Town Water Risk Reduction Program 

NEWSLETTER ISSUE #5 | AUGUST 2021

Welcome to the August edition of the Town Water Risk Reduction Program newsletter. 

Regional NSW on high alert

We acknowledge that our entire state is experiencing restrictions due to COVID-19. We hope you and your communities stay safe in these unusual times. Please contact us if we can provide support.

Draft Roadmap to an improved regulatory framework for local water utilities

On Wednesday 4 August we launched our draft Roadmap to an improved regulatory framework for local water utilities, with 80 virtual attendees. The draft roadmap is available here.

The draft roadmap reflects the outcomes of the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (the department’s) engagement with the local water utility sector and our commitment to continue to work in partnership with the sector to improve the department’s regulatory framework.

We are keen to hear what you think of the draft roadmap, you can provide you feedback by completing this survey or emailing regional.town.water@dpie.nsw.gov.au by Friday 4 September 2021.

Call for expressions of interest to participate in working groups

Following the development of our draft roadmap, we are calling for expressions of interest from members of the local water utility sector to join working groups and collaborate with the department to design improvements to our regulatory approach to strategic planning and technical assessment and approvals.

We are calling for expressions of interest (EOI) for members that will collaborate to design an improved approach for the regulatory functions, assessment, and support for local water utilities:

Working Group 1 – Strategic planning

Working Group 2 - Technical assessment and approvals

More information about the working groups and how to express your interest in participating is available here.

Regulator perception survey results

In June 2021, the department initiated an inaugural water sector survey to understand stakeholders’ views about how we regulate, support and work in partnership with local water utilities and to identify where we can improve. A summary of the results is available here.

The results of the survey will inform key aspects of the department’s work. We will use the results of the inaugural survey as a baseline to help track views about the department. We will repeat the survey in six months to track progress.

Skills and training update

A key focus area for the Town Water Risk Reduction Program is skills and training. After preliminary conversations with Joint Organisations, Water Directorate, trainers, NSW TAFE, LGNSW, Training NSW and Water Industry Operators Association, we have formed a Skills and Training focus group to identify and address the barriers to regional operator training.

At the first meeting, the focus group agreed to conduct state-wide research that will accurately quantify the training needs of the industry and to build a business case to attract RTOs to provide a sustainable training market that delivers place-based operator training. This will assist Training Services NSW to develop a Water Operators Industry Skills Strategy. We will provide regular updates as this progresses.

Congratulations Nanda!

Congratulations to Nanda Altavilla who was recently elected as the NSW President of the Australian Water Association for a two-year term.

Nanda is a valued member of the Town Water Risk Reduction Program team who was recognised as a Legend of Water by the Australian Water Association in 2016. It is great to see this recognition of Nanda’s passion for water issues, particularly water recycling, as well as her ongoing support of women and young people the sector.

Further information and feedback

Visit the Town Water Risk Reduction Program website for more detailed information including a fact sheet that sets out the Program scope and proposed focus areas.

Have your say

For more information or enquires please email the team at regional.town.water@dpie.nsw.gov.au