Spotlight on Mount Isa
You’d think Mount Isa gets enough light with its sunny days and starry nights, but there are a few good reasons we wanted to shine the spotlight on this vibrant outback city in this edition.
Mount Isa Water Board (MIWB) was the last of the State’s urban water and sewerage service providers to sign up as a qldwater member, joining Mount Isa City Council (MICC) and all Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Councils, both Council-Owned statutory authorities in SEQ and now both Government-owned Statutory Authorities to give us 100% coverage of the urban water sector in Queensland. This is a great achievement and a responsibility we take seriously.
Mount Isa was also the first and last stop on the 2024 Water Connections Tour, which gave us an opportunity to catch up with old friends and new and learn more about the great work MICC and MIWB are doing to provide water and sewerage services to the local community and to provide regional support to neighbouring Councils.
Regional Alliances
Mount Isa is part of the North West Queensland Water and Sewerage Alliance QWRAP group with its Chair, Stephen Jewell, based in Mount Isa. The alliance includes 8 Local Councils including Burke, Carpentaria, Cloncurry, Doomadgee, McKinlay, Kowanyama, Mount Isa and Richmond.
Established in 2019, the alliance has completed a number of collaborative projects that have provided significant benefits to the region. QWRAP bidpool funding allowed the region to establish key governance documents including the Constitution and Memorandum of Understanding, and to conduct a strategic workshop to identify an agreed vision, mission and objectives for the alliance.
The first collaborative project was to complete an audit and analysis of SCADA systems of four participating councils, improving management of schemes including safety and security of supply. The project exposed Councils to new technology and standards and allowed
Spotlight on Mount Isa
them to create a regional framework for procurement for future SCADA systems. This opened the door for other procurement projects including for lagoon desludging, reservoir cleaning and water mains air scouring.
Being a resource-rich region, it will come as no surprise that it can be hard to attract, train and retain staff with the fierce competition from the mining sector. A skills needs analysis has been completed and the alliance is now focused on identifying the training needs for each existing plant type in the region. By aggregating the training needs for the region, the alliance will be better placed to attract an RTO to deliver the training, saving the region money while building stronger networks across the region.
MIWB Laboratory Services
One of the key messages we heard from talking to CEOs and Operators during the Water Connections Tour was the issues around water testing. If you’ve cursed Australia Post or any other delivery service for slack delivery of your online purchases, spare a thought for the operators who need to send water samples at a certain temperature and within a certain timeframe to a very limited number of accredited laboratories. Not to mention the cost involved in the transport, on top of the actual testing.
Mount Isa Water Board hopes to be able to provide some relief for the western regions as they expand their lab testing services.
Compliance and Quality Lead – Operations Division at MIWB, Renju Joseph and her small team have been undertaking critical water quality analyses at their dedicated microbiology and chemistry laboratories for over a decade to ensure the city’s drinking water meets the highest standards.
Tests for E.coli, total coliforms and Faecal coliforms are completed by TECTA systems which is a rapid automated microbial detection technology. In addition to a range of physical chemistry tests including organic carbon, MIWB also completes ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immuno-sorbent assay) for blue-green algae toxins using specialised kits.
Now, the team is investigating obtaining NATA accreditation, and if it would provide benefits to MIWB and the wider north west area.
“We see potential benefits of being NATA accredited to validate and give us confidence in our own work, but getting accreditation may help our neighbouring Councils as well,” Renju said.
“Over the past two to three years we have been helping Boulia Shire Council and Tobermorey Station, NT with their microbiology testing and we’ve assisted MICC with testing in the past.”
Renju and her colleague Zoe Tebbutt (Compliance and Quality Coordinator) grabbed the opportunity to visit Mackay Regional Council’s lab recently, which was helpful as they consider the NATA criteria to identify gaps in their quality management systems.
Spotlight on Mount Isa
“We may need to add some more procedures to get ready, but ultimately we will end up with a strong Quality Management system and a manual to go with it, even if NATA accreditation does not eventuate,” she added.
The lab is also set up to do weekly tests for cyanobacteria toxins, in particular cylindrospermopsin which is a common blue-green algae that often rears its head at the Clear Water Lagoon. The good news is that this type of toxin can be neutralised by chlorine.
In a recent qldwater webinar series on Harmful Algal Blooms, Senior Water Treatment Lead at MIWB, Tania Strixner-Harvey, shared their journey in managing this challenge over the past ten years.
In the webinar, Tania described the many steps that they have taken to manage HAB in their water supply system , due to local climatic conditions, can occur at any time of the year.
The principal tool has been the installation of microfiltration units, which have performed well, treating source water that has had up to 6.8 million cells per millilitre of water!
Incremental continual improvements since then have included measures such as aeration to prevent stratification of the water bodies and removing overhanging vegetation to minimise roosting opportunities for local wildlife.
MIWB has also trialled chemical and ultrasonic methods for algal control and continues to monitor and improve its performance.
Mount Isa Water Board’s business roadmap focusses on developing strategic partnerships, continuously improve water quality and reliability, reducing the energy costs involved in transportation of water, reducing environmental impact, optimising asset management, digital transformation, and improved data analytics.
Mount Isa Electro Chlorination Project
Another topic that affects most of our members is the risk around critical supply chains to ensure that the parts and the chemicals required at treatment plants can be transported and stored safely. This was highlighted during and post the COVID-19 pandemic when qldwater members raised the problem of access to essential water treatment chemicals like Sodium Hypochlorite. Supply is currently dominated by large companies based interstate or in major capital cities, which poses a risk for remote and regional areas in Queensland.
In response to these supply chain concerns, qldwater, in collaboration with Government officials, has been actively exploring local solutions. A significant initiative is the development of an Electro Chlorination system which is co-located at the Mount Isa Wastewater Treatment Plant (pictured below).
Spotlight on Mount Isa
This project aims to provide fresh Sodium Hypochlorite across the local region, thereby mitigating the dependency on interstate suppliers and enhancing supply security for the Queensland Water Sector.
Luke Sirl, Business Manager at DGL Water, showed participants on the Water Connections Tour through the site which can produce Sodium Hypochlorite at concentrations up to 12.5%.
Luke explained that although the technology is extremely scalable and configurable to each site and region, the Mount Isa plant specifically has a total capacity of approximately 180kl p/month. The colocated Electro Chlorination process is both safe and economical, making it ideal for the Australian water industry, and building it at the STP has expedited approval processes.
“This system replaces the need for transporting and storing extremely hazardous chlorine gas, thereby minimising associated risks and costs. Typically, in direct injection scenarios, the electrolyser ensures a consistent supply of disinfectant, improving the reliability of water disinfection processes and ensuring regulatory compliance. Its compact design and advanced technology also offer energy savings and lower maintenance requirements, contributing to overall cost-effectiveness and sustainability in water treatment operations.”
