ Stormwater quality offsets
Where onsite solutions are limited, we coordinate offsets to meet obligations in a cost-effective and timely way.

+ Guidelines alignment
We ensure every solution aligns with current standards and policies, reducing compliance risk while positioning your project for long-term sustainability.

Verifying offsite contribution and performance?

Ask us what's possible →
Regenerative Systems
For projects that want to go beyond compliance, we design regenerative systems that give back more than they take.

+ Closed-loop water systems – We design systems that recycle and reuse water onsite, minimising waste and creating long-term efficiency.

+ Net-positive water frameworks – Going beyond neutrality, we help projects generate more clean water than they consume, contributing positively to the broader environment.

+ Integrated watershed management – We look beyond the site to design with catchment-scale impacts in mind, protecting waterways and downstream communities.

+ Biophilic design integration – Water is treated as a living element, integrated into design to enhance wellbeing, biodiversity, and connection to nature.

+ Water as a design element – From visible flows to reflective surfaces, we help you use water creatively as part of your project’s architectural identity.

Want your design to work harder—without compromising intent?

Bring us in early →
Certification support
Whether you’re targeting Green Star, LEED, or other certifications, we provide the modelling, documentation, and strategy to secure credits—without overengineering the solution.

+ Green Star (Water Use and Waterway Protection credits)
+ LEED Water Efficiency credits
+ WELL and Fitwel technical input
+ BESS input and local council-aligned ESD reporting
+ NABERS Water modelling and guidance
+ Living Building Challenge advisory (water petal)
+ Cross-framework coordination and documentation

Pursuing certification across multiple frameworks?

We’ll help you navigate it →
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Discuss your project with us
[better buildings]
Life is too short for low-performance buildings.
Our cities and urban centres are changing fast—in both size and speed. And achieving sustainable solutions in our urban environment is a growing challenge. Parallel to this, we're increasingly aware of our impact on our surroundings and scarcity of resources.

To help you help you navigate the complexity of creating sustainable developments, Makao provides a wide range of services. We want to make this simple as you focus on shaping our built environment.
CATCHMENT
ANALYSIS
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
WATER SENSITIVE URBAN DESIGN
Early design support
moisture
control
potable
water
[markets we work in]
Sustainability challenges look different depending on where you sit. Designing a new building, delivering a city precinct, or guiding an organisation-wide strategy. We bring technical depth and practical solutions that meet your project's unique needs.
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See the sectors we help
[Got questions?]
Frequently
Asked Questions
We know every project and organisation is different, so you might be wondering how Makao fits with your goals. If you don’t see your question here, we’d love to hear from you directly.
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What industries does Makao specialise in?
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We partner with you across the built environment — education, industrial, residential, retail (large and small format retail), community and religious buildings, precincts, and infrastructure.

If you’re an organisation looking to strengthen your sustainability strategy at a company or portfolio level, we can support you there too.
Can you help us meet regulatory or sustainability targets?
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Yes. We help you navigate complex standards like building codes, NatHERS, LEED, Green Star, and NABERS. And we don’t stop at compliance — we work with you to set and deliver on ambitious goals such as energy efficiency, electrification, and net zero.
How is your approach different from traditional consulting firms?
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We bring rigorous technical modelling together with a practical, collaborative style. Instead of just handing you a report, we involve you in the process so sustainability becomes part of how your project is designed, approved, and delivered. And because we value trust, we’re always happy to connect you with existing clients who can share their experience of working with us.
Do you offer technical implementation or just strategy?
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Both. We can help you in the early stages with concept design and policy development, and we also get hands-on with detailed energy modelling, technical reports, and approvals.

Put simply, we meet you where you are — whether you need consulting only, consulting plus strategy, or full strategy and implementation (including procurement).
Are your solutions scalable?
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Absolutely. Whether you’re delivering one high-performance building or rolling out a multi-city program, our methods scale with you. We adapt to your context while still aligning with leading global benchmarks.
How do we start working with Makao?
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It usually begins with a discovery email or call where we get to know you and your goals. We’ll clarify your sustainability objectives and outline the pathways we can support you with. From there, we provide you with a tailored scope and next steps.