eFlash #602

Date: 17-Jul-2024

NEW / HOT TOPICS

Annual Forum

Early bird registration for the Annual Forum closes this Friday, 19 July so get in quick to access the discounted price.

The program is progressing well with presentations covering the cost of infrastructure, contaminant liabilities associated with infrastructure development, critical water security and water quality risks exposed by detailed assessment in the South West QLD region, the real cost of third-party damages to Australia’s utilities, Cyber Security, unlocking the potential of wastewater and more.

We will also be launching a new toolkit for Harmful Algae Blooms with the support of Dr Phil Choi from Queensland Health.

For more information and to register,click here.

Important SWIM news

The SWIM system is now open for annual water and sewerage data reporting for 2023/24. SWIM collates data from Water Service Providers across the State and sends it to BoM, NPR, ABS and the Qld Govt (KPIs).

qldwater has started sending your SWIM representative information regarding accessing and using the SWIM system. If you’ve had staff changes and the SWIM reporting person from last year is no long working in this position, please contact qldwater at swim@qldwater.com.au to set up new contact details to ensure important information can be supplied to your organisation.

The data is due on Tuesday 1 October this year. All data is mandatory and required under legislation – PINS can be imposed for late or missing Qld Govt KPI data.

SWIM training: as there has been no changes to the annual indicators requested for the last 4 years qldwater is not planning on holding any ‘in person’ specific SWIM training sessions this year. We are more than happy to organise online or in-person meetings with anyone who wishes to do this. So, if you would like to do some SWIM training, please let David know (contact details below) and we will work out something for you.

Additionally, SWIM training videos are available from the qldwater website.

If you have any questions about SWIM, please contact David Scheltinga (dscheltinga@qldwater.com.au).

Micro-Credentials 2024

There are only a handful of spots left for the highly anticipated micro credential courses being delivered in Cairns. These initial cohorts will be delivered face-to-face only.

Making Use of Water Quality Data - 6th August 2024. (Costs per person for: Members $100: Affiliate Members $200: Non-Member $350)
James Howey from Viridis will outline the value of water quality data collected as part of operational roles including the use of tools like Excel spreadsheets and swimlocal to record data, see data trends, identify emerging issues, make informed decisions on corrective actions and comply with the organisation’s Drinking Water Quality Management Plan (DWQMP).
Operational Implications of the Drinking Water Quality Management Plan - 7th August 2024. (Costs per person for: Members $100: Affiliate Members $250: Non-Member $350)
Delivered by James Howey from Viridis this course will help operators and operational support staff to better understand the importance of a Drinking Water Quality Management Plan (DWQMP) and their role in ensuring the thorough implementation of the DWQMP to supply safe drinking water and manage risks from catchment to consumer.

These courses promise an immersive learning experience, with refreshments provided throughout the day.

Please contact Water Industry Worker Coordinator Lee-Anne Willis to register your interest. Email lwillis@qldwater.com.au.

OTHER NEWS

Product Recall from the ESO

Queensland’s Electrical Safety Office has released details of a recall on WU-ES7 Electronic Countdown Ballast used in WU-UV water filtering systems.

Affected ballasts may have a fault causing water filtering systems to short circuit. Consumers should immediately disconnect the ballast from the power supply. Water filtering systems which may include the WU-ES7 are WU-UV100; WU-UV150; WU-UV200, and WU-UV250. Affected units will have part number WU-ES7 printed on the ballast.

New Workplace exposure limits (WEL) to apply from 1 December 2026

Work health and safety (WHS) ministers have agreed to the new WEL list and a harmonised transition period ending on 30 November 2026. This change comes after extensive work and consultation to revise the Workplace exposure standards for airborne contaminants (WES).

WHS ministers agreed to rename the Workplace exposure standards (WES) as Workplace exposure limits (WEL) to make it clear that these are a limit that should not be exceeded.

From 1 December 2026, and following implementation into the WHS laws of the Commonwealth, states and territories, the Workplace exposure limits for airborne contaminants (WEL list) will be adopted throughout Australia.

Until 1 December 2026, persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) must continue to ensure no person is exposed to an airborne concentration of an airborne contaminant higher than its exposure standard listed in the WES List.

While most exposure limits remained unchanged, the WES Review did result in some changes, including reductions and increases in limits for certain chemicals and the removal or introduction of new limits for others. For more information on what has changed, see the SWA webpage on the changes between the WES and WEL.

Following the Workplace Exposure Standards (WES) Review, Safe Work Australia is undertaking additional work:

New guidance is being developed to assist PCBUs with the transition to the WEL. These resources will be published throughout the transition period and beyond.
WHS ministers have requested additional impact analysis on the proposed changes to the exposure standards for the following chemicals/substances before their WEL limit will be updated in the WEL including some relevant to the water sector such as chlorine and hydrogen sulphide.

Safe Work Australia RIS on H2S and Chlorine commencing soon

It appears that the requested RIS on proposed changes to the STEL and TWA limits for H2S and chlorine has gone straight to a Decision RIS, which limits the opportunities for the collection of additional local exposure data.

Safe Work Australia (SWA) have advised that they have contracted a consultant to conduct the updating of the cost-benefit analysis for a Decision RIS on the 9 outstanding chemicals (respirable crystalline silica, benzene, chlorine, copper, formaldehyde, hydrogen sulphide, nitrogen dioxide, titanium dioxide, hydrogen cyanide).

They have also advised that recognising the strong interest from stakeholders in this work, they remain committed to a consultation on the draft decision RIS via the Agency’s Consultation Hub. Current planning is for this to occur in September, and they will continue to keep stakeholders updated on the timing.

TMR Non-Transport Utility Management and Design Manual

The draft Non-Transport Utility Management and Design Manual developed by Transport and Main Roads has been substantially revised in response to feedback, with SEQ service providers especially spending many hours developing feedback. According to the latest Industry Update from July the revised draft of the manual will be released for consultation soon.

It is important that the concerns of all urban water providers are captured in any consultation. Please pass this on to your infrastructure teams. We will advise when the consultation opens.

WIOA QLD Conference

We hope to see many of our members at the WIOA QLD Conference on 24 & 25 July 2024 at the University of Sunshine Coast, USC Stadium.

The program includes the IXOM Water of Origin Competition, Operator Presentations, Veolia UniSC Water Battery Site Tour, Women of Water Breakfast, Main Tapping Competition and more! With 110 exhibiting organisations on site, and FREE entry to the expo hall - you won’t want to miss this event.

Download the program.

Hiring International Graduates Webinar

The Department of Home Affairs, through its Business, Industry and Regional Outreach (BIRO) network, are hosting a National International Graduate Visa Pathway Information Webinar. The webinar is open to employers interested in hiring an international student nearing graduation who are seeking to remain in Australia and undertake work in their field.

The webinar will cover the following topics:

Temporary Graduate visa - Subclass 485
Employer sponsored visas
The Migration Strategy and upcoming changes
Migrant worker reforms

DATE: Thursday 18 July 2024

TIME: 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM AEST

Tickets are available here.

WSAA Strategy 2030

The Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) recently released their Strategy 2030, outlining five strategic priorities:

Water Security - Achieve equitable access to safe and secure water and wastewater services
Customer Value - Deliver long-term financially sustainable and affordable services to customers
Resilient and Regenerative future - Embrace resilience through circular design, safeguarding the wellbeing of future generations in our cities and towns
First Nations - Reduce disparity of First Nations peoples access to services and increase engagement with First Nations peoples
People and Capability - As a sector of choice, ensure our people and organisations are ready now and for the future.

Download the Strategy here.