7 October 2004

EVENTS IN SEPTEMBER 2004

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 September 2004 and of coming events. This newsletter is sent to General Managers and to Water and Sewer Managers in approximately 104 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.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2003/04

Please note that it is planned to finalise and distribute the Water Directorate 2003/04 Annual Review in October to General Managers and to Water and Sewer Managers of our member councils. Thanks to Eloise Stanley for again producing our Annual Review.

WATER AND SEWER METER READING GUIDELINES

Our latest publication titled Water & Sewer Meter Reading Guidelines was mailed to General Managers of member councils in September. This 40 page document provides technical advice about metering and its associated activities which form an integral part of an authority's operational functions particularly with the transition to user pay systems. The guidelines address the significant recent changes in best practice management of metering including meter selection; meter reading and data collection; and infrastructure management. Additional copies of the guidelines are available to member councils for $100 and to non members for $200. Albury Water was engaged to produce the technical content under the supervision of the Water Directorate 's Technical Sub-committee of Stewart McLeod, Simon Thorn, Kent Boyd, Doug Hill and Jeff Sharp. Representatives from approximately 30 councils and county councils were consulted and their input is greatly appreciated. Unfortunately un-financial member councils will not receive this new document until membership fees are received.

NEW PROJECT UPDATE - s64/ET GUIDELINES

Our next publication re Best Practice User Categories & ET Design Figures is planned to be distributed before the end of the year.

COUNTRY TOWNS WATER SUPPLY AND SEWERAGE PROGRAM AND OUTCOME OF MEETING WITH MINISTER SARTOR

As previewed in last month's newsletter, the Chair of the Water Directorate , Daryl McGregor was invited to join LGSA's Clr Phyllis Miller, Clr Robert Bell and Water Policy Officer Stephanie Smith to meet with Minister Sartor regarding general issues of the CTWS&SP in early September. The outcomes of this meeting are available on the website at www.waterdirectorate.asn.au Please note that every specific issue could not be dealt with in a one hour meeting with the Minister however further good news is that the minister has offered to meet quarterly with the next meeting scheduled for 1 December. A working group from the Water Directorate and LGSA will expedite issues between meetings with the Minister. A further positive outcome of discussions with Minister Sartor is that Mike Rayner was contacted by Minister Sartor in September and invited to represent the Water Directorate and join LGSA's Clr Phyllis Miller on a Review Panel. The Review Panel together with the Country Towns Prioritisation Committee will review local water utilities' feedback to DEUS' new priority levels for projects.

FEEDBACK FROM INTEGRATED WATER CYCLE MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP, ORANGE

The first AWA/ Water Directorate /LGSA/DEUS IWCM workshop in September at Orange was extremely well attended by some 80 participants and based on the level of interest there will definitely be further workshops in other regions of NSW. Thanks to all who participated at Orange . It is intended to hold 2 or 3 other workshops around the state depending on further demand and availability of speakers etc. The next workshop may be at Coffs Harbour in November. The format of the first one-day event was an interactive workshop, with short presentations from DEUS, the Water Directorate and AWA, along with two main discussion panels - one from the Pilot Councils' point of view, the other from a Consultants' aspect. The format for the next workshop will probably evolve slightly especially in accordance with the development of DEUS manuals. For more details please contact Lee Devereux on 9495 9908 or email ldevereux@awa.asn.au

WATER ENVIRONMENT MERIT AWARD

Congratulations to Hastings Council for receiving the NSW Water Environment Merit Award for Sustainable River Abstraction and the Koree # 3 Water Supply Pumping Station. The award was presented to Murray Thompson at the September AWA Heads of Water Dinner and this project will now be entered in the national competition.

