NOVEMBER 2026

Hello, and welcome to our newsletter for November 2026.

Our Annual Forum 'From Insights to Action: Digital Water in Practice' was a huge success. Thank you to everyone who attended, sponsored, presented and exhibited. As part of the Forum, we shared our Digital Readiness page, which we'll continue to build on with key resources, connections, and practical case studies to support digital readiness in water and wastewater operations across regional NSW.

Our Annual General Meeting for the Water Directorate Incorporated is coming up next week at 9.30am on 12 November, over Teams. Please contact us if you would like to participate.

On 29 October we held our last Executive Committee meeting for their 2-year term. I would like to express my thanks and gratitude to our hard working Executive Committee members, particularly those who are leaving our Committee: Katie Hardy at Singleton Shire Council, Bruce Logan at Tamworth Regional Council and Graham Attenborough at Eurobodalla Shire Council.

While mentioning our Executive Committee, congratulations also go to two of our members on achieving 10 years of service with the Water Directorate - Bruce Logan of Tamworth Regional Council and Graham Gordon of Griffith City Council.

Water Directorate, Local Government NSW and Joint Organisations continue to participate in the LWU Reform stakeholder group, providing feedback on reform delivery that includes the design of a Community Service Obligation (CSO) funding model for LWU's. We continue to advocate in partnership with LGNSW in Securing our Water Supply. We are developing our Critical Projects list - don't hesitate to contact us if you have a project you want us to discuss. The LGNSW website has a series of templates for media releases, council business papers and to write to the Minister to help you advocate for your critical water or sewerage infrastructure project.

Annual Forum 2026: Highlights

On behalf of the Water Directorate, thank you to everyone who attended, sponsored, presented and exhibited at our Forum last week. Your participation helped bring together Local Water Utilities, industry, government and sector leaders from across NSW to explore digital readiness, share lessons learned, and identify practical steps towards digital water adoption. As part of the Forum, we shared our Digital Readiness webpage, which we'll continue to build with key resources, connections, and practical case studies.

Save the Date: 13 August 2027

Planning is already underway for next year's Forum, which will be held on Friday 13 August 2027 at the Aerial Function Centre at UTS, Sydney. Keen to get involved? Help shape the program? Email us at info@waterdirectorate.asn.au

Digital Readiness

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Bruce Logan of Tamworth Regional Council and Graham Gordon of Griffith City Council, on achieving 10 years of service with the Water Directorate.

Photo (from L to R): Brie Jowett - Manager Water and Wastewater - Operations at Tweed Shire Council and Chair, Water Directorate; Graham Gordon - Director Utilities at Griffith City Council;

Bruce Logan - Director Water and Waste at Tamworth Regional Council; and Brendan Guiney- Executive Officer Water Directorate

Updated e-Learning courses

Updated Aqua Card and Brown Card courses are now available, along with our new Green Card course, developed with the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW). The changes will make it easier to find, access, and complete relevant training aligned with the NSW Competency Benchmark for Water Operators.

A few important dates:

📅 30 September: new Aqua Card, Brown Card and Green Card courses launched.
📅 30 September: enrolments closed for existing Aqua Card and Brown Card courses.
📅 30 November: existing Aqua Card and Brown Card courses will be removed. If you are already enrolled in an existing Aqua Card or Brown Card course, you have until 30 November 2026 to complete it.

Please contact our team via email info@waterdirectorate.asn.au if you have any questions or need assistance, or check out our FAQs on our website.

Annual Review 2025-2026

Our 2025–26 Annual Review is now available. Read about the progress made under Strategy 2030, key advocacy outcomes, workforce and capability initiatives, and how the Water Directorate continues to support our member Local Water Utilities across regional NSW.

Annual Report

Report from NSW Parliamentary Data Centres Inquiry

The NSW Parliamentary Inquiry has tabled their report. The NSW Government is required to respond to this report by 5 February 2027. Thanks to WSAA and in particular Danielle Francis, Manager Customer and Policy, for continuing to provide valuable insights and updates via WSAA's Data Centres and Water Community of Practice.

Read more

News for Local Water Utilities

Key Updates:

New LWU branch leadership appointed: Rachel Watson (Policy & Regulation) and Cameron Munro (Regional Water Programs & Services).
LWUs encouraged to prepare now for the upcoming blue-green algae season.
Research identified opportunities to reduce residential water use through better management of evaporative air conditioners.
Trade waste seminar on 25 November from 09:00 - 12:15 to focus on emerging issues including microplastics and data centres. Register here
Water treatment update covered PFAS, operator training and treatment optimisation in Armidale.
Workforce initiatives continue, including the NSW Green Card, supervisor training and Aboriginal workforce engagement.
Major investments highlighted in water security infrastructure and AI-driven leak detection.