“With more than 50% of this plants capacity available for offtake, the mineral-rich northwestern region of Queensland will now have a safe and affordable reliable source of fresh chlorine.” Luke said.
The plant will supply fresh Sodium Hypochlorite within a radius of approximately 500km, significantly improving the availability of this critical chemical in regional areas.
The Mount Isa Electro Chlorination plant is in the final stages of construction, with commissioning planned for June. The qldwater team is closely monitoring the progress of this trial. Based on the outcomes, there is potential to replicate this model in other QWRAP regions, thereby expanding the local production capacity and further securing the supply chain for the water sector.
We would like to thank MICC Director Infrastructure Services, Stephen Jewell for his support, not only during the recent Water Connections Tour but as a long-term supporter of the urban water sector.
Stephen (pictured below at the Electro Chlorination Plant) has been an active participant on the qldwater Strategic Priorities Group for many years and has been a guiding star for the North West QWRAP region since its establishment.
Message from CEO
The last sixth months have been busy, even busier than the previous, and I am beginning to fear that this will be my opening for every newsletter from now on.
An area that has kept us particularly busy have been the consultations and the member-led discussions around the escalating and relentless impost and costs associated with the management of, and risks posed by forever chemicals, otherwise known as contaminants of emerging concern.
For those interested in learning more about PFAS NEMP 3, Trade Waste, Microplastics and Biochar, save the date for our Emerging Contaminants Workshop to be hosted in Townsville on 21-22 November.
Other key focus areas have included getting SWIM and everyone ready for the new NPR indicators coming into effect from 1 July, the establishment of two new Working Groups (Occupational Health and Safety, and Drinking Water), through to the development of new tools including a new template telco land access agreement to help members deal with the placement of telecommunication infrastructure on critical water infrastructure assets.
by Georgina Davis, Chief Executive Officer
With Local Government elections now behind us and media ramping towards the Queensland Government elections, members are now assisting us to develop a Manifesto for the sector - a wish list of critical programs of work and regulatory amendments necessary to ensure the sustainability of the sector and the safety of the communities that we serve.
We have also been planning the Annual Forum this year themed Managing the Risk Curve, taking place on 2223 August in Brisbane. With a choice of two different site tours, a program filled with interesting speakers and the launch of some new tools and initiatives, you will not want to miss it. There will also be the Best of the Best Water Taste Test and Annual Awards Dinner overlooking the beautiful Brisbane River. A few sponsor opportunities are still available, and I urge those interested in attending to register early as one of the site tours has limited places available.
I look forward to catching up with you all in August.
Until next time,
Georgina Davis
LEADING THE CHARGE TOWARDS A GREENER FUTURE
LMS Energy is at the forefront of methane abatement and renewable energy solutions
With a proud history of biogas innovation, LMS Energy has pioneered a range of anaerobic digestion technologies that capture and abate emissions while generating renewable energy.
Methane destruction is an important climate strategy to reduce the impact of waste and wastewater. LMS Energy’s projects have abated greenhouse gases equivalent to more than 50 million tonnes of carbon dioxide while powering 100,000 homes each day.
LMS Energy has significant experience working with councils on landfill gas projects, which are a win-win – not only reducing costs for councils and ratepayers, but improving the planet for generations to come.
qldwater Welcomes New Partners
Marking the new financial year, qldwater has proudly established two new partnership agreements with LMS Energy and IXOM.
The purpose of these partnerships is to positively influence government and private sector interest and support for the urban water sector, inform the sector on improved policy and advocacy outcomes, and to provide relevant guidance to the sector on matters of sectoral significance (from ACCU generation opportunities to chlorine gas safety training).
This will assist qldwater to ensure the future sustainability of Queensland’s urban water sector and safety of the communities that we collectively serve.
LMS ENERGY
LMS Energy (LMS) is a leading bioenergy and methane destruction company. It exists to help protect the planet from the impact of waste while supplying clean, reliable energy, by capturing biomethane emissions produced from the natural decomposition of organic wastes.
Over the last 25 years, LMS has prevented 50 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) from entering Australia’s atmosphere from landfills – making it one of Australia’s largest emissions reducers. Each year, LMS sites collectively generate 600,000 megawatt hours of baseload renewable energy – enough to power 100,000 homes each day.
LMS is 100% Australian owned and employs almost 300 people, including in regional Australia.
LMS has manufacturing facilities in two Australian states (with a further facility under development). It currently has 62 landfill biogas facilities across Australia, New Zealand and the USA plus 6 solar farms, having pioneered this technology on landfills in Australia.
LMS is also innovating in the recovery of a range of organic wastes, to enable the capture of biogas, heat and nutrients from suitable organic matter.
IXOM
IXOM is proud to partner with qldwater to ensure all Queenslanders are able to access safe and sustainable water and sewerage services.
With over 100 years’ experience in manufacturing and supplying chemical products to the water industry, IXOM is committed to ensuring customers are equipped with the operational ability to use water treatment chemicals safely and effectively in their own
business.
Our Chemical Services division assists water services providers to understand their chemical risk profile, working collaboratively to implement effective risk management controls.
Our suite of services includes comprehensive chemical risk assessment, training, auditing, and the development of emergency response plans and disaster planning.
IXOM excels in providing expert guidance on the design and operation of chemical systems. Our experts assist in developing operational procedures and inspection schedules, ensuring compliance with relevant standards and best practices.
Through audits of chemical installations, we identify areas for improvement and offer actionable recommendations, helping to achieve the highest level of risk management in chemical handling, including compliance with Queensland State Code 21 in relation to chlorine storage and handling.
Together with our risk management offering, IXOM can supply comprehensive and high-quality water treatment chemical products. We manufacture and distribute disinfection, fluoridation, coagulation, and odour control chemicals across Australia.
We also offer advanced chemical systems, addressing storage and dosing requirements for bulk and packaged liquids and gases, including chlorine gas.
Our water treatment equipment is designed to tackle specific challenges such as disinfection byproducts, especially THM compliance or removal, blue-green algae control, and wastewater aeration.
IXOM consults on effective water treatment plant design and construction, through to ongoing operation and maintenance, ensuring the seamless functioning of water treatment processes and safeguarding the health and access to clean drinking water of all Queenslanders.
Regardless of your needs, IXOM is your partner in safety and excellence. Reach out to www.ixom.com to connect with an IXOM expert to discuss how IXOM can help solve your chemical risk management and water treatment challenges.
Water Connections Tour 2024
Backed by the Urban Water Risk Assessment work being undertaken by the State Government, an opportunity presented itself to host not one but two Water Connections Tours this year.
The February 2024 Tour was organised on behalf of the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water (DRDMW) to inform investment at both a State and Federal level. Participants from Queensland Health, Department of Premiers and Cabinet, Department of State Development and Infrastructure (SDI), Treasury, the National Water Grid Authority, LGAQ and ARUP visited Councils in Cairns, Port Douglas, Northern Peninsula Area, Charters Towers, Longreach, Emerald, Kingaroy and Cherbourg.
