10 March 2009

FEBRUARY 2009
The Water Directorate Is a voluntary association of Councils and County Councils that operate water and/or sewer businesses in regional NSW. Financial membership is currently 94 member Councils out of a potential 103 LWUs or 91% representation. We hope you enjoy this newsletter.

DROUGHT UPDATE
Conditions in NSW worsened slightly after a four month run of improvements with the DPI declaring that as at February, 56.6% of the area of NSW was officially drought affected. The area classified as marginal rose to 15.7% and the area classified as satisfactory fell to 27.7%. Bearing in mind that monthly figures are released at the middle of the month it is expected that March figures will show a big improvement after heavy rain and flooding shifted from Queensland in February to NSW north coastal areas and inland areas such as Bourke. Sadly the record heatwaves in late January in Victoria and SA turned to tragedy in Victoria with hundreds of lives lost.

JOINT WATER DIRECTORATE/LGSA WATER LOSS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM UPDATE
The number of participating Councils is now 61 or nearly double the original submission estimate of 33. This is an outstanding response to the Program and it is very gratifying for all involved in managing the Program. With access to the Program closing on 31 March, LWUs still interested in applying for assistance have only this month left to contact Ian Maggs ASAP on 02 9242 4127 or visit www.waterloss.lgsa.org.au. Ian Maggs, Chair Stewart McLeod and I have been invited to be panellists at a Water Leaders Congress in early March to discuss and promote the Water Loss Management Program as an example of a successful program between the Water Directorate, the LGSA, local water utilities and the Federal Government.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVIEW UPDATE
In a first for the Water Directorate, a Water Minister visited our Executive Committee meeting. In February Minister Phillip Costa met with us and it was very pleasing to have the opportunity for a frank face to face discussion about the independent inquiry report. The Minister advised that: His office is comfortable with the recommendations contained in the report and it is an excellent starting point. Alliances will not be rushed or forced as it will take time to get the regional grouping correct in some cases. He will not be looking at alliances as a means to amalgamate councils. Alliances will not be forced and there are enough Councils that have offered to take this opportunity to reform but when a Council agrees to become part of a binding alliance it can’t opt out. Senior staff or managers will not lose their jobs as a result of the alliances as the functions should transfer across to the new body. The number of staff required and the structure of the alliance is up to the Councils. There is no preferred model and how the structure is put in place will not be mandated. He is not an advocate of amalgamation and this process is not the first step towards amalgamation, which is outside DWE’s jurisdiction. Only Councils that are performing well and are sustainable will be able to stay with the status quo. All other Councils will need to change at some stage as he needs to be confident that all residents of regional NSW are getting the best water and sewer services possible. Two years to implement the changes may be a reasonable timeframe but this issue will be discussed more in the coming months. A team at DWE is looking at models and preliminary costs which will form the Minister’s budget submission. Some alliances may not happen depending on money available. After alliances are formed, there needs to be a look at how to tidy up legislation for a better way of reporting. DWE is best equipped to handle the pricing issue as an external group will probably take too long. However, he is keen to see council submit alternatives on pricing regulations for consideration. He will consult the Reference Group for the mechanics of the reform and DWE is setting up a group. The Minister would like to attend another Water Directorate meeting later in the year to continue the dialogue and get more feedback from practitioners – and the Executive Committee welcomes this opportunity to meet again.

WATER DIRECTORATE AWARD TO ATTEND OZWATER CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION, MELBOURNE, 16-18 MARCH
Congratulations to Sione Holaafolau, Manager Water and Waste from Upper Hunter Shire Council. This is the sixth year that the Executive Committee has offered this award and funding of up to $1,600 towards the cost of travel and accommodation and AWA has kindly donated a gratis conference again also valued at approximately $1,600.

LAST CALL FOR PAPERS FOR THE LGSA 2009 WATER MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE, DENILIQUIN, 9-11 SEPTEMBER
The call for papers ends on 31 March. Please email papers to Sascha Moege, Senior Policy Officer on sascha.moege@lgsa.org.au.

LAST CALL TO ATTEND THE 3RD ANNUAL NSW WIOA CONFERENCE, TAMWORTH, 31 MARCH-2 APRIL
WIOA’s third Annual Conference and Trade Supply expo in Tamworth will be held on 31 March to 2 April. The Water Directorate is pleased to sponsor this practical level conference again and present the NSW Operator of the Year Award again – see next item. Please support the conference by attending or sending delegates. Contact George Wall Executive Officer for more information on 03 5821 6744 or 0407 846 001 or www.wioa.org.au. Registration forms and seminar forms are included with this newsletter to LWUs.

LAST CHANCE TO WIN TRIP TO NEW ZEALAND FOR WATER DIRECTORATE NSW OPERATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD
As announced in last month’s newsletter, the 2009 NSW Operator of the Year Award now includes a professional development trip to the New Zealand Operators conference in Dunedin in early to mid May. The winner of the NSW Operator of the Year will join the WIOA delegation as a participant on this trip along with WIOA Committee people, interested industry representatives and other prize winners. Most years, this trip also includes a study tour of various water and wastewater treatment plants and processes as well as attending the conference. The prize includes air fares and accommodation arranged through WIOA. Letters and nomination forms were sent out in early February to General Managers of all NSW local water utilities advising that the Water Directorate will present for the third year an annual award to recognise the achievements of operational staff employed in the NSW water industry, similar to the award presented in Victoria and Queensland. Water and sewer managers are invited to nominate operator/s from their organisation to be considered for the Water Directorate NSW Operator of the Year Award 2009 to be presented at the WIOA NSW Water Industry Engineers and Operators Conference at Tamworth on 31 March to 2 April. The award is presented to operators of water or wastewater treatment facilities to recognise excellent performance, initiative and all round attention to detail. 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 2 previous winners were Pat Welsh from MidCoast County Council in 2007 and Peter Hale from Shoalhaven Water in 2008. The call for nominees closes 13 March.

URBAN WATER AND DESALINATION PLAN : IMPLEMENTATION GUIDELINES
In February WSAA advised its Members and Associate Members that the Federal Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) had recently released the National Urban Water and Desalination Plan: Implementation Guidelines and provided the following link http://www.environment.gov.au/water/programs/urban/index.html.

DEPT OF HEALTH PRIVATE WATER SUPPLY GUIDELINES
LWUs are reminded that Health issued a 40 page document titled Private Water Supply Guidelines in late 2008 with an accompanying DVD. The guidelines are intended for facilities such as caravan parks, B&Bs, camping grounds, remote work sites etc.

WATERAID AUSTRALIA
I take this opportunity to remind readers of the great work undertaken by WaterAid Australia which 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 94 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 new CEO Adam Laidlaw on 03 9872 1732. Water industry staff interested in donating to WaterAid Australia can do so directly on-line at www.wateraid.org.au or visit the site to learn more or get involved.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING DATES
Meeting dates for 2009 are 5 March, 7 May, 2 July, 3 September, 4 November and 5 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. At the first Executive Committee meeting for 2009, Stewart McLeod was re-elected unopposed as Chair and Kent Boyd was elected unopposed as Deputy Chair for the next two calendar years. To expedite our projects and publications, Carmel Krogh was re-elected as Policy Sub-committee Chair; Wayne Franklin was elected as Water Sub-committee Chair; and Greg Searle was elected as Sewer Sub-committee Chair at the February meeting.

Gary Mitchell
Executive Officer
© Copyright Water Directorate February 2009

For more information contact: