Welcome to our October newsletter.

The previous month has been chock full of advocacy, conveying LWU needs and concerns to government assisted by our fellow associations, including Local Government NSW, AWA and WSAA. 

Our focus this month is the upcoming Annual Forum, only two weeks away on the 31st October. This event is the highlight of our calendar and offers a valuable opportunity to connect, learn and inspire one another. We are thrilled to present an engaging program featuring remarkable speakers who will tackle the most scary challenges facing our industry.

In the next week, we'll be finalising plans with the venue based on expected attendance. I urge anyone who has not yet registered to do so at their earliest convenience. For questions or assistance with the registration process, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at info@waterdirectorate.asn.au.

We eagerly anticipate connecting and engaging with many of you at the Forum in just a couple of weeks!

Water licensing and approvals made easier with new Customer Portal

Introducing the Customer Portal, a new digital platform for customers to lodge, track and manage new water supply work and/or water use approvals. The portal also allows registered department customers (individuals and businesses) to view and manage their approvals and update their details.

The portal is available to councils, irrigation corporations, businesses carrying out mining and petroleum activities, and their representatives.

This initiative of the department and WaterNSW makes it easier, faster and more efficient for our customers to do business with us.

Webinar - Review of Regulatory and Assurance Framework (RAF) for LWUs

Join the Policy and Pricing team for an update on the recent review of how the RAF is being implemented across NSW and to discuss what we heard from the LWU sector.

We will report on the feedback we received, provide an overview of the department’s next steps, explore themes emerging from the feedback and how we will look for opportunities to use what we heard to guide the development of our educational resources and continuous improvement. A question-and-answer session will be held at the end of the webinar. 

New videos showcase Aboriginal employment pathways in water

The NSW Government is proud to share two new videos that showcase Aboriginal career pathways and real operator journeys in local water utilities.

These stories highlight cultural connection to water, caring for Country, and the power of meaningful employment. They were developed with Bega Valley and Kempsey Shire Councils, Aboriginal Affairs NSW and NSW Water Directorate, and were filmed on Country by an Aboriginal-owned production company.

We encourage all LWUs to watch, share, and use these stories to inspire the next generation of water operators.

Visit the careers in the water industry webpage to find supporting resources and watch the videos.

Liquid trade waste training a success

As part of the Government's commitment to continuous improvement, they are delivering a flexible mix of online, self-guided, and face-to-face learning to better support local water utilities across the state.

Forty-one participants from across NSW took part in 4-day online sessions, followed by a face-to-face workshop hosted by Albury City Council. Greg Jackson from Albury City generously hosted site visits which offered valuable insights into trade waste pre-treatment, regulatory challenges and innovative solutions in action.

Future trade waste opportunities will be promoted in their newsletter, on their website and in the Trade Waste Teams Forum.

The five maps that show how extreme Australia's weather will become in the coming decades

Red alert in the climate engine room

Southern Australia could soon be facing 'day-zero droughts'

Australian towns are cutting fluoride from water supplies. Here’s what this means for locals’ teeth

Data centres are vital for the future and AI but their environmental footprint can be a problem

Almost $24M to fast-track regional NSW housing

• Firm calls on radical change for safer access to ageing water infrastructure

• Irrigator found guilty and fined for illegally building dams near wetlands
  

• A national review of hydrogen sulphide exposure, limits and controls in the water industry
• Cairns faces prospect of water restrictions at wettest time of year

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