9 March 2007

WATER DIRECTORATE CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE AWARD

Following nominations in January from member councils, the Executive Committee is pleased to announce that the Conference Attendance Award for Young Water Professionals goes to Jon Francis from Orange City Council. Jon is an Environmental Scientist and he receives reimbursement of up to $1,600 towards the cost of travel and accommodation from the Water Directorate. AWA has for the fourth year very generously provided a gratis conference registration to Ozwater 2007 to be held in Sydney from 4 to 8 March, also valued at approximately $1,600. This award aims to assist a worthy professional from a Water Directorate member council with up to 5 years experience to attend the AWA’s national water conference, who otherwise would not get the opportunity to attend due to funding priorities. A strong field of 5 young water industry professionals was judged on the applications and assessment of the benefits to their councils and themselves of attending a national water conference. All nominees are thanked and encouraged to enter again next year. Thanks again to AWA and the Water Directorate commends Ozwater and Enviro events to all local government water industry personnel.

UPDATED BLUE-GREEN ALGAE MANAGEMENT PROTOCOLS

In February, our latest publication, the updated B-GA Management Protocols was mailed as a CD Rom to the GMs of our 95 member councils. The updated version is technically a draft because one section contains B-GA alert levels yet to be confirmed by the Algal Advisory Group and is subject to data analysis. The Water Directorate plans to re-issue this publication in hard copy when the alert levels have been finalised. The 2007 update supersedes the original November 2001 Blue-Green Algae Management Protocols. The update takes into account developments such as the 2004 ADWGs that have occurred over the intervening 6 years. Both original and updated documents were written on behalf of the Water Directorate by Adrian Farrant for the Water Directorate. Thanks to our Water Sub-committee led by Kent Boyd for peer reviewing the updated 2007 B-GA Management Protocols.

WATER LOSS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM UPDATE

Welcome to Michael Barratt who was engaged in late January as Water Loss Engineer to assist the Water Loss Program Manager, Mirko Sramek . Michael hails from the UK and comes to the WLMP directly from the NSW Department of Commerce. It is encouraging to see that about 10 councils are seeking entry to the WLMP as the first step in tracing water leakage particularly in this time of acute drought. For further information and application forms visit www.WaterLoss.lgsa.org.au or contact, Mirko on 9242 4127.

UPDATE ON NSW DROUGHT CONDITIONS

NSW drought conditions worsened sadly with the DPI declaring that as at February, 96.3% of the area of NSW was officially drought affected. The area of NSW classified as marginal is 1.7% and the area classified as satisfactory is only 2%. This is the tenth consecutive month that the NSW drought affected area has officially been in the range of 89 to 96%. It is not surprising that prolonged shortages, restrictions and public awareness has made water the key issue in next month’s NSW election. Similarly in federal politics, water has become a key issue with Parliamentary Water Secretary Turnbull elevated to Minister for the Environment and Water Resources. The new Department of the Environment and Water Resources was formerly the Department of Environment and Heritage. The National Water Commission joins the Environment and Water Resources portfolio from the PM’s portfolio. The NWC remains an independent statutory body within the new portfolio outside the Department of the Environment and Water Resources.

SAFETY DAYS, SYDNEY , ROSEHILL RACECOURSE EXHIBITION CENTRE, 13 & 14 JUNE

The Executive Committee urges our 95 member councils to support this water safety initiative of workshops and particularly by entering teams of four field staff in the safety competitions. We will endeavour to raise awareness and share water safety information and build on our inaugural involvement with the Electrical Safety Days at last years expo in Dubbo. An information flyer will be sent shortly.

RIVROC AND MURRAY ROC WATER & SEWER STRATEGIC ALLIANCE

In February I was invited to attend a workshop in Jerilderie for a Strategic Alliance recently established between the above two Regional Organisation of Councils. The two ROCs consist of 16 south-west NSW local water utilities which are also Water Directorate member councils. The Strategic Alliance enables the councils to better manage the requirements of the Best Practice Guidelines and also develop a network between local water utilities for infrastructure and operational issues. The Strategic Alliance is the result of a working party over the past 18 months and has strong DEUS support. A formal Executive Committee has been established and John Millay , Director of Operations at Carrathool Shire Council was elected Chair 2006-2007 in Leeton in December 06. John is well known to the Water Directorate as an inaugural member of the Water Directorate Executive Committee in December 1998 through to December 2002. A link exists between our Executive Committee and the Strategic Alliance Executive Committee through David Tull , Director Water and Sewerage at Griffith City Council. The Jerilderie workshop discussion included database, status of Best Practice progress, IWCM, council support, structure, Deed of Agreement, clustering for projects, drought position, etc. The Water Directorate supports the initiatives of the Strategic Alliance and we will endeavour to establish a strong working relationship with it and to network and co-ordinate activities on relevant issues. The Water Directorate encourages other NSW regional groups to establish Strategic Alliances.

WATER TANKER FILLING STATIONS

In December 2006, NSW Health conducted a teleconference about water carting and contamination issues in regional NSW. The following news item is courtesy of Terry Gobbe from Rous Water - a regional water authority on the north coast of NSW supplying bulk water to the four constituent councils of Byron Shire, Lismore City , Ballina Shire and Richmond Valley Shire. Three of the constituent councils have joined forces with Rous Water and have implemented a uniform approach for the drawing of water by water tanker operators. Nine automated filling stations have been placed throughout the distribution areas and these stations are the only sites where the drawing of water is now permitted. All hydrant and standpipe points are now closed. The stations are accessed by an electronic swipe card and payment is made at each site by credit card. The system records the tankers identification number, time, date, and amount taken. Each station is fitted with an RPZ to protect the supply from backflow. The tanker operator is required to obtain an annual permit and produce a certificate of inspection certifying the suitability of the tank to carry potable water. The actual amount of water drawn for these purposes has come as somewhat of a surprise being in excess of the initial estimates. The system has provided a more accountable and uniform approach to the drawing of water across a large distribution area. Terry is Rous Water’s Distribution System Assets Manager and I thank him sharing Rous’ experience with member councils. For more information contact Terry on terry.gobbe@rouswater.nsw.gov.au or on 6621 8055. Helen Ptolemy is the Policy Advisor, Water Unit Environmental Health Branch NSW Department of Health and can be contacted on HPTOL@doh.health.nsw.gov.au or on 9816 0521.

WORLD WATER DAY

World Water Day is on 22 March. The international observance of World Water Day is an initiative that grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio . While we in NSW come to terms with water restrictions, 1.1 billion people in developing countries struggle to survive with only dirty water. Tragically 1.8 million children die each year from water-borne disease. Donations to charities such as WaterAid Australia will go towards water and sanitation projects that assist these people.

WATERAID AUSTRALIA

To mark World Water Day, WaterAid Australia is encouraging water industry staff to donate directly on-line at www.wateraid.org.au WaterAid Australia aims to achieve a world where everyone has access to safe water, effective sanitation and hygiene education. As a Corporate Member of WaterAid Australia , the Water Directorate encourages our 95 member councils to become WaterAid Australia members to support their vision. Please subscribe to WaterAid Australia ’s free eNewsletter by going to www.wateraid.org.au and fill in your email address on the ‘Stay Informed’ section. For more information, please contact CEO Chris Wootton on 03 9872 1732.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING DATES

The Executive Committee meeting dates in 2007 are 16 May, 5 July, 13 September and 8 November. Member councils are reminded that they are welcome to forward water issues to me for referral to the Executive Committee meetings. For further information about membership or any water related issue, please contact me on 02 8267 3010 or gmitchell@waterdirectorate.asn.au

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