21 June 2007

This year the Water Directorate has established an annual award to recognise the achievements of operational staff employed in the NSW water industry. 

The NSW Operator of the Year award is similar to that already presented in Victoria and Queensland. The development of this award is complementary to the work already undertaken by the Water Directorate and it is considered to be a way to assist and improve the operational performance of staff employed within the NSW water industry.

Water and sewer managers from state and local government water utilities are invited to nominate operator/s from your organisation to be considered for the NSW Operator of the Year Award to be presented in 2007 at the Inaugural WIOA NSW Water Industry Engineers and Operators Conference at Dubbo on 17 to 19 July.

The award is presented to operators of water or wastewater treatment facilities to recognise excellent performance, initiative and all round attention to detail. The criteria for the determination of the winner is as follows-

• Nominees should be employed in New South Wales and should have direct responsibility for operational decisions at community water and wastewater treatment plants or industrial water and wastewater plants.

• The following features will be taken into account in considering worthy recipients:
  • Continuing education/training achievement;
  • Overall plant management and condition;
  • Demonstrated attention to Occupational Health and Safety and other regulatory responsibilities;
  • Initiative and innovation, demonstrating improved treatment and efficiency.

Supporting evidence outlining the achievements of the nominee/s in relation to all the above criteria, any local community involvement plus any other supporting information should be forwarded to the Water Directorate. The WIOA will determine the winner of the award on behalf of the Water Directorate.

Nomination Forms for the Inaugural Water Directorate NSW Operator of the Year Award are available here.  Please forward the Nomination Form promptly to operators for consideration and action by 9th July 2007.

The Water Directorate NSW Operator of the Year Award winner will receive a perpetual trophy for his or her organisation to keep for 12 months plus a personal trophy to keep permanently. 

Registration Forms for the Inaugural WIOA NSW Water Industry Engineers and Operators Conference are available here.

PLEASE ENSURE THAT NOMINATION FORMS AND ANY OTHER SUPPORTING INFORMATION, ARE RETURNED NO LATER THAN 9TH JULY 2007 to Gary Mitchell at Level 12, 447 Kent St, Sydney, 2000 or by fax on 02 9283 5255.

For more information contact: