eFlash #594

Date: 28-Mar-2024

NEW / HOT TOPICS

Water Skills Forum – Register Now!

The Queensland Water Skills Partnership is hosting its annual Water Skills Forum on Friday 19 April 2024 at Parliament House in Brisbane. The theme for 2024 is The Urban Water Workforce - Recognition & Resilience.

The new Minister for Training and Skills Development, The Honourable Lance McCallum MP will open the Forum and launch several of the projects that qldwater have been working on including new micro-credentials and other non-accredited training resources.

We have locked in presentations on interesting topics including:

Elle Ackland and Chris Hancock introducing an HR/IR Toolkit, including template position descriptions aligned to classification levels in the Queensland Local Government Industry (Stream B) Award,
Amber Robinson and Tarnya Lowe from Central Highlands Regional Council will disclose how a closer working relationship between HR and the Water Team developed into an innovative workforce attraction campaign,
George Wall GAICD will provide an update on the new BuildSkills Australia Jobs & Skills Council,
Amanda Hancock and Ben Steel will provide an update on the Regional Water Capability Plan for the FNQROC region,
Cara Beal will introduce Griffith University's iKnow weKnow project to create a transformative community water and energy toolbox for Indigenous communities, and more!

Water Skills Partnership members get 2 complimentary places at the Skills Forum, but numbers are strictly limited and filling up fast. For more information and to register, follow the link.

Recordings of past webinars available now

The recording of our latest Essentials Webinar on changes to NPR is now available on our website.

Technical Competency Benchmark for Water Industry Operators

Water Research Australia released the Technical Competency Benchmark for Water Industry Operators project (WaterRA Project 1139) which include a suite of products, including an Auditing Tool and Benchmarking Report, along with a comprehensive Summary Report.

This release marks a significant milestone in seeking standardised training and competency within the water industry, addressing the critical need for a structured approach to operator training and competency.

Developed through extensive industry engagement and collaboration, the project seeks to establish minimum standards for technical competency, creating a more uniform approach to training and competency across the water industry. The release of Part A of these tools marks a pivotal moment in the industry's efforts to elevate operator competency, with Part B set for release later in the year.

These resources are available to both WaterRA members and non-members, with secure download enabled upon account creation, aiming to bridge the gap between industry and regulators and ensure the industry is well-equipped to meet evolving challenges and deliver essential services to communities nationwide.

qldwater representatives sat on the steering committee for this project and the Wide Bay Burnett Urban Water Alliance (WBBUWA) provided a regional Queensland perspective to ensure the resources would be valuable to our regional members as well.

Drinking Water Regulation Workshop

The Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water is hosting a Drinking Water Regulation Workshop on Tuesday 23 April in Cairns.

The draft agenda includes sessions presented by Water Supply Regulation on our regulatory approach as well as guest presenters who will share insights into emerging issues, case studies and lessons learned.

The politics of water: A human rights perspective

The Centre for Health in All Policies Research Translation (CHiAPRT), the International Water Association, Water Research Australia, and Public Health SA Health is hosting an In Conversation Round Table on The Politics of Water: A Human Rights Perspective.

The webinar will explore water and its critical role in human and planetary health.

Bioenergy Generation Increasing

Clean Energy Council has released the annual Clean Energy Australia 2024 report. It shows bioenergy provided 3.5% of Australia's renewable energy generation in 2023.

CURRENT CONSULATIONS

Financial Sustainability of Local Government

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport will hold an inquiry into financial sustainability and funding of local government including the changing infrastructure and service delivery obligations. Submissions close Friday 3 May 2024.

Electricity Pricing and Tariffs

In February 2024, Ergon Energy Networks and Energex submitted their Regulatory Proposals and Tariff Structure Statements for 2025-30 to the Australian Energy Regulator (AER). You can review their submissions here.

As Distribution Network Service Providers (DNSP), they operate as natural monopolies and are regulated by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) under Chapter 6 of the National Electricity Rules. Every five years, they submit Regulatory Proposals and Tariff Structure Statements outlining their proposed investment plans, revenue allowances, and tariff structures for the next five-year regulatory control period.

The AER is currently evaluating their Regulatory Proposals, aiming to balance prudent and efficient investment with supporting the energy transition, while ensuring affordability for customers facing cost-of-living pressures. The AER has released an Issues Paper this week and are seeking feedback from customers and stakeholders.

To engage in the AER's consultation you can:

submit written feedback by May 15, 2024, to energyqueensland2025@aer.gov.au, addressed to Gavin Fox, General Manager, or via mail to GPO Box 3131, Canberra ACT 2601.
attend the AER's online public forum on April 11, 2024: registration details are available here.