eFlash #592

Date: 05-Mar-2024

NEW / HOT TOPICS

Water Connections Tour

qldwater coordinated a Water Connections Tour on behalf of the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water last month, visiting Douglas Shire Council, Bamaga Island, Charters Towers, Longreach and Cherbourg.

The Councils showed a wide range of issues but essentially it came down to few key themes;

Assets reaching the end of design life.
Key risks growing or escalating.
Communities that could not afford without Government help to upgrade or replace their assets.
Communities having difficulty with attracting and retaining skills to help their communities manage their risks.

Planning is now well underway for the qldwater Water Connections Tour which will take place from 13 to 17 May, visiting Mount Isa, Cloncurry, Julia Creek, Richmond, Hughenden, and Winton. More details to follow soon.

Latest Submissions

Three submissions have been added to our website:

qldwater Submission to the EPOLA Bill 2024 - Release Date 04-Mar-2024: - qldwater Submission to the Health, Environment and Agriculture Committee regarding the Environmental Protection (Powers and Penalties) and Other Legislation Amendments Bill 2024 reiterating our serious concern about unintended and perverse outcomes that may arise from some of the proposed amendments primarily relating to the lack of an adequate descriptor of who a ‘polluter’ is, the uncertainty and lack of utility in the proposed duty to restore the environment absent direction about how contamination that has migrated off-site can be remedied, and the stealthy mechanism for amending an environmental authority condition, resulting in lack of business and operational certainty.

qldwater Submission on Restoring Our Rivers Draft Framework - Release Date 29-Feb-2024: - qldwater Submission to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water in response to the Restoring Our Rivers: Draft framework for delivering the 450 GL of additional environmental water. qldwater proposes a Murray Darling Basin Local Government Water Recovery Program to deliver across all three key principles that the Commonwealth has developed for water recovery. Investment by the Commonwealth in more efficient urban water infrastructure will enhance environmental outcomes, minimise socio economic impact and achieve value for money as water demand management is the most cost-effective way of delivering water security outcomes for communities.

qldwater Submission to Productivity Commission Inquiry on National Water Reform 2024 - Release Date 06-Feb-2024: - qldwater Submission to the Productivity Commission's inquiry into National Water Reform, with a focus on skills to ensure access to a basic level of service, improved planning as one of the NWI modernised objectives (water entitlements and planning advice), implementing principles for best practice independent economic regulation and governance of regional and remote services through QWRAP.

Essentials Webinar: Land Use Safety Planning for Chlorine Gas Facilities

Wednesday 6 March 2024 from 10am to 11am

Ben Fleming, Senior Safety Advisor at the Major Hazard Facilities Unit within the Office of Industrial Relations, will present on land use safety planning for chlorine gas facilities providing an overview of the application of safety and planning regulations to hazardous chemicals, current planning legacy and ideal planning outcomes.

Water Skills Forum

Work is progressing well on the program for the 2024 Water Skills Forum to be held at Parliament House, Brisbane on Friday, 19 April.

The theme for 2024 is The Urban Water Workforce - Recognition & Resilience.

Over the past twelve months, significant progress has been made across a range of workforce and training initiatives. This Forum showcases some of those initiatives from a range of organisations and outlines several new workforce and training initiatives designed by the sector, for the sector.

Following six successful forums, the 2024 forum will provide an opportunity for Water and Sewerage Managers, Human Resources and Learning and Development professionals to hear presentations from water industry and other workforce experts and Government stakeholders.

QWRAP Regional Coordinator – WIMWA

The Whitsunday Isaac Mackay Water Alliance is is seeking a suitably qualified water professional/consultant to continue the administrative, governance, project management, coordination and communication services for the duration of the funding term to build sustainable collaboration among the Greater Whitsunday Councils and to ensure successful delivery of QWRAP projects and objectives.

Download the Position Description here.

Delivery of VET in Rural and Regional Queensland

qldwater received specific mention by the Queensland Parliamentary Education, Employment and Training Committee’s inquiry into the delivery of VET in regional, rural and remote Queensland following its submission and appearance before the Committee.

The Education, Employment, Training and Skills committee tabled the report of the former committee’s Inquiry as Report No. 1, 57th Parliament – The delivery of VET in regional, rural and remote Queensland on 21 February 2024. The report can be found here.

Documents relating to the former committee’s Inquiry, including transcripts and submissions can be viewed on the following inquiry webpages:

Leading Practice STP Environmental Management Review

The Department of Environment, Science and Innovation released the final report of the Leading Practice Sewage Treatment Plant Environmental Management Review for the Great Barrier Reef Catchment.

This comprehensive review was conducted to evaluate the environmental management practices of sewage treatment plants within the Great Barrier Reef Catchment. The report provides valuable insights, recommendations, and leading practices to enhance environmental stewardship and safeguard the ecological integrity of the Great Barrier Reef.

For more information contact Gatut Sudarjanto at gatut.sudarjanto@des.qld.gov.au.

Water Regulation Workshop Cairns

The Water Supply Regulation team is conducting a Drinking Water Regulation workshop in Cairns on 23 April 2024.

The agenda includes presentations on drinking water incidents and actions, regulation requirements, water treatment and the Australian Drinking Water Guideline and updates from qldwater, Queensland Health, Tropical Public Health Services, and more.

CURRENT CONSULTATIONS

New Nature Positive Laws

The Australian Government is reforming our national environmental law – the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

Th Nature Positive Plan delivers on the government’s commitment to strengthen and streamline Australia’s environmental laws in response to the Independent Review of the EPBC Act, undertaken by Professor Graeme Samuel AC (the Samuel Review).

Submissions close 30 March 2024

https://consult.dcceew.gov.au/australias-new-nature-positive-laws