The Annual qldwater Tour in May welcomed participants from Queensland Health, DRDMW (Strategic Water Initiatives and Urban Water Security Planning), the Drinking Water Regulator, LGAQ and Fraser Coast Regional Council visiting six councils in the North-West Queensland region, including Mount Isa, Cloncurry, McKinlay, Richmond, Flinders and Winton. The tour was sponsored by LACKON who also provided a Project Management specialist to assist with technical queries.
The annual intensive tour of water and sewerage treatment plant infrastructure in remote and regional Councils provides an opportunity to share up to date technical and policy information and to explore and understand issues impacting those communities.
Water Connections Tour 2024
Cyclone Response and Recovery
Tropical Cyclone Jasper crossed the Queensland coast as a Category 2 system in the vicinity of Wujal Wujal on the evening of 13 December 2023. While Jasper did not have as strong winds as first predicted, it was associated with an extraordinary flooding event and is now recorded as the wettest tropical cyclone in Australian history.
The region experienced locally intense rainfall which peaked at 2,252 mm (88.7 in) at Bairds Creek near the Daintree River while the Barron River surpassed the March 1977 record of 3.8 metres (12 ft), making the event the worst flooding event since records began in 1915.
Given the catastrophic outcomes to some communities and their urban water services, the use of the Australian Water Sector Mutual Aid Guidelines (MAG) was initiated. The MAG provides a tried and tested framework to guide water utilities impacted by disaster and emergencies to seek water sector specific support to aid their response and recovery.
For the Cyclone Jasper response, the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water (DRDMW) sought the use of these arrangements to establish a Mutual Aid Coordination Cell (MACC) to support the impacted communities in North Queensland.
An industry government coalition was stood-up (within days) incorporating all relevant government departments, impacted local government areas and industry to form the MACC.
A key principle of the MACC is that it is involved at the invitation of the local Water Service Provider (WSP) (local government) and local decision makers and managers retain the lead of the activities.
Examples of Mutual Aid delivered to impacted included;
• 2 crews – 1 from Urban Utilities and 1 from Unitywater working on the ground to help Douglas Shire Council restore water services to the community
• Water Treatment Plant Experts from Seqwater and Urban Utilities engineering partners working with local water operators to repair damage to water intakes and getting safe drinking water flowing again
• Events at Wujal Wujal left local switchboards unserviceable. New switchboards were found to have a 3-4 month lead time. Unitywater repurposed switchboards intended for their own operations, enabling restoration of services for Community.
• Support from regional water service providers including; Mareeba Shire Council (logistics and staging support), Townsville City Council (supervisor and operator relief) and Cairns Regional Council City Council (testing equipment, access to essential equipment for the work)
• The Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water deployed support and logistics personnel into Wujal Wujal to work directly
Cyclone Jasper NQ Flood Response 2024 - MACC Diagram
Cyclone Response and Recovery
with Council leadership to coordinate recovery efforts.
• The Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council Operations team lost all tools and equipment in the event. When recovery efforts in Douglas were complete, Urban Utilities unloaded an estimated $20,000 in tools and the Australian Defence Force airlifted this equipment to Community.
• Senior Seqwater Operators worked in Wujal Wujal for several months to support recovery operations and local operational staff.
• Coogee Chemicals, supplied 1000 litres of Sodium Hypochlorite as their contribution to the recovery of Wujal Wujal to assist in the recovery of the water and wastewater system.
The MACC also fed information into the State Disaster Management Committee and early on into Ministerial and Government briefings via a daily Situation Report, which ensured the flow of accurate, timely information informed by on-the-ground activities. This was coordinated through an overarching Mutual Aid Steerco.
Wujal Wujal Community Rebounding Forward
The impacts of Cyclone Jasper for the Wujal Wujal community were extensive…
• The flooding in the Community was significantly above the worst flood on record.
• Many homes were completely inundated.
• Key community buildings including health and community services were inundated and destroyed
• Flooded buildings and areas were covered in a thick layer of river silt (mud) which was many meters
high in some places.
• Despite extensive pre-cyclone preparation (at standup) by Council staff – the Council’s Works Depot was completely inundated (above the roof line), Council’s main offices were significantly inundated and key plant, tools and equipment were lost
• Water Services Assets and InfrastructureSwitchboards across the community were inundated and rendered inoperable, the river water intake was severely damaged, the Council’s wastewater reuse infrastructure was washed away and the water and wastewater treatment plants impacted, with drinking water quality being managed under a Community Boil Water notice.
Recovery work in Wujal Wujal is still ongoing and the restoration of infrastructure and services with increased resilience takes time.
The Queensland Government (DRDMW) continues to lead key government agencies and water industry experts through the dedicated North Queensland Water Sector Recovery Coordination Group.
Wujal Wujal Council CEO, Kiley Hanslow said that local water treatment plant technicians and engineers had worked hard to restore services to the community.
“Öur team has been working tirelessly on recovery since the cyclone and we have appreciated the support of the Queensland Government and water sector experts to support the management of the community’s essential services,” Ms Hanslow said.
During May 2024, as a result of the efforts of the local water operators supported by external experts and the Queensland Government, the Community Boil Water Notice at Wujal Wujal has been removed.
Cyclone Response and Recovery
“This is a fantastic outcome for our community and a key achievement in our long road to community recovery. It really is exciting to have safe drinking water for our community again.” Ms Hanslow said.
With support of disaster funding from the Commonwealth and State Government, work is underway to repair the water intake, repair damaged switchboards and to repair the water reuse assets that were destroyed.
In June 2024, the Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council and the Queensland Government hosted inspections of water and wastewater infrastructure in community and a workshop to undertake long term planning for water and wastewater infrastructure in Wujal Wujal.
Key longer-term plans include the upgrading of both the water and wastewater treatment plants.
Detailed plans have been developed for a new and more resilient water treatment plant and the Queensland Government (Department of Local Government and DRDMW have committed funding. An application for funding from the Federal Government’s National Water Grid for this project is being prepared.
Assuming access to funding, the Wujal Wujal Team is planning to have a new water treatment plant delivered by the 2025 Wet Season.
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
- President Roosevelt
Young Operator’s NZ Experience
Our Young Operator of the Year for 2023, Mitchell Gormley, reflects on his recent visit to New Zealand as part the WIOA study tour.
In July 2023 I was lucky enough to be nominated and win the Young Operator of the Year Award which led to my attendance in the WIOA study tour of New Zealand’s north island in May 2024. The tour group was made up of 11 Aussies and 2 New Zealand operators.
We started by flying into Wellington and then driving up the coast about 2 hours to Paraparaumu. We toured the Waikanae WTP and STP which are very nice plants and then continued our journey north taking in the amazing views of the countryside through to Palmerston North.
