NEWSLETTER ISSUE #9 | DECEMBER 2021

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

Year in review

As the year ends, we are reflecting on the strength of the partnership we are developing with the local water utility sector.

The Town Water Risk Reduction Program set out to develop and implement a new approach of working together to identify barriers and develop solutions that enable local water utilities to manage risks and priorities in town water systems more strategically and effectively and, as a result, reduce risks in regional NSW communities over time.

Pivotal to the success of the program so far is that it truly is partnership approach which recognises the wealth of expertise within councils, local water utilities and relevant government agencies. Our stakeholder advisory panel meets monthly to help design, facilitate and refine the program and to identify engagement opportunities with the broader sector.

Our roadmap to an improved regulatory framework for local water utilities was developed to reflect the outcomes of our engagement with the local water utility sector and our commitment to continue to work in partnership with the sector improve the department's regulatory framework. Working groups have formed test and improve the regulatory framework.

We undertook extensive engagement with the wider sector and are finalising a range of pilots to test collaborative approaches to reduce risk in key areas. We are partnering with stakeholders to improve skills and training in the sector.

Next year we will continue to partner with the sector. We look forward to implementing an improved regulatory framework, improved access to skills and training, piloting new ways of reducing risks, and exploring the pros and cons of alternative funding models.

From the whole Town Water Risk Reduction Program team, and everyone at the department, have a safe, relaxing and Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Namoi Councils collaborate to reduce trade waste risks

We are working with a number of local water utilities and joint organisations of councils to progress regionally focussed strategic and risk reduction pilot programs between councils.

We recently funded a project led by Namoi Joint Organisation and Tamworth Regional Council to investigate a potential, regional approach to the management of liquid trade waste. Without proper controls and pricing by councils, liquid trade waste can have negative and costly impacts on sewerage systems, the environment and the health and safety of workers and the public.

The pilot is running until July 2022, involving Gunnedah Shire, Gwydir Shire, Liverpool Plains Shire, Tamworth Regional, Walcha and Warrumbungle Shire councils.

The project will include a gap and demand analysis to help each council understand their current capacity and compliance to the regulatory framework, and to get a clearer understanding of the scope of the issue in their area. The project will also develop a business case for a shared service model to help the participating councils understand if a regional approach is viable.

Mid next year we will evaluate the pilot to determine if a regional approach to liquid trade waste management should be further encouraged across the NSW.

Update from our Working Groups – Improving the regulatory framework for local water utilities

To design improvements to the department’s key regulatory frameworks, we have established two working groups with representation from across the local water utility sector:

• working group on the department’s regulation of local water utility strategic planning
• working group on technical assessment and approvals by the department.

An update from the working groups activities since they were established is now available which outlines how the working groups are addressing relevant roadmap actions, considering regulatory options and designing improved regulatory frameworks.

Town water security analysis

Work is underway to develop new guidance materials for town water supply systems dependent on both regulated and unregulated water sources. The guidance focusses on using Regional Water Strategy modelling generated streamflow data. 

The department will prepare town water security guidelines using lessons from pilots and case studies including the process for using regional water strategy data.

We will consult widely on these new guidelines before their adoption in 2023. More information on the interim guidance for regulated and groundwater sources can be found on our website.

Skills and training draft action plan

In partnership with key stakeholders and regulators we have developed a draft Action Plan to establish a sustainable training market. The draft action plan identifies a range of actions that address both supply and demand barriers. This was developed with the input from our Skills and Training focus group including members from the training and local government sector including, Skills and Training NSW, LGNSW, Water Directorate, TAFE and the NSW Public Sector Industry Training Advisory Body, local water utilities and Joint Organisations. A recent announcement about the action plan is available on our website.

Give us your feedback about the department’s regulation and support of local water utilities

Last month we sent an invitation to complete a survey asking about your feedback and experience dealing with us.

This is the second 6-monthly survey and is designed to help us understand your high-level views about how the department regulates, supports and works in partnership with local water utilities and identify where we need to improve.
We would appreciate you taking the time to complete the survey.

The survey is open until 30 December 2021 and should take 5 to 7 minutes of your time with all responses anonymous. We will share the results in January 2022, which will include a comparison with the baseline results from the inaugural survey in June 2021.

The results of our survey from June 2021 are available on our website.

Local water utility licensing assistance

We recently updated our website with information about local water utility licensing assistance, including:

• types of water licences
• new water licence or additional entitlements
• options for obtaining additional licence entitlements
• trading water allocations and changing licence categories.

NSW Government closedown dates and operational support

NSW Government departments maintain skeleton staff and frontline services staff for the 2021-22 Christmas and New Year period from Monday 27 December 2020 until Friday 7 January 2021 inclusive.

Operational support for local water utilities will continue to be provided by the department to assist with any emergencies. In the first instance please contact the on-call inspector (Ben Maloney) on 0429 604 409.

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