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CrossCurrent
International Would you like to escape the rat race and become a field worker? Médecins Sans Frontières Australia is currently looking for water/ sanitation engineers to work as field workers on overseas assignments. To learn more, please visit www.msf.org.au/join-our-team
National In its preview release of Positioning for Prosperity? Deloitte focuses on where Australia will find its next waves of economic growth, taking a dive into our current wave – mining – and the five new fronts: agribusiness, gas, international education, tourism and wealth management. Water and wastewater is the next growth industry, which will be reported on in 2014.
With severe rainfall deficiencies across large parts of Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory, a return to drought conditions is a reality facing many Australian farmers, prompting a call by the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) for the Federal Government and the states to finalise details of national drought policy. “The new Federal Government essentially inherited the drought policy of the former Government – which is light on detail, won’t come in for another nine months and provides little comfort for farmers in the grips of yet another drought,” NFF Vice President and Chair of the Drought Working Group, Brent Finlay, said. Mr Finlay’s comments came as Agriculture Minister, Barnaby Joyce, prepared to visit drought-affected farmers in Queensland.
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) has invited comment on a draft strategy that proposes what work needs to be done over the coming years on river constraints in the Murray-Darling Basin. River constraints can be physical structures, or river management rules and practices that we’re now finding limit how effectively we deliver environmental water. MDBA Executive Director, Jody Swirepik, said the strategy required under the Basin Plan was the first step in a larger body of complex work that would take some years to complete.
NWC has outlined its priorities for the next three years in its Strategic Plan 2013–16. The strategic plan will guide the development of a work program that delivers results relevant to improved water decisions and of value to the Commission’s many stakeholders.
The Australian Standards FT-020 Water Microbiology committee has submitted the following draft methods for public comment and ballot: DR AS 4276.14 (Rev). Water Microbiology – Detection of Salmonella spp. (ISO 19250:2010, MOD); DR AS 4276.15 (Rev). Water Microbiology – Examination for Vibrio cholera; DR AS 4276.19 (Rev). Water Microbiology – Examination for thermophilic Campylobacter spp. – Membrane Filtration. Draft methods can be viewed at the Standard Australia website: www.standards.org.au Select the Draft Standards open for Public Comment section and to submit a comment, click on the ‘To Comment’ tab and search for ‘Microbiology’. Public Comment and Ballot closing date is 15/11/2013.
WATER NOVEMBER 2013
The Bureau of Meteorology has published its second Australian Water Resources Assessment. This report will assist all Australians, particularly policy makers and planners, to understand the current state of the nation’s water resources and enable identification of existing and future water management challenges.
Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt has said he has considered the application of the water trigger to 50 large coal mine and coal seam gas developments currently being assessed under national environment law, and after a careful examination has determined that 47 of the 50 transitional projects will require federal environmental assessment of their impacts on water resources.
New South Wales The New South Wales Irrigators’ Council has released a position paper that outlines the moves it says are necessary to ensure balance between mining, CSG and irrigation. Council Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Gregson, says that they have been working at the detail level with industry and government for two years with significant gains being made, but that the time has come to set the bar on the big issues.
The NSW Government ban on new coal seam gas (CSG) drilling in and around residential areas does not provide enough protection for rural communities, according to green groups and farmers. The NSW Planning Minister, Brad Hazzard, announced that NSW plans to introduce the “toughest CSG controls in Australia” by extending the 2km buffer around residential zones to future growth areas in 56 council areas across NSW. Seven rural residential areas that meet specific village criteria will also be covered by the proposed ban.
The New South Wales Opposition recently obtained figures showing that Sydney Water has slashed about 15 per cent of its staff since the Government took office. After recent budget estimates, the opposition’s water spokesman Walt Secord asked the Finance Minister to provide details about how many positions had been abolished, made redundant or outsourced since April 2011. A total of 459 Sydney Water jobs were cut in that time with nearly half of them in maintenance and general delivery. The Finance Minister Andrew Constance has defended the cuts, saying they are helping to keep down prices for Sydney Water customers.
Thousands of Sydney residents will reduce their use of drinkingquality water by using recycled stormwater for their toilets and laundries, plus enjoy cheaper bills following an agreement between the City of Sydney and a private water utility. Green Square Water, wholly owned by Flow Systems Pty Ltd, will use stormwater at 20 sites to service 7,000 residents and 8,500 workers in the fast-growing Green Square neighbourhood
The NSW Government is seeking input to the dam safety review. The review is being conducted in three stages. The first stage was the KPMG review, the second is a community consultation stage and the third stage is implementation. This consultation process marks commencement of stage two of the review.