Town Water Risk Reduction Program 

NEWSLETTER ISSUE #13 | MAY 2022

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

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

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

The survey is open until 30 June 2022 and should take 5–7 minutes of your time with all responses anonymous. We will share the results in July 2022 which will include a comparison with results from the previous surveys. Review the results of our surveys from June 2021 and December 2021 are available on our website.

Implementing the new regulatory and assurance framework for local water utilities

From 1 July, we will implement the new Regulatory and assurance framework for local water utilities, which is designed to enable local water utilities to manage risks. We are currently finalising the framework following public consultation on the draft. More than 40 stakeholders participated in the consultation, which included a webinar, survey and public submissions. All public submissions are now available on our website.

The new approach to assessment and approvals of works (under section 60 of the Local Government Act or section 292(1) of the Water Management Act) will be fully implemented by 1 July, with an online application form available as well as external guidance for local water utilities.

In 2021, we committed to ensuring that those local water utilities progressing their Integrated Water Cycle Management (IWCM) Strategy would not be disadvantaged by the new strategic planning assurance framework. By 1 July we will engage with all local water utilities that are currently undertaking an IWCM Strategy, including those funded under the Safe and Secure Water Program. We will work with utilities individually to develop a clear transition program through to 1 December. We will also publish draft guidance over the coming months, with final guidance in place by 1 October.

For more information about the new Regulatory and assurance framework for local water utilities contact us at regional.town.water@dpie.nsw.gov.au

WaterNSW dam safety pilots  

As part of our investigations into potential support for local water utilities managed by State Owned Corporations, the Town Water Risk Reduction Program is working with WaterNSW and three local water utilities, Clarence Valley Council, Orange City Council and Tamworth Regional Council to undertake dam safety pilot projects. The pilots draw on the expertise of WaterNSW staff to help these councils improve dam safety compliance and asset risk management performance. During May, WaterNSW undertook site visits with all three councils to develop an understanding of the key issues and risks each face.

Considering a national approach to operator training resources

We are progressing our water industry skills and training action plan, including the development of high quality training resources. One of the actions we are focussing on is a national approach to the development and maintenance of training materials to reduce barriers to entry and costs for training providers to deliver accredited water operator training. Throughout June and July, we will engage with stakeholders from across the Australian water and training sectors and draw on the experience of other industries, to help develop this further.

Webinar - water treatment during heavy rain events

Save the Date - Tuesday 26th June 1:30pm

Letting you know about a webinar for water treatment operators, engineers and managers about the lessons learnt in regional NSW during heavy rain events in early 2022. The webinar will be co-presented by the Department’s Water Group with NSW Health. An invitation will be emailed closer to the date with more information.

The department at Ozwater

Members of the Department’s Water Group attended Ozwater in Brisbane in May, including Dr Nanda Altavilla from the Town Water Risk Reduction Program and Chief Operating Officer Graham Attenborough. Ozwater provided a great opportunity to catch up with the latest in the water industry and engage with colleagues from across the Australian water industry, including many representatives from NSW local water utilities. Dr Nanda Altavilla participated in a forum hosted by the Queensland Water Directorate ‘Developing solutions to the water industry’s training supply market crisis’. A report on the outcomes from the session will be distributed by qldwater. We will post a link on our webpage when it is available.

Australian Young Water Professional of the Year

Congratulations to Michael Carter, Principal Process Engineer at Hunter H2O, for taking out the Australian Young Water Professional of the Year Award at the Australian Water Association Water Awards at Ozwater. Michael recently won the NSW award, and is a member of the Town Water Risk Reduction Program’s Technical Assessment and Approvals Working Group. Michael is a passionate and inspiring young principal engineer, with a vision for all water supplies across regional NSW to be safe and resilient. Still a farm boy at heart, his regional background has cultivated meaningful impact throughout the water industry and has inspired collaboration across divisions.

Further information and feedback

Visit the Town Water Risk Reduction Program website for more detailed information.

Have your say

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