30 April 2003

EVENTS IN APRIL 2003
The Water Directorate is a voluntary association of councils and county councils that operate water and/or sewer businesses in regional NSW. Our monthly newsletter seeks to inform member councils and all sectors of the NSW Local Government Water Industry of the developments that have taken place regarding technical issues and networking during April 2003 and of coming events. This newsletter is sent to General Managers and to Water and Sewer Managers in 121 regional councils in NSW and also to approximately 100 contacts in government departments, councils and private industry across Australia. We hope you enjoy this newsletter.

INCORPORATION OF THE WATER DIRECTORATE
I remind General Managers of all member councils that they should have received a letter on about 9 April 03 explaining the incorporation formality and outlining the procedures to transfer the assets from the unincorporated entity to the incorporated entity. Our letter seeks approval to amend the Statement of Objects and Rules accordingly and finalise the incorporation process. Since approval of 75% of the 102 member councils is required, the Executive Committee appreciates the General Managers' assistance by voting on three resolutions before 12 May 2003. I urge General Managers to contact me on 8267 3010 or Eloise Stanley on 8267 3009 to clarify any concerns.

ABOLITION OF DLWC & DPWS
Premier Carr announced sweeping reforms abolishing and creating departments, following the March election. Of particular interest to the NSW local government water industry is the abolition of the DLWC and DPWS, and the transfer of the departments' branches.
While full details are still to be announced and are subject to minor adjustments, it appears generally that the branches of the DLWC have been split and transferred three ways into the existing Ministry of Energy and Utilities (MEU) responsible to Minister Sartor; into the newly created Department of Sustainable Natural Resources (DSNR) responsible to Minister Knowles; and into the newly created Department of Lands responsible to Minister Kelly. The DLWC branch that the NSW local government water industry previously had the most interface with was the Town Water and Recycling Services branch which has been added to the MEU. In addition, the State Water business unit and the group of staff principally involved in the administration of the Fish River Water Supply Scheme have also been added to the MEU. While full details are still to be announced, it appears generally that the branches of the DPWS have been split and transferred two ways into the Treasury responsible to Treasurer Egan; and into the newly created Department of Commerce responsible to Minister Della Bosca.

Briefly, other changes of interest to the NSW local government water industry are that the National Parks and Wildlife Services has been renamed the National Parks Service and some staff transferred into the DSNR and into the Department of Sport and Recreation; the Department of Planning (Planning NSW) has been abolished and its branches transferred to the newly created Department of Urban and Transport Planning; the Department of Industrial Relations has been abolished and its branches transferred to the Department of Commerce; and the staff who work principally for the Healthy Rivers Commission have been transferred from the EPA into the DSNR.

REVISION AND UPDATE OF O&M MANUAL FOR CHLORINATION INSTALLATIONS
Albury Water was engaged to review the seven O&M Manuals that they developed over the past two years for the Water Directorate. A completely new version of the O&M Manual for Submersible SPSs was distributed in January 2003. The second manual to be revised and updated is the O&M Manual for Chlorination Installations which was initially released in April 2001. A comprehensive review of this manual has been undertaken and a completely new version was distributed in the last week of April 2003 to member councils and other organisations or individuals that have purchased a copy. The O&M Manual for Sewer Reticulation is currently under review and an addendum to this manual will be distributed shortly. The Water Directorate believes that regular revision of the O&M Manuals will assist councils to keep up to date with changes in legislation as well as maintain the longevity of the manual template format. All seven O&M Manuals will be revised and distributed to member councils by the end of 2003.

REVIEW OF AUS-SPEC WATER AND SEWER SPECIFICATIONS
The first of two new high priority actions to be commenced in April 2003 is the review of the water and sewer sections of AUS-SPEC to ensure that the document is consistent with the 2002 editions of the WSAA Water Supply Code and Sewerage Code. The review is scheduled to be completed and recommendations provided to the IPWEA National Office by the end of June 2003 for their incorporation of the changes into the water and sewer sections of AUS-SPEC.

