31 March 2003

EVENTS IN MARCH 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 March 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.

MEMBERSHIP
The latest good news to report is that Hay Shire Council is our 102nd member council bringing membership in the South West Group to 28 out of 31. Eloise Stanley or myself would be very happy to send membership kits to potential new member councils. All new members should be aware that past publications can be purchased at the reduced member rate and that a copy of each new publication will be distributed gratis.

INCORPORATION OF THE WATER DIRECTORATE
General Managers of all member councils should note that a letter will be sent to them in early April 03 explaining the incorporation formality and outlining the procedures to transfer the assets. The letter will seek the General Managers' 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 and I urge General Managers to contact me on 8267 3010 or Eloise Stanley on 8267 3009 to clarify any issue.

GUIDELINES FOR CUTTING, HANDLING AND DISPOSAL OF ASBESTOS CEMENT PIPES
I confirm that the Guidelines for Cutting, Handling and Disposal of AC Pipes were mailed out to our member councils on 20th March 03. The Executive Committee hopes that member councils find the guidelines to be a practical management tool and any feedback is welcome.

GUIDELINES FOR REUSE OF SLUDGE AND RETURN BACKWASH WATER FROM WTPs
The next guideline document to be finalised will be the Guidelines for Reuse of Sludge and Return Backwash Water from WTPs. The consultant's draft report is currently being reviewed and it is expected to be finalised, printed and distributed in late May 03.

GUIDELINES FOR DROUGHT MANAGEMENT AND WATER RESTRICTIONS
The next guideline document to commence is the Guidelines for Drought Management and Water Restrictions. Many thanks go to the 24 member councils that responded to our request and forwarded a range of comments, practices, policies and procedures to me during the past month. While the full range of issues in the guidelines is still to be finalised, these contributions will provide an excellent starting point for the project which will be coordinated with relevant state government departments to ensure that our efforts aren't duplicated.

TRADE WASTE POLICY
In March, the Water Directorate's Sewer Sub-committee initiated and held a joint workshop with representatives from the DLWC and AWA's Trade Waste Interest Group. The purpose of the workshop was to determine the adequacy of Stage 1 of the DLWC's Concurrence Guidelines for the Discharge of Liquid Trade Waste and to expedite stage 2. The technical content required to update and expand the guidelines is expected to be complete in May and it is hoped that the state government will approve and distribute the guidelines by mid 2003.

PRESSURE SEWERAGE SYSTEM OPEN DAYS
Wagga Wagga City Council held the first of two open days on their pressure sewerage schemes in late March. I am advised that the information session was well attended by approximately 35 people eager to hear about Wagga Wagga's latest experiences with pressure sewerage systems. The second open day has been postponed to Friday, 9th May 03 with an informal discussion evening to be held before the site inspections on Thursday, 8th May 03. Interested parties should contact Eileen Gambell on 02 6926 9481.

AMENDMENT OF STATE ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING POLICY No 4 REGARDING APPROVAL FOR RAINWATER TANKS
It has come to the Water Directorate's attention via our involvement with the interdepartmental Rainwater Tank Sub-committee, that some councils may be unaware of the effect or the existence of the changes to SEPP 4 as it applies to the approval process for the installation of rainwater tanks. Please note that 'Amendment of SEPP 4 - Development Without Consent and Miscellaneous Complying Development' was gazetted on 6 December 2002. The amendment allows for the installation of rainwater tanks up to 10,000 litres without a development application subject to compliance with approximately 20 requirements.

Lgov NSW WATER MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE, TAREE/FOSTER, THURSDAY 31ST JULY & FRIDAY 1ST AUGUST 03
This year's Lgov NSW Water Management Conference shall be hosted by MidCoast Water. 2003, being the International Year of Freshwater, provides a platform for promoting achievements in local government integrated water resource planning and provides the catalyst for exploring local issues and emerging trends and innovations in project management. The conference agenda is proposed to cover the implementation and the implications of the Water Management Act 2000 (including water trading, socio-economic impacts, cross state boundary coordination and land use planning proposals); integrated water cycle management planning; the Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program; water pricing guidelines and drought management.

The conference will feature a panel exploring some of the unanswered questions of the Water Reform process and the implications for local government and their communities. The conference will also feature a forum for Local Government Water Managers, coordinated by the Water Directorate, to discuss current issues in the water industry. There will also be three workshop streams that explore how water authorities are practically addressing environmental concerns, ensuring sound operational practices and developing and implementing innovative means to address local issues.

In an endeavour to make the conference reflective of the needs and issues faced by councils involved in water management, Lgov NSW is also keen to enlist the participation of local government practitioners in the Managers Forum and the workshops. Lgov NSW is keen to identify issues for discussion in the Managers Forum, to enlist speakers to present short papers/ideas at the three workshop streams (presentations will be limited to 15 minutes) and to identify products that water authorities are eager to see demonstrated at the conference. Expressions of interest in any of the above items need to be received by the 30th April to finalise the conference agenda. Please do not hesitate to contact Stephanie Smith, Water Policy Officer, at Lgov NSW to discuss ideas and options on 9242 4070 or Stephanie.Smit@lgov.org.au.

CALL FOR PAPERS FOR PIPES WAGGA WAGGA 2003
'Design and Innovation' is the theme for the 6th bi-annual conference to be held on 21 to 24 October 03. If you would like to present a paper, please submit your abstract by 20 April 03 to conference co-ordinator Penny Lamont on 6924 6311 or on 0427 433 795.

WORLD WATER FORUM
Tweed Shire Council was one of approximately 150 participants invited and sponsored by the Japanese Government to attend the World Water Forum in Japan in March 03 and present a poster paper on community water actions in relation to work undertaken on the Tweed River. Mike Rayner, Director of Engineering Services at Tweed Shire Council attended the Forum which had some 10,000 attendees and was held in three cities.

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 Member Councils'. This agenda item will formalise an advice feedback and information sharing process.

Gary Mitchell
Executive Officer

For more information contact: