eFlash #573

Date: 04-Aug-2023

NEW / HOT TOPICS

1. Annual Forum - Register Now!

Planning is progressing well for the Annual Forum to be held in Toowoomba from Tuesday, 5 September to Thursday, 7 September 2023.

Tuesday 5 September
Hop on the bust to view the impressive new pump station at Perseverance Dam (lots of steps so not for the faint-hearted!) and a visit to the Wetalla Water Reclamation Facility which includes a BNR STP, Advanced WTP and Biogas generation facility.
Wednesday 6 September
Learn more about the history of the Queensland Water Directorate and its key programs, including a panel session with past Young Operator of the Year and Operator of the Year Award (Civil/Allrounder) winners. The afternoon will include a session on the award winning Water Industry Worker program and how it can be supercharged through the QWRAP program.
Thursday 7 September
In partnership with the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water, we will host a session on the Queensland Government’s Statewide Risk Assessment Project. This work will help shape Queensland’s involvement in the renewed National Water Initiative and the Federal Funding made available as part of the re-invigoration of the National Water Commission.

Other speakers include Jaek Passier from Toowoomba Regional Council on Water Business Innovation and the Pathway to Net Zero through the $1.5 Billion Pumped Hydro Project; Scott Mason, Central Queensland QWRAP Coordinator on a vision for a QWRAP Alliance to facilitate water industry reform and David Wiskar on Climate Change and its impact on water security across Queensland.

2. The TracWater Best of the Best Queensland Water Taste Test

Back by popular demand and open to all Queensland Water Directorate (qldwater) members, the TracWater Best of the Best Queensland Water Taste Test competition will establish who has the best tasting tap water in Queensland in 2023!

The taste test will take place from 5-7pm on Tuesday, 5 September 2023 at the Burke and Wills Hotel, Toowoomba as part of the qldwater Annual Forum. The competition aims to celebrate the achievements of the State’s urban water service providers and to promote some healthy rivalry among our communities.

No doubt competition will be stiff as Queensland water service providers try to dethrone current champions Mackay Regional Council. We know Michael Dalton from Livingstone Regional Council has been busy replacing all his media filters to ensure the best sample will be making its way to Toowoomba!

To enter the 2023 competition, please complete the Taste Test Entry Form and return it to enquiry@qldwater.com.au by Friday, 1 September 2023. You have to be in it to win it...

Two litres of drinking water for each scheme entered should be shipped to Level 1, 6 Eagleview Place, Eagle Farm by COB Friday, 1 September or delivered in person at the Burke & Wills Hotel, Toowoomba before midday on Tuesday, 5 September.

May the best water win!

3. qldwater Advocacy

There are an increasing number of key issues facing Queensland’s Urban Water Sector, coupled with an exhaustive number of consultations, often with only minimum timeframes to respond. One of qldwater's critical roles is to ensure that the sector responds effectively to consultations so that all views and opinions are heard and to ensure that any unintended consequences can be identified early and avoided.

qldwater responds to a variety of consultations and correspondence (including submissions and discussion papers) which can be accessed on our website (members only so please log in to download the responses). This is in addition to general correspondence such as letters to Ministers and Department heads or feedback provided as part of government working groups.

The latest additions include:

a letter to the Minister for Communications Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, drawing urgent attention to several outstanding issues arising from deficiencies in the regulatory framework surrounding telecommunications deployment by telecommunication carriers under the Telecommunications Act 1997 impacting upon the water sector; and
a submission to the Review of the Electrical Safety Act 2002 raising matters of particular consideration for the urban water sector.

When qldwater becomes aware of a consultation or a consultation paper is released, we reach out to relevant stakeholders through our Strategic Priorities Group and subscribers to our key programs such as SWEAP, qCRAC, the Water Skills Partnership and SWIM to effectively develop well-balanced and insightful submissions. We also share details of current consultations through our regular eFlashes sent to member organisations and other partners.

Members who are keen to get involved in any of our key programs can email enquiry@qldwater.com.au to be directed to the correct group.

REMINDERS / OTHER NEWS

4. EOI from AWA Water Literacy Specialist Group

With National Water Week (16-22 October 2023) fast approaching, the AWA Water Literacy Specialist Group would like to spotlight current community education programs!

How are you building water literacy in the community?
How are you reaching young and more experienced minds?
What does your program entail?
Who is the target?
How are you measuring success?
Lessons Learned – what worked and what didn’t?

If you’re keen to share your work, raise the profile of your program and inspire others – we’d love to hear from you! To express your interest in being featured in an upcoming AWA Source article, please email Des Gralton.

5. South East Queensland Bulk Water Concealed Leak Remission Scheme

The Queensland Government’s South East Queensland Bulk Water Concealed Leak Remission Scheme and debt relief will help people affected by a high water bill from a concealed leak.

This policy provides financial relief on the excess state bulk water charge of 100% for eligible pensioners and 70% for all other customers. This financial relief is on top of the existing remissions schemes administered by the 5 South East Queensland water service providers.

Currently, all five southeast Queensland water service providers – Urban Utilities, Unitywater, Redland City Council, Logan City Council, City of Gold Coast – have remission policies that provide relief on the service provider charges, but only some provide limited relief on the state bulk water charge.

Information on the scheme is available on the DRDMW website.

5. Workplace Health and Safety QLD Events

October is Safe Work Month and work health and safety professionals and business leaders are invited to gather at the Work Well Regional Information Sessions to learn, connect and share ideas with other industry professionals. These FREE sessions will explore:

Managing the risk of psychosocial hazards at work
Managing respirable crystalline silica dust exposure in construction and manufacturing of construction elements Code of Practice 2022
Powerline safety - look up and live.

Follow this link to find the event closest to you.

Can’t make it to an in-person event? The Work Well Speaker Series is a FREE online speaker series with six events held throughout October. Each session will provide you with practical advice to immediately start improving health and safety and return to work outcomes in your workplace.

Hear from industry leading experts who will be discussing:

Controlling noise in the workplace
The 3M's: meaningful, manageable, manual tasks - managing the risks of musculoskeletal disorders through a work design lens
Promoting workplace safety for young employees
How to unlock the health and safety representative (HSR)
Good work design – theory and solutions to support injury prevention and management
Developing evidence-based and practical solutions for preventing harm in the workplace

View the speakers and register here.

CURRENT CONSULTATIONS

6. SEQ Regional Plan Update Open for Review

The Queensland Government is undertaking a targeted review of the existing regional plan to respond to current housing pressures in context of the significant growth and events our region has experienced since 2017. The draft Shaping SEQ 2023 (PDF, 18.2MB) update includes new and updated strategies to ensure we enhance the region’s communities now and into the future.

The plan includes almost 900,000 new homes for the SEQ region by 2046 to accommodate 2.2 million new residents.

Consultation on the draft update is open until 20 September 2023. You can have your say through the online engagement hub.