9 July 2008

NSW DROUGHT CONDITIONS UPDATE
Conditions worsened for a third straight month with the DPI declaring that as at June, 62.7% of the area of NSW was officially drought affected. The area classified as marginal was steady at 23.7% but the area classified as satisfactory halved to just 13.6%. DWE advised that four small towns with populations ranging from 40 to 120 required some water carting in June.

JOINT WATER DIRECTORATE/LGSA WATER LOSS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM UPDATE
The Water Directorate/LGSA joint Water Loss Management Program is funded with assistance from the Federal Government’s Water Smart Australia Program administered by the National Water Commission which commenced in about early 2005. In June the Federal Government advised that from 1 July administration of the Water Smart Australia Program will be transferred from the NWC to the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEHWA). It was stressed that transfer of the administration will not impact on respective obligations, including funding commitments, under the deed. As mentioned in last month’s newsletter, the website has been updated so check out the location of projects being carried out under this program on www.waterloss.lgsa.org.au .

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVIEW UPDATE
DWE advised that 143 submissions have been received from local water utilities, local government and community stakeholders. DWE also advised that the 17 public hearings were attended by 487 people at which 117 people gave presentations. All the information from the submissions and presentations is currently being carefully considered in preparation for a report to Minister Rees by August.

UPDATE ON CURRENT AND NEW PROJECTS
The Water Directorate’s next publication addresses Risk Management Guidelines and is nearing completion. A draft document is complete and is currently being reviewed by our Policy Sub-committee. It is anticipated that the document will be finalised, printed and distributed to our 96 member Councils by September. An update on this project will be given at the Ballina conference. The Water Directorate’s newest project concerns the preparation of an Odour Management Guideline which was advertised in June. The contract will be awarded in mid to late July and the publication is expected to be completed by November and possibly distributed before Christmas.

BETTER WATER AND SEWERAGE IN ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES
The May newsletter reported the good news announcement regarding the NSW Government’s $205 million long term commitment over the next 25 to deliver better water and sewerage services in the State’s Aboriginal communities. In June the Water Directorate was invited to nominate a representative to be on the DAA chaired steering committee which will meet for the first time on 9 July. The steering committee will assist DWE manage the program and it is expected there will be significant involvement of local water utilities in the delivery of better water and sewerage services to the State’s Aboriginal communities.

REGISTER NOW FOR THE 2008 LGSA WATER MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE, BALLINA, 13-15 AUGUST
The 2008 Water Management Conference will be held in Ballina on Thursday, 14 August to Friday, 15 August. Pre-conference workshops will be held from 2pm on Wednesday, 13 August on Local Government’s involvement in the NSW Government’s recently announced Aboriginal Communities Water Supply and Sewerage program (above) and an update from DoH. 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 sixth year which will cover issues associated with fourth generation water systems, non-connection to town water and sewer, risk management and business continuity planning, and LWU reform. Visit www.waterconference.lgsa.org.au or contact Vivienne Palmer at Ballina Shire Council on 02 6686 3484 or viviennep@ballina.nsw.org.au.

TRADE WASTE PRICING AND GUIDELINE FORUM UPDATE
Issues raised at the Trade Waste Pricing and Guideline Forum have been forwarded to DWE and a meeting will be convened in July to discuss these issues with them. DWE representatives are keen to address these issues if appropriate when issuing a new Trade Waste Guideline in the near future. The Trade Waste Forum attendees are thanked again for their time and valuable contributions.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE 'MAKING TRAINING WORK', CROWNE PLAZA, HUNTER VALLEY, 21 - 22 JULY
The 2008 NSW Utilities & Electrotechnology Industry Training Advisory Body (NSW U&E ITAB) annual conference ‘Making Training Work’ this year features a separate stream on the second day for Water. The NSW U&E ITAB provides industry and the NSW Government with advice on Vocational Education & Training matters in New South Wales for the Electricity Supply Industry; Electrotechnology; Gas; and Water. The NSW U&E ITAB is part of a national network and works closely with Industry Skills Councils, employers and the workforce to promote training for our industries in NSW. The NSW U&E ITAB 2008 Annual Conference will focus on ‘Making Training Work’ by bringing together industry, training practitioners and government together to share ideas and information. By participating in interactive sessions and workshops you will come away with tools to improve practices in your own organisation. This year will feature speakers from Country Energy, CSIRO, NSW TAFE, Sydney Water, EE-Oz Training Standards, Government Skills Australia, the NSW Department of Education and Training (State Training Services and Industry Programs Directorate) and others. For more information contact Naomi Dinnen Executive Officer on 02 9326 6097 or go to http://www.uensw.com.au/conference.htm to register online and view the program.

NATIONAL POLLUTANT INVENTORY REPORTING WORKSHOP, SYDNEY WATER OFFICE, 15 AUGUST
AWA will convene a workshop in the Warragamba Room, Level 2 Sydney Water Head Office at 1.00-4.00pm on Friday 15th August 2008. This workshop will provide a guide to the NPI Potable Water Treatment and Sewage and Wastewater Treatment handbooks, explained by Katie Vines and Brad Deane from the EPA. A question and answer session will be part of the workshop. There is no cost to attend this workshop however RSVP required by email to Tanya Webeck twebeck@awa.asn.au by 7th August.

COOPERATIVE RESEARCH CENTRE FOR WATER QUALITY AND TREATMENT
On 30 June 2008 the CRC for WQT completed its term of operation under the Commonwealth Agreement. During its 13 years of operation the CRC undertook a broad portfolio of research and educational activities addressing issues relating to water quality management and health risk reduction, from catchment and reservoir management and water treatment to the distribution of drinking water to consumers' taps. The web site www.waterquality.crc.org.au will be maintained until 30 June 2009 and will continue to be updated as Research Reports and other outputs from the CRC research program are completed and published. The CRC has been succeeded by Water Quality Research Australia Limited (WQRA), a national not-for-profit scientific research institution. WQRA will develop and undertake a program of research and education to build on the achievements of the CRC. The final NEON newsletter was issued on 27 June and the final Annual Report will be released over the next 6 months. Outgoing CEO Dennis Steffensen will continue to oversee the wind-up of its affairs and to work closely with the CEO of WQRA Limited, Jodieann Dawe for a further three months, before returning to a full time position with SA Water. We wish all staff well in their future roles.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING DATES
The remaining meeting dates in 2008 for the Executive Committee are 3 July, 4 September and 5, 6 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

Many thanks to Greg McDonald from Dungog Shire Council who stands down from the Executive Committee at the end of June after serving since November 2003 and attending 27 meetings. Greg also served on the Sewer Sub-committee which oversaw the production of a number of publications including: Revision of the O&M Manual for Wet & Dry Well SPSs; O&M Manual for STPs – one of our biggest undertakings; STP Buffer Zone Land Use Planning Guidelines; and the recent Trade Waste Pricing and Guideline Forum. Greg‘s departure from the Executive Committee coincides with Dungog Shire Council’s handover of its water and sewerage infrastructure and business to Hunter Water Corporation increasing HWC’s area of operations by approximately 50%.

Gary Mitchell
Executive Officer
© Copyright Water Directorate March 2008

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