3 July 2009

DROUGHT UPDATE
Conditions in NSW worsened for a fifth month with the DPI declaring that as at mid June, 66% of NSW was officially drought affected. The area classified as marginal was unchanged at 8% and the area classified as satisfactory dropped to 26%. Note that this time last year the figures were approximately 63%, 24% and 13% respectively.

JOINT WATER DIRECTORATE/LGSA WATER LOSS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM UPDATE
It is very pleasing to announce that the Federal Government has written to the Governance Committee and offered the opportunity to extend the joint program by 12 months. The Water Directorate and the LGSA are keen to take up this offer subject to approval of the amended deed of agreement. If approved by all parties, the extended five year program would run until mid 2011 and ensure that all 66 participating councils definitely finalise their projects and maximise their water savings. 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 (see next news item) website in June is unchanged and advises that DWE and other NSW Govt agencies are now considering the submissions to the Independent Inquiry Report and will be undertaking further analysis of the report recommendations. The NSW Govt is expected to release its response to the Independent Inquiry Report in mid 2009.

PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM
On 11 June Premier Rees announced the biggest structural reform to the NSW public sector in more than 30 years – creating 13 super departments from the 160 current state agencies. DWE presumably will merge into the new department responsible for water, now titled Environment, Climate Change & Water (presumably DECCW) under Director General Lisa Corbyn. DECCW presumably reports to both Deputy Premier Carmel Tebbutt and Minister Phillip Costa.

Readers may recall that DECC first appeared in April 2007 when DEC changed its name to DECC. DWE was established at the same time and both DNR and DEUS were abolished.

SEPP (EXEMPT & COMPLYING DEVELOPING CODES) 2008
The Executive Committee seeks to make member Councils aware of an emerging serious problem concerning the requirement to set back development from public sewer mains within private property, not being included in the new exempt and complying development provisions. This applies regardless of being within an easement or not. Some initial discussion notes follow.

There does not appear to be any mechanism to secure an approval under s.68 of the LGA. The issues concern potential damage to public sewer mains by excavation and construction in the zone of influence adjacent to or directly over sewer mains. Potential damage can’t be prevented by simply setting back a prescribed distance from a sewer main, even if in an easement, due to the varying depth of the main. It would seem appropriate to include a reference to a 'prior approval' from the relevant consent authority (under clause 1.18 in the SEPP) for any development on a lot where a public sewer main is located.

It would appear appropriate to request Planning NSW to further clarify this matter and to seek advice details of the ‘Engineering Standards’ referred to which require developments under the new SEPP, to not be constructed over a pipe or easement. It is extremely rare to see a DA where any consideration of the zone of influence has been given. Obviously current ‘Engineering Standards’ are not adequate for protecting council sewer lines at present. Local Government has historically relied upon specific development consent conditions being imposed upon developments which have the potential to affect, or be severely affected by, council sewer mains. For the new SEPP, this method will not be available and a workable alternative has to be found.

The consequences of cut or compromised sewer lines are severe in public health terms and also long term costs to local govt communities. State Govt water utilities such as SWC and HWC operate under different legislation and developments can’t proceed without appropriate certification. Local Govt surely has a reasonable expectation for something similar in view of the risks to the community which need to be managed.

An option is to seek for Planning NSW to include a requirement for developers to get a ‘no sewer affected’ type of clearance from the Water and Sewer section of a council before the new SEPP provisions allowing a complying development can proceed. It may be possible to add this requirement to clause 1.18 because Planning NSW is making some minor adjustments to the SEPP at present.

MACLEAY WATER NETWORKING FORUM
Macleay Water has advised of its initiative to establish a networking forum (email exchange) that allows water accounts officers to compare notes and ask questions similar to the way that the caravan parks and assets management portfolios network with each other. Macleay Water will contact all NSW LWUs with further advice regarding this initiative.

OZWATER’10 BRISBANE, 8-10 MARCH – LAST CALL FOR PAPERS
As advised in last month’s newsletter, 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 5 themes. For more info please visit www.ozwater10.com.au 02 9436 0055 or ozwater@awa.asn.au

IWES GOLD COAST 2009, 20 – 24 JULY
Twenty four 2 to 5 day courses incl. 6 new courses, are being offered in water and wastewater treatment and environmental management. Visit the website at www.iwes.com.au for further information about the program.

NEW REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL WATER UTILITIES UNDER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WATER REGULATIONS 08
David Nicholls, Manager, Water Data Section, Water Division, Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) attended the last Water Directorate meeting to clarify the new reporting requirements for all water utilities under the Federal Government Water Regulations 2008.

The federal Water Act 2007 outlined BoM’s new water data collection role. BoM will be the lead agency for coordinating information from all water authorities around Australia. Due to the tight timeframe, BoM will accept data in whatever format it is currently available however work on developing a Water Data Transfer Format (WDTF) will continue so that a common data set is sought in the future.

BoM sets standards for water data measurement; gathers water data and makes it available; determines an annual national water resource assessment; determines an annual national water account; and provides a continuously updated water availability forecast. BoM has a strong alliance with CSIRO re modelling etc. The vehicle used is the Aust. Water Resources Info Systems (AWRIS). Collected water data is tied into weather data.

There are 10 categories and 65 sub-categories of water information including historical data and ongoing data. Water storage data is required on a daily basis and water usage data is required on an annual basis. A large number of the data requirements are already provided to the National Performance Report as part of the NWC initiatives. In NSW approx 30 utilities will be required to provide data to BoM as per NPR requirements.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING DATES
Meeting dates are 2 July, 3 Sep, 11 & 12 Nov. Contact me on 02 8267 3010 or gmitchell@waterdirectorate.asn.au.

Gary Mitchell
Executive Officer
© Copyright Water Directorate June 2009

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