Actors working the institutions in sustainability transitions: The case of Melbourne's stormwater management

摘要: Abstract The role of agency in overcoming path dependence and enabling sustainability transitions is receiving increasing attention. Currently lacking are more empirically derived explanations the co-evolutionary dynamics between actors institutional change that could potentially provide guidance on facilitating such into future. This paper investigates these through a longitudinal case analysis Melbourne's transition to improved stormwater quality treatment. complex data collection, validation approach, which included oral histories, semi-structured interviews, industry workshops documentary analysis, examined nuances actor-related strategies processes throughout different phases over last fifty years. results revealed importance small group loosely connected frontrunners from across government, private, community scientific sectors who, mix creating disrupting strategies, managed facilitate growing diverse actor-network steered this decades. establishment networked bridging organisations was also instrumental because they formed types networks alliances time for protecting deepening reach city. findings suggest there no single cause–effect relationship nor one dominant intervention or action shifted urban management regime. Rather, it showed broader transitional were played by their actor-networks way emerging new narratives diffused, giving meaning evolving agendas on-the-ground experiments, led structures administrative tools. It seems as though each dimensions crucial other explaining outcomes successful transition.