9 June 2009

DROUGHT UPDATE
Conditions in NSW were generally unchanged with the DPI declaring that as at mid May, 60% of NSW was officially drought affected. The area classified as marginal dropped slightly to 8% and the area classified as satisfactory rose slightly to 32%. Despite heavy flooding again in the mid north coast in late May, some small villages in the south & south west required water carting.

JOINT WATER DIRECTORATE/LGSA WATER LOSS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM UPDATE
As reported last month, the program has been closed with 66 LWUs. We hope to announce some very good news in next month’s newsletter. For more information please contact Program Manager Ian Maggs on 02 9242 4127 or visit www.waterloss.lgsa.org.au.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVIEW UPDATE
The DWE website advises that DWE and other NSW Govt agencies such as DECC, DoH, DLG are now considering the 86 submissions to the Independent Inquiry Report listed on DWE’s website and will be undertaking further analysis of the report recommendations in order to devise specific strategies to meet the goals of sustainable, secure long term water supply and sewerage services in non-metro NSW. The NSW Govt is expected to release its response to the Independent Inquiry Report in mid 2009. A workshop to examine binding alliances was facilitated by PricewaterhouseCoopers for DWE and Minister Costa. The Water Directorate hopes that the workshop discussions will be made available to all.

AWARDS AT THE IPWEA NSW ANNUAL CONFERENCE EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Congratulations to Clarence Valley Council and Coffs Harbour City Council for winning the Water Directorate sponsored Award for Innovation in Water Supply & Wastewater. This award was presented to the joint venture Shannon Creek Dam project which ensures adequate water supplies to both councils. The highly Commended Award for this category was presented to Port Macquarie Hastings Council for the Wauchope WTP. Well done to all nominees and all member Councils are encouraged to nominate your projects next year.

MORE GONGS AT THE ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA NEWCASTLE DIVISION ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE AWARDS
The NSW Local Government Water Industry was very well represented at these Awards also held in May. Three Engineering Excellence Awards were presented to NSW local water utilities.

The GHD Award for Innovation in Sustainable Engineering Excellence was presented to Port Macquarie Hastings Council for the Wauchope Water Treatment Plant. The RTA Award for Infrastructure Excellence in Regional Communities was presented to Tweed Shire Council for the Kingscliff Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The overall winner receiving the Energy Australia Engineering Excellence Award was presented to Clarence Valley Council for the Clarence Valley/Coffs Harbour Regional Water Supply Strategy. Good luck to these 3 projects in the Engineers Australia National Engineering Excellence Awards to be held later this year.

AND MORE GONGS FROM THE AWA NSW WATER AWARDS?- MINISTER RECOGNISES CREAM-OF-THE-CROP
The NSW Water Awards, hosted by the Australian Water Association, were held in May in Darling Harbour as part of the AWA NSW Gala Dinner, with several hundred guests attending to help recognise excellence in the sector. Two significant projects took out top honours during the evening, with the NSW Water Environment Merit Award going to Blackmans Swamp Creek Stormwater Harvesting Scheme by Orange City Council & Geolyse Pty Ltd, for developing a major stormwater use scheme that is set to become an international example of best practice stormwater harvesting.?The Regional Water Supply Strategy by Clarence Valley and Coffs Harbour Councils was recognised at the ceremony when it was awarded the NSW Water Construction Award. Judges deemed that this project – both built and non-built aspects - demonstrated innovative approaches in the delivery of infrastructure and offered the flexibility to meet the needs of multiple stakeholders in securing the future supply of water for both Clarence Valley and Coffs Harbour regions.

SPEAKING OF AWARDS - MAKE A NOMINATION FOR THE 2009 GREEN GLOBE AWARDS
The NSW Government’s Green Globe Awards are the leading environmental awards in NSW. The Awards showcase and recognise outstanding achievements in the sustainable use of natural resources in NSW and leadership in tackling climate change. This year DECC has introduced new awards for Local Govt, community, and media to celebrate the achievements of leaders in those fields. Nominations close on 11 June. Winners of the awards will be announced at a gala event hosted by the Hon. Carmel Tebbutt, the Minister for Climate Change and the Environment on 28 July. For more information please visit www.environment.nsw.gov.au/greenglobes or contact Kate Breeze on (02) 9995 6311 or greenglobes@environment.nsw.gov.au

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 5 JUNE
World Environment Day, celebrated each year on 5 June is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and focuses political attention and action. This year’s theme is Your Planet Needs You! UNite to Combat Climate Change.

ADDENDUM TO THE 2005 SECTION 64 DETERMINATIONS OF EQUIVALENT TENEMENTS GUIDELINES
In May our latest publication was distributed to our 95 member Councils. The publication is an addendum and a reprint of the 2005 s64 Determinations of Equivalent Tenements Guidelines. The Guidelines provide a basis for each Council to set appropriate ET loads for water & sewerage systems for various types of development. The new addendum provides an indication of the variability that may exist across different categories and different geographical areas. As with any guideline, it is important for each end-user to apply appropriate local knowledge and characteristics to any adopted formulae. Knowing some of the variables involved in the different development categories means that individual Councils can collect and apply their own data to the local context. As water usage patterns change, such data collection will provide a basis for further reviews.

FIRST WICA LICENCES IN NSW
The NSW government has awarded a water recycling licence to Veolia Water to build a new water recycling plant in Sydney's south west. This is the first licence to be issued under the Water Industry Competition Act 2006 and permits the construction, maintenance and operation of a new recycled water plant as part of the Rosehill Recycling Scheme. A second licence has been granted to Aquanet Sydney, a division of Jemena, to transport the water through a network of retrofitted gas pipes. The project is expected to attract $100 million of private sector investment and create 64 construction jobs. Item courtesy of Sydney Water, ABC News and AWA E-news 11 May.

OZWATER ’10 BRISBANE, 8-10 MARCH - CALL FOR PAPERS
The final date for abstracts is 31 July 09 for Australia’s National Water Conference and Exhibition. You are invited to submit an abstract that presents a challenging and practical perspective on any of the following themes:

• Integrated Water Management
• Water Policy Reform
• New Water Sources and Systems
• Water and People
• Water and Wastewater Systems and Processes

Visit www.ozwater10.com.au 02 9436 0055 or ozwater@awa.asn.au

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING DATES
Meeting dates for 2009 are 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.

Gary Mitchell
Executive Officer
© Copyright Water Directorate May 2009

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