Touring the WTP at Palmerston North was such an incredible experience as it is set away from town within the hills surrounded by forest. The plant runs almost entirely on hydro power through summer, only using mains power when rainfall is low. From there we travelled up through the countryside to Opunake and then to New Plymouth for the WIOA conference. We attended both days of the conference plus the Chairman’s dinner, Vendors dinner and Awards dinner.
It was so lovely to meet international vendors as we talked over the difference in business models between countries and the challenges the industry faces heading into the future.
Empowering Leaders in the Water Sector
Insights from the International WaterCentre Water Leadership Program
In the ever-evolving water industry, developing effective leadership skills is crucial for driving change and achieving success in integrated water management projects. The International WaterCentre (IWC) Water Leadership Program (WLP) stands out as a premier professional development opportunity designed to equip emerging leaders with the skills needed to influence, innovate, and inspire.
Through a feedback-intensive, 10-month curriculum grounded in the DAC Framework (Direction, Alignment, Commitment), participants gain valuable insights and practical tools to lead in the dynamic water sector.
Here, we share the experiences of three program alumni who have harnessed the power of the WLP to advance their careers and make a meaningful impact in their communities.
Lisa Kerr: Embracing Continuous Improvement and Networking
Lisa Kerr’s journey into the water sector is as diverse as it is inspiring. Starting her career as a lawyer, Lisa transitioned through various industries before finding her niche at Unitywater. Nominated by her organisation to participate in the WLP, Lisa is driven by her passion for lifelong learning and her desire to adopt new leadership methodologies to drive change. As Unitywater’s Continuous Improvement Manager, she found the program’s tools for addressing complex, “wicked” problems particularly valuable.
“The WLP has been instrumental in helping me accurately identify complex challenges and adopt a situational leadership mindset,” Lisa shares.
“The tools and continuous feedback loops within the program are helping to reset our neural pathways and embed new behaviours. This is crucial for addressing the high degree of uncertainty and conflicting stakeholder viewpoints we often face in the water sector.”
Lisa emphasises the importance of the external networks formed during the program, noting that they provide a platform to draw on others’ capabilities and find common solutions.
“The program has really cemented a desire to collaborate to innovate. It’s not just about project management; it’s about building a growth mindset and fostering commitment to collective success.”
Johanna Johnson: Pushing Boundaries and Expanding Networks
For Johanna Johnson, who just left her role at Logan Water to start her own consultancy business, the WLP was a transformative experience that pushed her out of her comfort zone and expanded her professional network.
Originally a pharmaceutical science student, Johanna discovered her passion for water management when she completed a placement at the Logan Water Lab over the Christmas break. Encouraged by her mentors, she pursued a Master of Integrated Water Management before enrolling in the WLP.
“The leadership program pushed me to increase my network and highlighted the importance of having strong professional connections,” Johanna explains.
“It was about getting out of my comfort zone and learning agile thinking strategies. The program taught me how to use different leadership styles effectively based on the personalities in the room.”
Johanna credits the WLP with providing the soft skills she needed to manage teams and projects.
“Working in the lab and with a small team is very structured which made it difficult to learn the soft skills like running meetings, managing a team and effectively communicating in diverse scenarios,” she says.
“The mentors and the network I built through the program have been invaluable and it led me to taking on roles with the Young Water Professionals (YWP) at the AWA. It’s all about giving back to the younger generation and making sure that they understand it’s not just about project management – learning about leadership styles is going to be a significant benefit to them throughout their career.”
Image left: Lisa and the 2024 WLP Cohort.
Empowering Leaders in the Water Sector
Janice Wilson: Finding Her Niche and Building Lifelong Connections
Janice Wilson’s path to the water sector began in her childhood with a small Reverse Osmosis plant to extract Maple syrup on a farm in Quebec and led her through various engineering roles in Asia before settling in Australia.
With a career journey closely tied to her immigration story, Janice arrived in Brisbane during the 2011 floods expecting to find a dry, arid country.
“I was really confused, thinking maybe Australia has a water problem because there’s either not enough water or there’s too much water and I actually hold to that thought in that there’s either too much or too little and we need to manage it.”
Janice found her professional home in Mackay and since then she has held various board and other positions before eventually starting her own business. She completed the WLP in 2015 and has since cherished the network and friendships she formed during the program.
“The WLP cohort felt like an extended family,” Janice recalls.
“The network of alumni is one of the most valuable aspects of the program. When facing leadership challenges, being able to ‘dial a friend’ and talk things through with someone who understands is incredibly helpful.”
Janice highlights the importance of emotional intelligence and the academic structure of the program in developing leadership smarts.
“The program taught me to apply leadership skills with confidence and skill, and to understand when to switch styles based on the situation,” she says.
“The connections I made through the WLP have been meaningful and supportive, both professionally and personally.”
The International WaterCentre Water Leadership Program is more than just a course; it’s a transformative journey that equips emerging leaders with the skills and networks needed to make a lasting impact in the water sector.
Through the experiences of Lisa, Johanna and Janice, we see the power of the WLP in fostering growth, collaboration, and innovation. For anyone looking to advance their career in integrated water management, the WLP offers a unique opportunity to develop as a leader and drive meaningful change in their communities. The program runs from December to September every year, and applications need to be made online by 31 October at https://www. watercentre.org/courses/water-leadership-program/ Images below: Janice and Johanna during the WLP in 2015 (left) to leadership roles in the water sector.
Program Update: Skills & Training
by Neil Holmes, Water Skills Partnership Manager
Water Skills Partnership Update
Since winning the Queensland Training Premier’s Industry Collaboration 2021 Award, the Queensland Water Skills Partnership (WSP) continues to deliver beneficial programs of work and sound advice to support broader Federal, State and industry investment strategies.
We achieve this through advocacy, hosting events and developing and delivering training courses. Here’s what we’ve achieved since the last newsletter.
Advocacy
To be a successful advocate for our sector, qldwater relies on good relationships with a wide range of stakeholders backed by excellent data.
We’ve been collecting data and tracking trends in workforce, skills and training issues for the Queensland urban water sector since the release of our first snapshot report in 2010.
Building on the significant increase in workforce data received for the 2022 Workforce Composition Snapshot Report, we were successful in gaining QWRAP funding to prepare an independent Queensland Water Skills Survey 2024 report by Balmoral Group Australia. The report included a range of recommendations for future actions ranging from policy and practical steps to bridge skills gaps, enhance workforce capabilities and mitigate risks associated with insufficiently qualified personnel.
All this information, collected through our strong network of partners for over a decade, has given us some advocacy wins. It allowed us to demonstrate to the Australian Bureau of Statistics that a new occupation code and two further specialisations for the sector were needed, because our workforce needs to be counted to be visible when funding decisions are made.
We’ve also been able to successfully advocate for two RTOs to be added to the Skills Assure Supplier platform, providing improved access and a wider choice of subsidised training for our members. Queensland now has four RTOs on the SAS platform, with Trility and EnviroCheck joining Simmonds & Bristow and WaterTraining Australia on the list.
In our continued role as the Industry Skills Advisor (ISA) Water for the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training we completed a Price List Review to inform DESBT on the levels of subsidy, funding mechanisms and issues around qualifications or units of competency based on industry feedback and experience.
qldwater called for maintaining the highest Priority 1 level for Cert II, Cert III, Cert IV and Diploma of Water Industry Operations, greater flexibility on subsidies and a review of location loadings as a possible barrier to participation.
We will continue to advocate for an increase to Higher Level Skills subsidies, particularly the Certificate IV and Diploma in Water Industry Operations qualifications, following our success in securing a 50% uplift in the existing level of subsidy in 2023. The Certificate IV in particular continues to show strong demand and serves as a pathway to leadership for the sector.
On a National level, we have been busy building relationships with the new BuildSkills Australia (BSA) Jobs and Skills Council (JSC) established as part of the federal Vocational Education and Training system reforms, attending meetings and inviting the National Manager - Water Sector Industry Engagement to speak at the Skills Forum and Annual Forum to ensure that the water sector gets the visibility it deserves.
In its role as Industry Skills Advisor to DESBT, qldwater has formulated the Queensland Water Industry Reference Group (QWIRG) to gather the views and issues of the sector and communicate these to both the Department and the new JSC.
The QWIRG consists of members from SPG, the wider qldwater member base, as well as non-member stakeholders. The QWIRG replaces the previous Industry Reference Committee model.
Events
The Queensland Water Skills Partnership hosted its seventh annual Water Skills Forum on Friday 19 April at Parliament House, Brisbane.
Over 80 people attended the event with our key stakeholders in attendance including water managers, HR professionals, Registered Training Organisations, Government officials and more.
Program Update: Skills & Training
The theme for the event was The Urban Water Workforce - Recognition & Resilience. Over the past twelve months, significant progress has been made across a range of workforce and training initiatives. This Forum showcased some of those projects from a range of organisations and outlined several new workforce resources designed by the sector for the sector. The Forum was opened by The Hon Lance McCallum, Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development, with the Director-General for the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water, Linda Dobe, providing an update on the Urban Water Risk Assessment being undertaken by the Department.
At the event we launched our Water Workforce Toolbox as a one stop shop for valuable resources around skills and training, human resources, drinking water, wastewater, reporting and management with more topics to be added over time.
Partnerships
Collaboration is key if we want a well-resourced, welleducated and resilient workforce.
We worked with the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) on an Employee Value Proposition (EVP) Project to promote careers in the sector, resulting in the launch of a new Careers In Water website. qldwater will maintain a place at the table to ensure the resources will be relevant to our members.
We have participated in workshops as part of the Water Research Australia Operator Benchmarking Project 1139 enabling our members to take part in the research so that the Queensland perspectives were represented.
Ever growing collaboration with Queensland Health, also saw qldwater attend the Operator Symposium on Thursday Island, where 16 of the Indigenous Councils were represented.
In gaining a better understanding of their needs we look forward to supporting them and the Tropical Health team to develop models for training that avoid a one size fits all approach. This will be beneficial for all operators throughout the state.
Image below: an engaged audience at the 2024 Water Skills Forum held at Parliament House.
Program Update: Skills & Training
Online Training Courses
The offerings on our dedicated training website at watertraining.com.au continue to grow after our successful funding application to develop a series of Micro-Credentials (MCs) and through partnerships with RTOs.
During the month of May we hosted a series of Fundamentals Webinars to introduce the proposed course content for the MCs, allowing our members to provide input to ensure these non-accredited courses will fill the gaps identified at WSP meetings. Recordings of these and all our previous Fundamentals Webinars are available on the watertraining website. (insert link)
Course dates for the MCs have been set as follows:
• 10 - 11 July 2024 (Brisbane): Fluoridation of Water Supplies for Operators
• 6 August 2024 (Cairns): Operational Implications of the Drinking Water Quality Management Plan
• 7 August 2024 (Cairns): Making Use of Water Quality Data
• 28 August (cohort 1), 29 August (cohort 2) and 10 September 2024 (cohort 3) (Brisbane): Fluoridation of Water Supplies for Non-Operators
• 4 - 5 September 2024 (Brisbane): An Introduction to SCADA
The MC Program is part of the Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-2032, funded by the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training.
Thanks to a partnership with Trility, we are also slowly releasing five other non-accredited training courses covering basic skills for the sector. Topics include chemistry, monitoring, fluid flow, isolation and calculations.
A big shout out to Chief Training Champion Charles Dyer for his great work on the Chemistry course, which is now live.
If you want to learn the basics of Chemistry, set aside around 3 hours and let Charles guide you through the fascinating facts of chemistry as it relates to the water sector. The course is self-paced so you can work through at times convenient to you.
Our courses are designed by the industry, for the industry, so we always welcome constructive feedback.
Image above: TSIRC staff complete the Aqua Card online training course.
Image below: Group photo of the 2024 QLD Indigenous LG Drinking Water Symposium.
Program Update: SWIM / swimlocal
by David Scheltinga, SWIM Manager
The SWIM team have been busy over the past few months with a focus on the NPR Indicator Review Recommendations, particularly around reporting requirements for Service Providers with <10,000 connections who will be expected to start reporting from next year.
In preparation for these changes, qldwater hosted training sessions all across the State as well as an Essentials Webinar on Changes to NPR Reporting on SWIM, and recently ‘grouped’ TEAMS meetings with most Councils, and more to follow.
We’re also seeing exponential growth in subscriptions to the full licensed version of swimlocal with 64 Service Providers currently subscribed.
The program continues to evolve in line with customer needs. Queensland Health (Cairns) have signed up to the swimlocal data management tool for their legionella and water quality data management while Noosa Council is funding an interactive Water Quality Dashboard to provide insights into their data (see story next page).
All qldwater members have access to a free version of the swimlocal software (to enter their regulatory required annual water and sewerage data and some metadata).
The full licensed version of swimlocal includes significantly more functionality to help manage data at a local level:
• An Indicators module which allows SPs to manage Indicator data more frequently
• Automated Lab data uploads are available from several Labs across the State
• Task module which allows SPs to manage their ‘regular’ maintenance tasks
• Alerting via SMS/email, QA/QC processes, mobile data entry and other enhancements
• Graphing and Dashboard functionality to improve data analysis and use
We also released a major upgrade of the swimlocal software with lots of new functionality including a direct link to the Department of Environmental, Science and Innovation’s Water Tracking and Electronic Reporting System (WaTERS), and qldwater is currently talking to the Water Supply Regulator about the possibility of automating the transfer of Drinking Water Quality Management Plan Annual Data straight from swimlocal to them which will result in the current ‘weeks’ of data collation being a simple 5-10 minute task.
