14 August 2003

For the first time this year a Water Managers Forum was held at the Water Management Conference to discuss topics pertinent to water managers in local government. Over 50 people attended the Forum comprised mainly of technical officers and staff from local government water utilities.

The Forum was organized by the Water Directorate on behalf of the Local Government Association of NSW and the Shires Association of NSW. It was facilitated by Jeff Austin, Director, Scarabworks Pty Ltd.

The opinions expressed at the Forum by individuals do not represent those of the Water Directorate nor Local Government Association of NSW and Shires Association of NSW. Wherever possible, publicly expressed opinions have been accurately transcribed or summarized.

Further feedback can be sent to the Water Directorate by email on info@waterdirectorate.asn.au or posted on the Discussion Forum on the website at: http://www.waterdirectorate.asn.au/mailinglist/

PANEL ONE: DROUGHT MANAGEMENT PLANS

Panellists :

Stewart McLeod - Dubbo City Council

Craig Moffitt - Wakool Shire Council
Kim Alvarez - Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources

Issues:

• Difficult to develop a one-size-fits-all model for drought management.
• Every region and valley is different with particular differences between coastal and inland NSW.
• DIPNR has guidelines for preparing Drought Management Plans that are available.
• North Coast region has been developing a regional document with six levels of restrictions.
• Some agricultural areas will need access to water regardless of any restrictions in place because of the importance of agriculture to the economy.
• Compulsory rainwater tanks may encourage less demand on town water supplies.
• Water restrictions for towns are different to those for farmers and there is a need to strike a balance between the two ie sometimes restrictions are not necessary for towns but they are imposed in solidarity with the farmers.
• State Water has a priority to supply water to water utilities first, high security irrigation second and farmers third providing the first two have been satisfactorily supplied.
• Restrictions need to be communicated clearly and consistently and across council boundaries where possible eg TV campaign by Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla and Bega Valley Councils.
• Restrictions need to be policed.
• OH&S is a problem, particularly for elderly people carting water in buckets.
• What is the definition of "drought": water drought or a rainfall drought?

Outcomes:

• Investigate preparing a document that outlines consistent restrictions at various levels that can be implemented across the State.
• Investigate possible restriction levels with neighbouring States.
• Investigate compulsory rainwater tanks.
• Encourage the preparation of joint communication strategies and campaigns wherever possible to encourage consistency.
• Include OH&S issues and examine grey water issues.

PANEL TWO: WATER SHARING PLANS/ENVIRONMENTAL FLOWS

Panellists :

John Gould - Shoalhaven City Council

Stephen Mills - ANCID

Adrian Wells - Murray Darling Association

Brian Sharp - Mayor of Murray Shire Council

Des Cleary - Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural  Resources

Issues :

• Measurement of environmental flows is difficult and imprecise.
• Lack of "science" and/or "knowledge" is a real problem.
• The collection of data is very expensive. Getting scientists to agree on the data is also very difficult.
• More data collection required to better inform scientists.
• Equity issues of Sydney versus regional NSW as Sydney will always suck in enough water to meet demand.
• Large equity gap between coastal and inland councils too.
• Industry may find it difficult to move to regions if there is no more water allocation to towns.
• Cynicism about science is widespread and therefore it is hard to get sell the message about environmental flows to the general populace.

Outcomes :

• Investigate available science and knowledge more thoroughly.
• Evaporation and delivery losses need to be examined.
• Remind governments of the importance of attracting new industries to regions as employers and innovators.

PANEL THREE: PROPOSED DIVIDEND GUIDELINES

Panellists :

David Byrne - Cooma-Monaro Shire Council

Phyllis Miller - President of the Shires Association NSW

Maurice Overy - Ministry of Energy and Utilities

Issues :

• Many councils will already have implemented one or more of the 11 criteria as part of their management schemes.
• However, lack of staffing resources, particularly for smaller councils, means that satisfying all 11 criteria will be difficult.
• Most councils expect to pay a dividend but dividends are NOT compulsory.
• Payment of a dividend is in keeping with National Competition Policy.
• Confusion about the payment of a dividend by county councils ie do county councils have to pay a dividend to member councils who also then pay a dividend?
• Implementation of dividend payment is to be from 1 July 2004 .
• The length of the consultation period was criticized.
• Questions to ask include: What are the outcomes that councils need to achieve? What sort of compliance mechanisms will be in place?
• Potential threat that infrastructure will be run down as dividends are paid out of capital works budgets.

Outcomes :

• Associations strongly dispute any payment of dividends to State Government
• Important to remember that the dividend is NOT compulsory
• More consultation between MEU and local government and LGA &SA is required prior to the adoption of the 11 criteria.
• Meeting between MEU, the WD and the Associations to be organized after the consultation period closes.

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