eFlash #606

Date: 28-Aug-2024

NEW / HOT TOPICS

Annual Forum Reflections

Thanks to all our members and partners who attended the 2024 Annual Forum in Brisbane last week. It was a jam-packed few days with a lot of information to digest from the site tours and presentations. We are working on a detailed report, but in the meantime you can find the photos of the event here, and follow us on LinkedIn as we post brief overviews of each presentation.

Industry Recognition Awards

A big congratulations to our 2024 industry recognition award winners announced at the qldwater 2024 Annual Forum Awards Dinner at Waters Edge Function Centre on Thursday 22 August.

The recipient of the qldwater Government Stakeholder Contribution Award is Ted Aldred, Manager Water Supply Regulation – Water Operations and Systems, at the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water. This award recognises a government representative who has played a pivotal role in advancing the industry through their support, engagement, and forward-thinking initiatives.

The qldwater Industry Recognition Award was presented to Steve Martin, Assets and Projects Manager at Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council. This award acknowledges an individual who has made significant contributions to the advancement of the water and sewerage industry in Queensland.

TracWater Best of the Best Queensland Water Taste Test

Congratulations to Isaac and Fraser Coast Regional Councils with our first ever draw in the taste test competition! While Fraser Coast is no stranger to the sweet taste of success having won the award last year, this is the first time the Isaac team received accolades for their top drop.

Isaac’s winning sample came from the Glenden Water Treatment Plant that services a small population of 475 people who are probably not aware of their award-winning water sourced from the Bowen River Weir.

Fraser Coast’s entry was from the Burgowan Water Treatment Plant that sources its water from Lake Lenthall on the Burrum River.

Well done to the winning teams!

A special mention to runners-up Mackay Regional Council for making it onto the podium once again, not quite ready to leave the limelight after their winning streak in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022.

qldwater Emerging Contaminants Workshop

Registrations are now open for the qldwater Emerging Contaminants Workshop to be held in Townsville on 21-22 November.

The workshop will be held as an in-person event only over two days at the new Engineering & Innovation Place, James Cook University, Townsville:

Thursday 21 November 2024 – Technical Tour

Wilmar Sugar Pty Ltd – Pioneer Sugar mill

Burdekin Shire Council Pacific Bio – RegenAqua macroalgae (HRAP) plant, Ayr

Friday 22 November 2024 – Workshop Presentations

We have assembled a range of speakers on the following three themes:

Science progressing understanding of emerging contaminants
Emerging contaminants regulation and solutions
Utilities' responses to emerging contaminants

The preliminary program is now available for viewing.

This event is proudly supported by the qldwater Consortium for Research and Advocacy on Contaminants. Sponsor packages are available – please contact Louise Reeves for more information.

HAB season is on its way… the HAB Water Workforce Toolbox can help!

As the weather warms up, the potential for cyanobacteria blooms (otherwise known as Harmful Algal Blooms or HAB) increases. With early warm weather HABs can occur in surface waters unusually early in the season, and in locations where they have historically been infrequent.

At the qldwater Annual Forum on 23 August, in partnership with Queensland Health, qldwater launched the HAB Water Workforce Toolbox. This toolkit aims to equip water service providers with the knowledge and resources necessary to understand, monitor, and mitigate the impacts of harmful algal blooms.

The resources are a supplement to the HAB management plans that form a part of the Drinking Water Management Plan for those water service providers that routinely experience HABs.

For those water service providers that are dealing with HABs for the first time, or suspect that they might be experiencing HABs, a new HAB Action Plan is available. This resource has been developed by Queensland HAB experts to guide water service providers as to what they can do to manage this risk to drinking water supplies.

IPWEA-QNT Excellence Awards

The IPWEA-QNT Excellence Awards celebrates the accomplishments of projects that serve to enhance the quality of life for communities in Queensland and Northern Territory.

Project nominations are now open to anyone who are involved in the delivery of projects including contractors, consulting firms, and local and state government agencies. There is a specific category for Innovation and Sustainability in Water as well as Asset Management, Project Innovation and Environment and Sustainability.

For more information and to start your nomination, head to the online awards system at https://ipweaq.awardsplatform.com/

Entries must be received before close of business on Monday 23rd September 2024.