eFlash #631

eFlash #631 New

Date: 31-Jul-2025

New / Hot Topics

Hot off the press: 2024 Urban Water Workforce Snapshot Report

qldwater has released its eighth biennial Workforce Composition Snapshot, offering the most detailed analysis yet of Queensland’s urban water sector.

This year’s report highlights urgent challenges and emerging opportunities in workforce planning, training, and diversity across the state. Based on data from 42 Water Service Providers, representing over 70% of the sector, the Snapshot reveals:

Gender diversity gaps – Women make up just 10% of the operational workforce and 2% of supervisors, though growth in scientific roles shows promise.
Regional renewal needs – SEQ utilities are leading in succession planning and early-career engagement, while regional areas lag behind.
Training system limitations – The current National Water Training Package is no longer fit-for-purpose, with fragmented pathways and access issues, especially in remote areas.
Critical vacancies and burnout – High vacancy rates are impacting wellbeing, safety, and infrastructure maintenance, particularly in regional councils.
Call for strategic reform – qldwater is advocating for a trade-level apprenticeship pathway and more flexible, fit-for-purpose training solutions.

The message is clear: incremental change is no longer enough. We need bold, collaborative action to build a resilient, skilled, and inclusive workforce that can meet the demands of an increasingly complex operating environment.

Download the full report here:

Essentials Webinar Recap: PFAS in Drinking Water

Led by Jarrod Cowley-Grimmond, Deputy Director-General from the Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers, the webinar outlined updates to the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) for PFAS substances. New, lower limits now apply to four key PFAS compounds PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, and PFBS—replacing previous combined metrics. Water service providers are expected to assess risks, consider testing, and update their Drinking Water Quality Management Plans accordingly. While testing isn’t mandatory, transparency and proactive risk management are encouraged. The overall PFAS risk in Queensland remains low, particularly for surface and GAB water sources.

Watch the recording here.

HR questions on HPWJ answered

The requirement to complete the Grey Card (asbestos awareness) course alongside the High Pressure Water Jetting (HPWJ) Skill Set stems directly from conditions set by the Office of Industrial Relations (OIR). The exemption that permits the high-pressure water jetting of asbestos cement sewer pipes in Queensland mandates that: “All workers directly involved with high-pressure water jetting of asbestos sewer pipe infrastructure must complete an appropriate asbestos awareness training course prior to commencing the work.” The exemption also outlines further compliance requirements, including supervisor qualifications, adherence to a Safe Work Method Statement, decontamination protocols, and regular audits.

In addition, HPWJ is classified as a high-risk activity by Safe Work Australia. Training must be delivered through a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and comply with Australian Standard AS4233. The recommended skill set for this work is MSMSS00019 – Operate a Drain Cleaning System, which includes nationally recognised units directly aligned with safe and legal HPWJ operations. This qldwater training, in conjunction with TrainRight, ensures compliance with Queensland WHS legislation, Australian Standards, and the regulator’s asbestos exemption conditions, helping to safeguard both workers and the organisation from significant safety and legal risks.

A copy of the full exemption decision can be downloaded from the qldwater website.

QWRAP News

Wide Bay Design and Construction Code Released

With the support of QWRAP funding, the Wide Bay Burnett Urban Water Alliance QWRAP region has recently completed an update of the Design and Construction Code for the Wide Bay Region. The project links closely with the SEQ Code and other industry standards including the WSAA Codes and the Cairns Townsville Mackay (CTM) Code. The development of regional codes helps water service providers to ensure high quality consistent donated assets from the development sector and allows to standardise their processes and inventories to streamline development works. More information on this work is available from WBBUWA co-ordinator Col Hester at colin.hester@qldwater.com.au

Audiometric Testing Requirements

In Queensland, new audiometric testing requirements for workers exposed to hazardous noise commenced on July 29, 2025. These regulations require businesses to provide audiometric testing for workers who need hearing protection due to noise exceeding the exposure standard. For new workers, this testing must be completed within three months of starting the work, and then at least every two years. For existing workers, the first test must be completed before July 29, 2027, and then every two years after that.

A copy of the Communications Kit - Audiometric Testing Regulations Effective 29 July 2025 is available here.

ARC Training Centre for Climate Resilient Water

We are pleased to announce the award of the ARC Training Centre for Climate Resilient Water announced as part of the ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre awards this week.

This new Centre will be led by Director Steven Kenway at The University of Queensland's UQ Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (formerly AWMC) and Deputy Director Brian McIntosh at Griffith University's International WaterCentre and Griffith Science and Environment.

qldwater is one of 26 partner organisations representing the water supply sector in Queensland, New South Wales, nationally and internationally alongside 4 Australian (QLD and NSW) Universities, 1 US University and a European research partner.

With a total of $8.75m in cash and more than $10m of resources in-kind we look forward to creating a platform to help drive the science, technology, planning and people transformations that will build climate resilience into our water supply systems over the next 5 years.

The aim of the centre is to collaboratively train new leaders to transform water governance, existing water supply reliability, and new supply system options, leaving a national legacy and repository of training resources, tools, technology, policy, on-site innovations and real-time monitoring and treatment of water. Collectively this will improve the resilience and circular-economy of water systems.