View in browser

Water Bespoke Email Header Image - Aligned

Town Water Risk Reduction Program

NEWSLETTER ISSUE #2 | MAY 2021

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

Workshop series - Improving the regulatory framework

In the coming weeks, we are engaging with local water utilities, co-regulators, the private sector and others to co-develop in partnership a ‘Roadmap to an Improved Regulatory Framework’. The Roadmap will develop a shared understanding and objectives for an improved regulatory framework and set out how the TWRRP team and stakeholders can work together to make improvements.

Our engagement will include two sets of identical virtual workshops and five regional face-to-face workshops in June 2021.

Virtual workshops - Roadmap to an Improved Regulatory Framework (90 min)
The virtual workshops will discuss the programs broader objectives and focus areas, ask how to work in partnership, collaborate and co-design, develop shared regulatory objectives, the principles for our regulatory approach, and identify priorities for improving regulatory framework.

The workshops will be held at the following times (please register for one timeslot in Workshop 1A OR 1B AND one timeslot in Workshop 2a OR 2B):

First set of virtual workshops – Workshop 1A, Wednesday 2 June, 12:30-2pm, OR Workshop 1B, Wednesday 2 June, 2:30-4pm. Note: these are identical workshops and only one should be attended.
Second set of virtual workshops – Workshop 2A, Tuesday 15 June, 12:30-2pm OR Workshop 2B, Tuesday 15 June, 2:30-4pm. Note: these are also identical workshops and only one should be attended.

We recommended you register for one workshop in each set (outlined above) as the discussion will follow on. Register your interest today as we have capped attendance for the virtual workshops at 30 attendees in each workshop session to enable robust discussion and co-design activities. We will add more workshops if interest exceeds capacity.

Please register you interest for the virtual workshops here

If you cannot make to these virtual workshops we will be sharing this information at the regional face to face workshops below and building on co designing the program with you.

Regional face-to-face workshops
In the regional face to face workshops we will share the outcomes from the virtual workshops and give a broader audience the opportunity to collaborate and provide further feedback.

Please select the regional face to face workshops you can attend below. The regional face-to-face workshops will be held at the following times and locations:

A welcome morning tea will be provided from 10:30am and lunch will be provided at each venue. The format for each workshop will be the same. We appreciate your attendance only at one face to face workshop.

Review of Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategic Planning

Our focus on improving the regulatory framework will include how we regulate and support IWCM strategic planning. We have provided advice for local water utilities who are currently preparing an IWCM Strategy or about to commence that process to enable them to make an informed decision about how to proceed with the development of their IWCM strategies.

We are reviewing our approach to IWCM strategic planning in response to the concerns of stakeholders in the water and local government sectors and the recommendations of the recent performance report from the Auditor-General for New South Wales - Support for regional town water infrastructure. We will work in partnership with the sector to improve the transparency, accountability and efficiency which govern the departments assessment of IWCM strategies.

We have provided advice on continuing the development of an IWCM Strategy under the existing arrangements as well as options to delay or defer a component of the IWCM Strategy. There is also the opportunity to co-design components of the new framework for IWCM strategies in partnership with the Town Water Risk Reduction Program team. Expressions of interest to volunteer to co-design are requested by 30 June 2021. Visit here for more information and key dates on any changes.

Updated IWCM Strategic Planning webpage

We have made some updates to our Integrated Water Cycle Management (IWCM) strategic planning web pages with new and improved information including a new table that provides a status planning update of IWCMs. These updates provide clear and concise information on Integrated Water Cycle Management strategic planning. You can access the new web pages here.

LGNSW Water Management Conference

We are proud to sponsor LGNSW’s Water Management Conference in Narrabri on 7-9 July, a major annual event that provides a dedicated forum to discuss water policy initiatives and trends relevant to local government.

Dr Jim Bentley, Deputy Secretary Water, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment will give a keynote presentation, including reflecting on the Department’s partnership with councils and local water utilities.

The Town Water Risk Reduction Program team will:

share a roadmap for feedback on working towards an improved regulatory framework, under development in partnership with the sector at the June workshops
lead an interactive session for Councillors to help us design useful materials on governance and risk
join a discussion at the Water Directorate Forum on ‘How can State-owned Corporations help Local Water Utilities?’.

Attendees will also hear about the latest technical issues and share best practice in urban water governance and management. You can register for the conference here: https://lgnsw.org.au/Water_Conference/Home/Water_Conference/Home.aspx

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

We welcome your views on the Program scope and how you would like to contribute. Email the Program team at regional.town.water@dpie.nsw.gov.au

Visit the website