GUIDELINES FOR WATER AND SEWER METERING
The second of the two new high priority actions to be commenced in April 2003 is the Guidelines for Water and Sewer Metering for the purpose of developing best practice guidelines for holistic management of the water supply and sewerage metering process from source to consumer. It is intended that these guidelines will be developed as a working document with in-built templates to enable users to insert site-specific details relevant to local conditions. The guidelines will include trade information and literature; assessment of the range of meter types and reading technologies internationally available; assessment of how water measurement data is being utilised across NSW and the merit for the expanded use of the data; and meter accuracy versus flow investigations. These guidelines are expected to be finalised, printed and distributed in July 03.

PRESSURE SEWERAGE SYSTEM OPEN DAY
Wagga Wagga City Council will hold its second open 'day' site inspection on their pressure sewerage schemes on Friday, 9th May 03 with an informal discussion evening to be held on Thursday, 8th May 03 commencing at around 7:00PM. Participants will witness first hand the installation of a unit, the operation of a unit as well as see high level alarms triggered to demonstrate what happens when this occurs and what is required to turn off the alarm. The evening presentation will concentrate on the actual Wagga Wagga experiences and in particular on all of the detailed information, agreements and arrangements that were required to actually deliver the system. Interested parties should contact Eileen Gambell on 02 6926 9481 as soon as possible as numbers are limited.

IPWEA ANNUAL CONFERENCE, HOMEBUSH BAY 1 - 3 JUNE 2003
In just over 1 month, the IPWEA Annual Conference will be held (back to back with CivEnEx 2003) on Sunday, 1 to Tuesday, 3 June at the Novotel Hotel at Homebush Bay. The Water Directorate is pleased to sponsor morning tea on Monday, 2 June and looks forward to participating in the Water and Wastewater Stream following on from the morning tea.
Building on the successful innovations at last year's annual conference at Coffs Harbour, this year's conference will feature a number of highlights including a motivational address and demonstration by Brennon Dowrick, dual Commonwealth Gymnastics Gold Medallist; keynote address by Commissioner Phil Koperberg from the NSW Rural Fire Service and by radio and TV science presenter Dr Karl Kruzelnicki; panel forum facilitation again by TV presenter Richard Morecroft; a number of other interesting guest speakers and entertaining events such the Gough and Gilmour Games. For registration details please contact IPWEA's Conference Manager Janice Parker, on 02 9943 6564, 0411 103 069 or on conference2003@ipwea.org.au

CivEnEx 2003, SYDNEY SHOWGROUND 4 - 5 JUNE 2003
Following directly on from its annual conference, the IPWEA will hold Australia's premier local government and public works market place for contractors, builders, engineers and suppliers on Wednesday, 4 June and Thursday, 5 June at the Sydney Showground at Homebush Bay. For derails, please contact IPWEA's Events Manager Frank Sticka, on 02 9716 7391, 0411 890 381 or on frank@sydney.net

POEO REVIEW
The Protection of the Environment Operations Act turned five at the end of 2002 and the EPA has begun a review process, as required by the Act. The EPA advised it is very pleased that around 100 councils have returned surveys which will be used to develop a discussion paper in May 2003, outlining proposed amendments to the Act. The consultation process will continue with a series of seminars throughout NSW in June 2003. For details please contact Janet Dawson on 9995 6498 or Cathryn on 9995 6151.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
For further information about membership or any water related issue, please contact me on 02 8267 3010, or garymi@bigpond.com or visit the website at http://wd.ipwea.org.au. The remaining meeting dates for 2003 are 8 May, 3 July, 4 September and 6 November.

MEMBER REQUESTS
Member councils are always welcome to forward issues of concern to me or to your local representative for debate and discussion by the Executive Committee. Please note that at its last meeting in March 03, the Executive Committee resolved to add a new item to the bi-monthly meeting agenda called 'Reports from Group Meetings/Member Queries' to formalise feedback of advice and information sharing.

Gary Mitchell
Executive Officer

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