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SWIM represented the most robust and user-friendly system for NPR data collection and collation in the country. National Performance Report (NPR) Review
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Program Update: SWEAP & qCRAC
by Louise Reeves, Major Program Lead
The Sewerage and Water Environmental Advisory Panel (SWEAP) and its spin-off, the qldwater Consortium for Research and Advocacy on Contaminants of Emerging Concern (qCRAC) continues to meet on a regular basis, hosting interesting speakers and building strong connections with universities and other key stakeholders.
In partnership with WSAA, the group provided feedback on proposed changes to PFAS NEMP 3.0 and continue to keep an eye on other potential concerns from increasing regulation, including lobbying for legislation to protect Australian drinking water and wastewater agencies from legal liability in relation to PFAS, similar to legislation proposed in the US.
The SWEAP facilitated sessions for State and Commonwealth industry consultations including:
• The PFAS NEMP 3.0.
• The scheduling of PFOS, PFOA and PFHxS and associated compounds on the Industrial Chemicals Management Standard (IChEMS) register.
• The draft End of Waste Code for Biochar.
• The NSW Biosolids Regulatory Review.
• Changes to the Queensland Environmental Protection Act (Powers and Penalties).
• Input to the development of Sewer Acceptance Criteria as part of the revision of the Wastewater Quality Management Guidelines.
PFAS… the new four-letter word
If you have turned on the news or looked at social media recently, all the way from LinkedIn to TikTok, you will have seen that PFAS is in the news again, which has caused some consternation in the community.
But what happened? Why now?
There has been a bit going on internationally, which seems to have stirred up concerns…
On 1 April 2024, 3M announced a settlement agreement between the US and 3M for a pre-tax present value commitment of up to US$10.3 billion (capped at US$12.5 billion) payable over 13 years to public water suppliers in the US where water supplies have been contaminated by PFAS from firefighting foams. The agreement provides funding for treatment technologies to treat PFAS in water supplies without further need for litigation and includes suppliers which may detect PFAS in the future. Testing of PFAS water supplies in the US is also supported by the funding. This announcement was followed by an article in The Sydney Morning Herald which suggested that
Guest speakers invited to present at SWEAP meetings include:
• Researchers at the Transforming Biosolids ARC Training Centre on the Biosolids Transformation Technology Assessment (BTTAS) tool used to narrow down technology options based on available feedstocks and desired product applications.
• A Techno-Economic Analysis for Biosolids Pyrolysis by James Cook University.
• A Scalable and Cost-Effective Biological Process for High-Ammonia Wastewater Management: Case Studies for Landfill Leachate and Centrate Treatment by QUT.
• Challenges for project delivery with respect to the reform of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
• Water Quality Offsets at Urban Utilities.
• Regular updates from the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation.
Member interested in learning more about any of these topics and/or would like to participate in meetings can contact Dr Louise Reeves.
the Department of Defence is considering a lawsuit to recoup compensation paid to settle class action lawsuits over PFAS contaminated water supplies in Australia associated with Defence sites.
At the same time promotion began on social media for “Revealed: How to Poison a Planet”, a documentary to air on 28 April 2024 on the streaming service Stan which focused on the alleged coverup by 3M of the potential dangers of PFAS. The promo included specific mention of Australian PFAS contamination associated with Defence Australia sites as the result of the use of PFAS-containing firefighting foams.
Shortly after this, the US EPA finalised the National Primary Drinking Water Regulation, which provided new Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for six PFAS compounds. The new levels are significantly less than the comparable guideline values currently included in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG). US public water suppliers are required to monitor for PFAS and have three years to complete initial monitoring, followed by ongoing compliance monitoring. From
Program Update: SWEAP & qCRAC
2027, water systems must also provide the public with information on the levels of PFAS in their drinking water. Public water suppliers have until 2029 to implement solutions that reduce PFAS if monitoring shows that drinking water levels exceed the MCLs.
The US EPA then announced that PFOS and PFOA would be designated as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) to ensure that polluters pay to clean up their contamination.
The local media interest culminated on 11 June 2024 with front page stories in Fairfax media on PFAS chemical contamination in Australian drinking water supplies, citing a piece of research completed in 2011 that recorded detectable PFAS at some testing locations. Importantly, none of the detected levels exceeded the current ADWG guideline values, although three sites did return values that are greater than the proposed US EPA MCLs for a single tested PFAS compound.
The concerns have arisen chiefly because of the publicised notion that any level of exposure is deadly. In contrast, based on a comprehensive study undertaken in 2018 by an Expert Health Panel on behalf of the Commonwealth determined that evidence for health effects for people with low exposure was weak. There is PFAS in…?
The very useful chemical properties of the PFAS group of chemicals means that they are widely used in a range
of products that are readily available in Australia. These range from food packaging materials to cosmetics, personal care products, medications and toilet paper!
While we should avoid drinking water that contains PFAS, in Australia this is arguably a much smaller exposure pathway for most people than their day-today lives (see figure below).
The good news… source control works
Research conducted in 2019 at the same research institution examining PFAS concentrations in pooled human serum samples has shown a clear decline in the concentrations since the first samples were collected in 2002/03 and the most recent in 2016/17. This has coincided with the phasing out of the use of PFAScontaining firefighting foams in Australia from 2003. Stopping these chemicals from being used has reduced their prevalence in the community.
As community awareness is heightened around PFAS and other contaminants of concern, rather than community fear, we would like to promote community awareness of what they can do to reduce their exposure. The chemicalconcoctions.org website has been developed specifically with this in mind.
At the same time, we will continue to call for the strengthening of import bans on PFAS containing products that fall outside of the bounds of the Industrial Chemicals Management Standard. If New Zealand can do it, so can we.
Program Update: QWRAP
by David Wiskar, QWRAP Program Director
QWRAP has a brand-new look!
The Queensland Water Regional Alliances Program (QWRAP) has a brand-new look!
The new logo, which had a “soft launch” at the Water Skills Forum in April, is part of a bigger project to provide a one stop shop for all QWRAP related information in a new website and portal. The portal aims to streamline bidpool applications and other administrative duties, including a financial tracker to see where and how funding is spent.
The new website will be officially launched at the 2024 Chairs and Coordinators Forum on 21 August.
The project also includes a communications strategy to make it easier for QWRAP regions to share key messages with their elected representatives, staff and other stakeholders to ensure the benefits of the program are widely understood and valued.
Other resources that have been developed through QWRAP funding include:
• An HR/IR Toolkit with a range of practical solutions on the recruitment and retention of Water / Wastewater Operators, including generic position descriptions corresponding to the Queensland Local Government Industry (Stream B) Award that can be tailored to suit specific requirements of the role / organisational context;
• A series of non-accredited training courses that is being rolled out on the watertraining.com.au website with topics including Isolation, Monitoring, Fluid Flow, Chemistry and Calculations.
• A legal agreement template ( Telco Land Access Agreement or TLAA) to assist our members when dealing with a licensed carrier seeking to deploy low impact facilities on water assets. The TLAA seeks to ensure telecommunication providers and their personnel / contractors meet their legislated and contractual requirements whilst protecting the interests and ongoing rights of urban water service providers.
Program Update: QWRAP Regions
Remote Area Planning and Development Water and Sewerage Alliance (RAPADWSA)
The first QWRAP Water Alliance to form, the RAPAD Water and Sewerage Alliance in western Queensland has a small population spread over an area 1.6 times the size of Victoria.
The QWRAP RAPAD have established joint procurement for regional sewer relining services, reservoir cleaning, and water mains air scouring and cleaning, attracting quality service providers to the region and delivering savings for Council budgets.
The RAPAD contracts have also been used by the South and North West QWRAP Region and are shortly to be used by Cherbourg in the WBBUWA QWRAP Region.
Staff also benefit through a regional training hub to complete their Certificate III in Water Industry Operations.
Whitsunday Isaac Mackay Water Alliance (WIMWA)
The Whitsunday Isaac Mackay Water Alliance has arguably the most ambitious raft of projects. State Government funding has been secured to support a wide range of priority initiatives for the region including a collaborative CQU Research Project to assess the presence of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) associated with WWTP discharges.
The extension of the WIW Learning and Development (L&D) Coordinator to facilitate the Water Industry Worker (WIW) Training Aggregation Program is now benefiting all the regions, with Lee-Anne Willis doing a great job aligning training opportunities across Queensland. Strong evidence of the outcomes of WIW are in the following lift in qualified operators across the State:
Other projects include alignment of waste management approaches through a Regional Waste Management Collaboration working group, investigating opportunities to align SCADA systems and a regional control room, uniform regulatory responses to sewerage and water environmental matters, aligned annualised salary packages for operations staff, a review of modelling software used across the region, evaluating a regional smart metering trial as well as workforce planning and resource sharing arrangements.
Having been part of the WIM Alliance since its inception as the Mackay Water Treatment Engineer, Janice Wilson has just taken on the role as Regional Coordinator for the alliance, delivering on the vision to think globally, act regionally and deliver locally. Welcome back Janice!
Program Update: QWRAP Regions
Wide Bay Burnett Urban Water Alliance (WBBUWA)
The WBBUWA located immediately north of SEQ has been operating since 2019 and since then they’ve been delivering significant cost savings to the participating Councils through ongoing regional sewer relining, joint water quality testing for treatment optimisation, and reviewing the WBB Design and Construction Code to ensure donated assets are of appropriate quality and standard. The group has continued to establish relationships with universities, developing an ongoing program with students and extending the Regional Water Industry Worker program.
The WBBUWA Region is currently working with Trility to undertake a Training Needs Analysis project. This project will review all water and wastewater treatment plants and review current operator qualifications to ensure that Local Operators have completed all necessary National Water Package modules in alignment with the requirements of the treatment plants that they are operating.
Downs Urban Water Technical Group (DUWTG)
Goondiwindi, Southern Downs, Toowoomba and Western Downs Regional Councils continue to collaborate in a technical capacity under the banner of the Downs Urban Water Technical Group (DUWTG) with some significant successes, most notably a project to develop regional SCADA standards, completing a water supply security template trial and a Cyber Security audit and risk assessment. They’ve also aligned their DWQMP Audits and promoted regional collaboration for workers by holding a Regional Operator Forum and Field Day.
DUWTG QWRAP Chair Phil McKeon has recently retired and Graham Sweetlove from Southern Downs Regional Council has been elected as the new DUWTG Chair.
Program Update: QWRAP Regions
South West Queensland Water and Sewerage Alliance (SWQWSA)
The SWQ Regional Organisation of Councils have agreed to form the SWQ Water and Sewerage Alliance to cooperate on urban water issues, establishing a regional water and sewerage technical group to drive extensive regional collaboration.
During 2022-2024, the group completed a detailed asset condition assessment project across all asset categories including reservoirs, bores, water treatment, water reticulation, sewer mains, sewer pump stations and sewer treatment. This work identified infrastructure that is at and beyond effective asset life with some stark figures arising from the report:
• 11% of the bores in the region are more than 100 years old and at critical risk of failure (many communities only have one bore)
• A further 20% of bores are more than 80 years old and judged to be at a serious risk of failure (many communities only one bore)
• CCTV camera inspections of sewers have identified that 12% of the entire sewer network is at critical risk of failure. qldwater is working with the region to secure State and Federal Government funding to address the asset risks identified through the QWRAP Collaborative Project.
Read more about the group’s success in hiring a graduate water engineer to be shared by the QWRAP Region later in the newsletter.
Far North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (FNQROC)
The 11 Councils in the Far North Queensland Water Alliance has been progressing the FNQ Regional Water Capability Project, developing a detailed plan that addresses the most challenging issues impacting its water and wastewater businesses.
The plan identified the areas of water and wastewater that posed the most significant capability challenges through a series of workshops and a detailed survey undertaken by the Queensland Treasury Corporation (QTC). The findings were then workshopped and the initiatives that the Water Alliance wished to investigate were identified in relation to people, systems & data and processes.
The group has now secured Bid Pool funding to undertake an options analysis which will lead to the development of a Capability Plan along with an implementation plan with prioritised short, medium and long-term actions.
Program Update: QWRAP Regions
North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (NQROC)
As a new region, the North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (NQROC) kicked off with a number of projects including the development of an asset code for donated assets across the region. Read more about the project in the QWRAP Feature stories in this edition of the newsletter.
The region has a strong skills focus with activities including:
• organising an Operators Training Day in Townsville,
• establishing a research partnership among five councils and James Cook University on treatment options for biosolids in North Queensland,
• skills development for reticulation employees through the regional Water Industry Worker program,
• regional training cohorts for water and wastewater treatment operators to enable standardised approaches and content across all councils, and
• delivering smoke testing training.
Central Queensland ROC (CQROC)
The Central Queensland Region Of Councils (CQROC) Technical Group is the latest addition to the QWRAP program with representatives from Central Highlands, Woorabinda, Rockhampton, Livingstone, Banana and Gladstone councils.
CQROC Coordinator Scott Mason delivered a vision for reviewing key risks at a regional scale and then looking at innovative collaborative approaches to address them at the 2023 Annual Forum, planning to “build the plane while flying it”.
The plane is still up in the air and the crew continues to collaborate despite some turbulence.
Program Update: QWRAP Regions
North West Queensland ROC (NWQROC)
The NWQROC of eight participating Councils have established key governance documents for the collaboration including the Constitution and Memorandum of Understanding following a strategic workshop to identify an agreed vision, mission and objectives for the alliance.
The group completed an audit and analysis of SCADA systems of four participating councils, a Skills Needs Analysis to determine skills gaps relating to plant types in the region, and joint procurement for lagoon desludging, reservoir cleaning and water mains air scouring.
In addition to the activities being driven independently in each region, the Chairs and Coordinators from each group meet regularly to compare experiences and learnings and provide feedback and updates to the DRDMW who fund the program through LGAQ.
QWRAP Regional Updates Creating Water Service Equality Through Standards and Codes
The urban water sector in North Queensland is set to benefit from a recent Queensland Water Regional Alliance Program (QWRAP) initiative to review and align different codes and standards across the NQ QWRAP Region, creating a broad quality framework for water service equality.
NQ QWRAP Coordinator Jeff Ballard said the project, funded by the Queensland Government through QWRAP bidpool funding, used the Cairns Townsville Mackay Code (CTM Code) as a baseline to identify gaps or differences between the standards of five participating Councils and bring them into alignment. The review also compared the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) Codes, the SEQ Code and the standards produced by Unitywater, which are available on their websites.
“The reason we need different codes for different regions is because each region has its own challenges. For example, being mostly situated in the dry tropics, many households need significantly more water than their counterparts in the SEQ region for liveability, so these areas may need bigger reservoirs to keep up with the higher demand,” Jeff explains.
“Another example revolves around appropriate materials technology such as the latest small diameter Polypipe that won’t burst in very hot climates. So we are trying to bring the region up to a minimum standard acknowledging that not all products will be compatible with our region.”
One of the major differences between the SEQ and NQ Codes is the additional information around Assurance and Technical Standards that have been included, along with a range of other resources that the participating QWRAP Councils now have access to.
Jeff believes that a unified set of standards will give Council planning departments, contractors and suppliers a clearer understanding of the requirements for water and sewerage projects throughout the region. This consistency will streamline project planning and execution, reduce misunderstandings, and enhance the overall efficiency of service delivery.
“When Councils adopt the same product and material standards, the availability of emergency spares will also be greatly improved. Standardising means that spares can be stocked more efficiently, ensuring that necessary components are readily available in times of need. This will enhance the region’s ability to respond to emergencies swiftly and effectively, minimising downtime and service disruptions.”
By aligning with the SEQ Code, which reflects any changes made to WSAA Standards, the Councils will always have access to the most current information in the industry. This ensures that their standards remain relevant and up-to-date, promoting best practices and innovation in water and sewerage management. Having the latest standards will also help in meeting regulatory requirements and industry benchmarks, enhancing the overall quality of services provided.
According to QWRAP Director David Wiskar this project will create efficiency and better asset standards across the region.
“Codes provide a standard which developers must follow when building subdivisions,” David explains.
“When these assets are donated back to Councils, the codes will ensure that they are consistent with the best standards and will have an optimal asset life, decreasing costs for ratepayers and water users into the future.”
Unified standards provide planners and designers with a clear and consistent framework to follow, saving them time and money by eliminating the need to navigate through varying standards for different Councils.
For participating Councils, having access to the most recent industry standards will facilitate more efficient project planning and design, reducing errors and rework. It will also streamline the approval process, as planners and designers can be confident that their plans meet the required specifications.
By working together to align standards, the Councils are fostering a spirit of cooperation and shared purpose. This collaboration will create a broad quality framework that developers, contractors, and suppliers across the region can follow, enhancing the consistency and reliability of water and sewerage infrastructure.
QWRAP Regional Updates
South West QWRAP Collaboration Attracts Graduate Engineer
One lucky process engineering student from QUT is set to expand her horizons on a massive scale following her appointment as Graduate Engineer for the South West QWRAP region.
When Bronwen Nel commences her appointment on 26 June 2024, she will already have some process engineering experience following a scholarship with the Sugar Industry which involved placements in sugar mills. Her next challenge will be on a much larger scale, assisting six local councils to provide essential water and sewerage services to an area of 319,261 square kilometres or 18.5 per cent of Queensland!
The South West Queensland Water Alliance (SWQWA) provides potable water services to 26 communities with a total of 10,545 connections, and sewerage services to 8,109 connections across 14 communities.
While attraction and retention of engineering and technical staff is a challenge for the Queensland Water Sector as a whole, the size, scale and remoteness of this region made the task virtually impossible for the individual Councils to achieve. A collaborative approach was needed to attract young engineers into the region.
According to Peter See, Director of Engineering Services at Quilpie Shire Council and current Chair of the SWQWA, this collaborative project involves the joint recruitment of a graduate engineer to be shared amongst the 6 participating Councils including Balonne, Bulloo, Murweh, Paroo, Quilpie and Maranoa.
“The graduate engineer position will be employed in Roma at Maranoa Regional Council and funding for the position will be shared by participating Councils under a cost sharing arrangement,” Peter explains.
“The initial contract provides full-time employment for a period of 3 years, incorporating 6 x 6 monthly rotations to each of the SWQWA Councils and the graduate must agree to participate in the rotation program as a condition of employment.”
The Employment package for the graduate engineer includes:
• above award salary to compete with other sectors e.g. mining
• accommodation, including local accommodation at each rotation location
• relocation assistance
• work vehicle
• on-the-job training and mentoring
• supported and funded professional development leading to professional accreditation
• guaranteed term of employment (subject to satisfactory performance).
QWRAP Bid Pool funding will help Councils to fund travel across the region as well as the professional development activities as part of the program.
We welcome Bronwen to the water sector and look forward to following her journey across the region.
Industry News
by Jess Dean, Project Manager Data & Environment
Water Quality in Noosa more transparent through innovative new tool
A new swimlocal dashboard developed in partnership with Noosa Council is set to enhance transparency and foster greater community understanding about the importance of water quality.
Within the Noosa Shire Council area, water quality monitoring is a collaborative approach with testing performed by the Council and several dedicated notfor-profit organisations, including Noosa and District Landcare, the Noosa Integrated Catchment Association and the Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee.
Noosa Shire Council engaged qldwater to develop an interactive Water Quality Dashboard to provide comprehensive and accessible insights into water quality for both internal and external stakeholders.
All data is entered into swimlocal, and the graphing functionality of the Webreporting tool is used to produce graphs for the dashboard.
Scheduled for completion in August, Noosa Council will be able to build site-specific graphs linked to a map of the respective sites on the Dashboard. Users will be able to view detailed site information drawn from coordinates stored in swimlocal, making it easier to pinpoint specific monitoring locations.
Additionally, the Council will have the capability to upload site photos, providing a visual context that enhances understanding and engagement.
The Water Quality Dashboard is not just a data visualisation and mapping tool, it will also provide links to relevant external resources. Users can access Water Quality Objectives and various water quality reports, ensuring they have all the information they need. This feature underscores the Dashboard’s commitment to providing the community with reliable and comprehensive information and education about water quality.
The primary goal of the Water Quality Dashboard is to enable flexibility with what information is displayed, allowing stakeholders to create customised dashboards to embed on their website.
The good news is that that the new mapping functionality will be available to all swimlocal users once complete.
This is one example of how swimlocal can be used outside of the usual water reporting functionality. Contact David Scheltinga or Jess Dean if you’d like to learn more.
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