NOMINATIONS FOR INNOVATION IN WATER SUPPLY AND WASTEWATER AT IPWEA EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2005

The Water Directorate is pleased to again sponsor the Innovation in Water Supply & Wastewater Award at the IPWEA Excellence Awards 2005. Only Water Directorate member councils are eligible to nominate for this award by Wednesday, 3 November 2004 for projects that are completed between February 2003 and February 2005. Call for Nominations will be sent out to General Managers and to Water and Sewer contacts of member councils in October. Final submissions are required by Wednesday, 2 February 2005 and the presentation will take place on Monday, 23 May 2005 at the Sydney SuperDome, Sydney Olympic Park. The Water Directorate urges member councils to take this opportunity to promote your staff and your projects to your peers.

NSW HEALTH DRINKING WATER MONITORING PROGRAM 2005

NSW Local Water Utilities should soon receive letters from NSW Health advising of the recommended minimum number of monitoring samples to be collected under the NSW Health Drinking Water Monitoring Program for 2005. NSW Local Water Utilities are asked to confirm that the allocated sample numbers and system information provided is correct. If there are any errors or you wish to request an adjustment to the sample numbers allocated please contact your local Public Health Unit by Friday, 22 October 2004 . Once sample numbers have been confirmed, NSW Health sample labels will be printed and sent back to NSW Local Water Utilities.

REVIEW OF STATE WATER CORPORATION'S OPERATING LICENCE

In September, IPART released an Issues Paper regarding its review of State Water's Operating Licence which aims to recommend the terms of State Water's initial Operating Licence following corporatisation. Submissions on the Issues Paper can be sent to IPART by 15 October. IPART has also announced that it will conduct a review to determine the maximum prices that can be charged for bulkwater from 1 July 2005 by State Water. Submissions from public and stakeholders are due 17 December.

CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT BOARDS ESTABLISHED UNDER CATCHMNET MANAGEMENT AUTHORITIES ACT 2003

Under the NSW natural resource reform initiatives of 2003/04, Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) were established to develop Catchment Action Plans for NSW. CMA activities are subject to the direction of Catchment Management Boards (CMBs). In September, the Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources announced that appointments have now been made to the CMBs to bring them to their full operational capacity. As well as having good expert knowledge of catchment management, board members also have close links with the community. CMBs have been established for the following regions: Border River/Gwydir CMA; Central West CMA; Hawkesbury Nepean CMA; Hunter/Central Rivers CMA; Lachlan CMA; Namoi CMA; Southern Rivers CMA and Western CMA.
Source: Minister for IPNR, 17 September 2004 . Summary courtesy of PwC Legal's September newsletters- 'eNNA'.

COASTAL PROTECTION REGION 2004 REPLACES COASTAL PROTECTION (NON-LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS) REGION 1994

Ministers are required to review Regulations every five or ten years in order to ensure that they maintain their relevance and efficacy. The 1994 Coastal Protection Regulation has been reviewed and replaced by the new 2004 Regulation. The new Regulation applies to the coastal zone below the mean high water mark but excludes any estuary, lake or artificial harbour. It prohibits the carrying out of development on any part of the coastal zone except with the concurrence of the Minister for Natural Resources. It also prohibits public authorities from granting any rights or consent to the use or occupation of the coastal zone except with the Minister for Natural Resources' consent. Source: NSW Government Gazette No. 138, 27 August 2004 , p. 6728. Summary courtesy of PwC Legal's September newsletters- 'eNNA'. To subscribe contact Jane Wild on Jane.Wild@pwclegal.com.au

AWA CONFERENCE, RYDGES HOTEL, NORTH SYDNEY, 20-21 OCTOBER 2004

AWA's national conference titled 'Water Efficiency 2004' is a 2 day event during National Water Week with a focus on how the water industry, water utilities and water users are responding to the issues of drought and water restrictions. The conference also marks the launch of the Smart Approved WaterMark scheme, a nationally endorsed water conservation labelling scheme that recognises products, services and organisations which assist in saving water. For further information see the website www.awa.asn.au/events/efficiency04

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The remaining Executive Committee meeting in 2004 & AGM are scheduled for 4 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 8267 3010 or gmitchell@waterdirectorate.asn.au

For more information contact: