australa sia
WSAA
Feature
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n Australia, water and sewage services, vital not only to people and households but also to industry and commercial enterprises, are provided by Government regulated water utilities. The Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) is the peak industry body that brings together and supports this Australian urban water industry. Members provide water and sewage services to over 16 million Australians. They also provide services to many of Australia’s largest industries and commercial enterprises. As the peak body representing the nation’s urban water industry WSAA acts on behalf of all members, providing a strong, national voice for the sector and taking a leading role in influencing urban water policy development. To support members in their engagement with customers, stakeholders and the community, WSAA regularly assesses and reports on the performance of the industry. Through the association, member groups and interested parties can meet to discuss common issues and express concerns, as well as share information, research findings and developments. This collaboration and unity empowers WSAA to advocate on behalf of members for strong industry positions, and for regulation that is transparent, and based on solid evidence.
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WSAA is the industry body that supports the Australian urban waste industry. By Adam Lovell, WSAA executive director
The association, formed in 1998, regularly engages with and supports members, fostering and contributing to development of the whole sector, including educating the community on behalf of the industry. WSAA enables collaboration and coordination, conducts research, and provides consultation—maintaining strong contacts with policy makers, legislative bodies and their influencers to monitor important issues as they emerge. When developing strategic directions for the water industry decision makers regularly consult with WSAA and seek input. Executives represent the industry at seminars and forums and the Association regularly organises industry events and seminars to bring together the industry, levels of government and the community. In consultation with members, the association analyses policy and develops programmes; and is instrumental in developing industry standards and processes.
WSAA
The vision of WSAA for the urban water industry is to provide “Valued Water Solutions for a Better Future” and the association supports this vision through the WSAA mission, “WSAA will advocate, collaborate and innovate to deliver value for its members.”
Members’ Association at Work The urban water industry aims to provide cost effective delivery of water services and respond to the needs of customers and is committed to managing sustainable urban water resources with as little impact on the environment as possible. Urban water services are important to our community’s public health and WSAA is proud of the attitude and willingness of members not only to innovate and always seek smarter ways of doing things, but to demonstrate a remarkable selfless concern for their community particularly in times of crisis, as members’ response to recent extreme climate events has illustrated.
Leadership and Planning Climate variation and population growth must be planned for and WSAA has provided a forum by organising conferences such as Ozwater and lending expertise to projects such as Cities of The Future workshops.
Focus Utilities
Community Action in Crises Australia’s climate variability has recently delivered extremes that impacted on the urban water industry—with violent floods and cyclones in the east and unrelenting dry in the west. Destruction caused to the industry’s infrastructure could have interfered with the delivery of clean drinking water and safe sewage treatment and management in the affected areas. However Australia’s urban water industry spontaneously and voluntarily rallied round. The Association’s Water Services Infrastructure Assurance Advisory Group took on the coordination of offers to help and WSAA Members provided equipment and expertise including treatment plant operators, sampling staff, and water quality testing, as well as personnel, office space and resources; even supplying sandbags to emergency services.
Ozwater developed a strong set of principles for water sensitive cities, which were adopted by the International Water Association for the Cities of the Future agenda. The key themes of liveability, resilience, and sustainability provided the focus of case studies at workshops, demonstrating the leadership role of the urban water sector in finding ways to bring governments, municipalities, utilities, communities, science and technology into collaboration. Workshops have presented a vision of achievable future cities – including ways to ‘green’ city suburbs, a working green village and virtually self-sufficient inner city area and a commercial scheme using biosolids to enable urban farming. Through recycling, conservation, greening and smart, integrated planning the Cities of the Future project aims to improve physical and mental health, reduce pollution, combat climate change, reduce greenhouse emissions, and optimise available drinking water sources. These workshops indicate that with ongoing discussions between the water industry and colleagues in the urban planning and other sectors, ways can be found to deliver healthy, liveable cities and towns in Australia. Historically the industry has focused on securing urban water services for the community, which necessarily led to priority effort on asset building and management. Over the past 10 years the huge investment in water and sewerage infrastructure and the establishment of alternative and rainfall independent water sources mean we can now plan to meet future challenges. Sharing information, advising policy One of the Association’s chief strategies to support members is to maximise limited research dollars by collaborating with local and international research organisations with shared priorities. WSAA’s Australian Water Research and Development Coalition aims to pool resources and eliminate duplication, allowing knowledge and adoption to be leveraged across all stakeholders in the funding and delivery of urban water research.
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WSAA
“In consultation with members, the association analyses policy and develops programmes; and is instrumental in developing industry standards and processes” Adam Lovell
Collaboration and sharing of existing research between Association members is maintained, with over 400 member projects compiled. A WSAA webpage is dedicated to the sharing of research outcomes between members. Eighteen Association networks including a new Research Managers forum give members the opportunity to transfer knowledge, share skills, and network with colleagues. The wealth of knowledge and information made available to WSAA provides a solid basis for the Association’s submissions to major reports of significant concern to members. Three recent major reports in the year indicate a promise of significant reform programmes with a welcome focus on urban water: }} The Productivity Commission Inquiry into Urban Water Reform }} National Water Commission Future Directionsw Report }} The Infrastructure Australia Regional Water Quality and Security Report WSAA is advocating implementation of many of the recommendations made in these reports.
Benefits of WSAA Membership WSAA has two categories of Membership. Full membership is available for public or private agencies or utilities providing water services and/or wastewater services, and bulk water suppliers and wastewater 4
treatment operators providing services to agencies or utilities. Associate membership is available for corporate bodies or organisations with an interest allied to the water services industry. Full members have board representation and voting rights at Annual General Meetings, with up to two representatives. Members are invited to three Members’ meetings a year with up to three attendees. They have access to WSAA committee membership and networks and have input into the Association’s business planning process. Valuable benefits also include 50 percent discount on bookshop publications, members only section access on the WSAA website, access to the UKWIR database, up to three free copies of WSAA publications and a free copy of WSAA codes. Full members are also involved in the national performance report, benchmarking and other subscription projects, as well as eligible for free input in all WSAA activities and workshops. Associate members may have one representative at Annual General Meetings and are invited to two Members’ meetings a year, with up to two attendees. Valuable Associate benefits also include 50 percent discount on bookshop publications, members only section access on the WSAA website, access to the UKWIR database, one free WSAA publication and a free copy of WSAA codes, as well as permission to load WSAA codes on the internet. Water Authorities have access to WSAA Networks and while Associates are encouraged to participate in appropriate WSAA events, fees may apply. Applications for membership and associate membership are submitted to the Board for consideration and approval and WSAA can arrange for a proposer and seconder for your application if required.
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