5 July 2007

LAST CHANCE TO NOMINATE FOR INAUGURAL WATER DIRECTORATE NSW OPERATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD

Water and sewer managers from state and local government water utilities are invited to nominate operator/s from their organisation to be considered for the Inaugural Water Directorate NSW Operator of the Year Award to be presented at the Inaugural Water Industry Operators Association (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.  This award is highly regarded in Victoria and Queensland and we trust it will be highly regarded in NSW as well. Nominees should be employed in NSW 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.

FLOODS CAUSE POSTPONEMENT OF THE ENERGY SAFETY & FIELD EXPO 2007 TO 11 -12 JULY

More than 3,000 employees from the energy and utilities sectors were due to descend on Rosehill Gardens Exhibition Centre for the two-day event to compete in team competitions, attend seminars and view exhibits from safety equipment and occupational health and safety suppliers, manufacturers and trainers. However Integral Energy had little option but to postpone the event at short notice due to the tragic floods in the Central Coast and Hunter Region requiring resources to be concentrated on emergency and power restoration work. “A considerable amount of time and effort has gone into planning e-safe2007, and we’d like to sincerely thank the 15 other organisations who were going to compete at the event, and a further 50 organisations due to exhibit, present, adjudicate and manage various aspects of the event,” Integral Energy’s acting CEO, Daniel Lucas, said. “It is confirmed that e-safe2007 has been rescheduled for 11 & 12 July.” The Water Directorate encourages everyone to continue to support this important and informative OH&S event.

SECOND CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR THE ENERGY SAFETY & FIELD EXPO 2007, ROSEHILL GARDENS , 11 -12 JULY

Last call for the rescheduled 2007 safety competition and seminars in conjunction with e-Safe2007 & Integral Energy. Seminar topics are: Working in close proximity to Power Lines; Gas Lines; Rail Corridors; and Risk Assessment and Safe work Method Statements. Thanks and good luck to the half dozen councils that have re-entered teams in the inaugural Water Directorate Safety Competition. Trophies and prizes will be awarded to the first three teams. The Executive Committee urges our 95 member councils to support this water safety initiative by sending delegates to the seminars and workshops. The exercise attempts to raise awareness and share water safety information and build on our first involvement within the Electrical Safety Days at last year’s expo in Dubbo. Entry is free so come and have some fun and watch the water safety competition, attend the seminars and visit the safety expo. The brochure and manual are available here.

WATER LOSS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM UPDATE

In June two regional Water Loss Workshops were held in Orange and Casino and were well attended by 26 people from 16 councils collectively. Further workshops are likely to be held in Kempsey and Gunnedah in July/August. Also in June, leak detection flow monitoring equipment was installed at Wellington Shire Council and has been transmitting data. The flow monitoring equipment will be installed next in Bega, Gosford and Kempsey to complement investigations that have commenced. In June the employment process continued to secure the services of a second Water Loss Engineer to meet the increased workload. For further information and application forms visit www.WaterLoss.lgsa.org.au or contact Mirko Sramek on 02 9242 4127.

REGISTER NOW FOR THE 2007 LGSA WATER MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE, INVERELL, 16-17 AUGUST

The 2007 Water Management Conference will be held in Inverell on Thursday, 16 August to Friday, 17 August. A pre-conference session will be held from 2pm on Wednesday, 15 August on stormwater, greywater and private recycling schemes. Online registration facility and registration forms are available at www.lgsa-plus.net.au/WaterConference . The Water Directorate is please to conduct the popular Water Managers’ Forum for the fifth year which will cover issues associated with non-connection to town water and sewer, understanding water loss, and developer charges. Register before 20 July and pay the Early Bird fee of $345. Visit www.lgsa-plus.net.au/WaterConference for details on extra flights to Inverell and other travel options, accommodation and all the latest updates.

UPDATE ON NSW DROUGHT CONDITIONS

Despite heavy rain over most of the state, NSW drought conditions improved only slightly with the DPI declaring that as at June, 80.3% of the area of NSW is officially drought affected. The area classified as marginal is 10.4% and the area classified as satisfactory is only 9.3%. DWE advise that water carting to 8 villages at the start of June reduced to 6 of those villages at June 30.

STEVE POSSELT & KAYAK4EARTH, LAIDLEY TO DIRRANBANDI

At the end of June, Steve’s ‘paddling’ odyssey from Brisbane to Adelaide reached day 35 and about 20% of the distance as the crow flies. For about the first 2 to 3 weeks Steve’s route was leading him in a north westerly direction but since then he’s turned 90 degrees and has been heading south west towards Adelaide . One of Steve’s aims is to increase the general awareness of the relationship between burning fossil fuels and the resulting changes in climate that can be expected and Steve is very happy to hold forums along the way to speak and publicise his mission to anyone interested in reversing the effects of global warming. I urge member council staff along the route to organise a forum and encourage Steve as he brings his message to your shire by going to www.kayak4earth.com and to "Contact Us" and by giving the support crew the details and some notice.

Steve appears to have been doing more walking than paddling which is taking its toll on his feet and the kayak’s wheels but he is closing in on the Queensland-NSW border and should cross into Brewarrina Shire Council in early July. Read about the characters and the country hospitality along the way and follow his progress on the website.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING DATES

Meeting dates in 2007 are 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

For more information contact: