eFlash #649

eFlash #649 New

Date: 18-Mar-2026

Trade Waste Toolbox

In 2025, qldwater commissioned trade waste expert Col Hester to develop a Model Trade Waste Plan tailored to regional communities.

The premise was straightforward: the plan should focus on the essentials instead of burdening councils with overly complex or unnecessary trade waste management practices. The goal was to develop a clear, consistent framework that smaller councils can adopt without reinventing policies or spending resources on low-risk activities.

The Model Trade Waste Plan includes Model Application Forms for Commercial and Industrial premises to demonstrate contemporary best practice and recognising the differing risk profiles and information requirements of these customer groups.

For each pathway, an example of a “properly made” application is also provided as guidance to assist councils and applicants to understand the level of detail and supporting information expected.

The Plan is now available on our new Water Workforce Toolbox for Trade Waste (members only so please log in first!)

Find the toolbox here.

Disinfection by products: A fresh look at an old problem

Safe drinking water depends on effective disinfection, yet disinfectants such as chlorine can react with naturally occurring compounds in water to form disinfection by-products (DBPs), some of which are toxic.

Join us at 10am on Thursday, 16 April for a webinar exploring a research program being led by Professor Fred Leusch on whether common DBP mitigation strategies may unintentionally increase toxicity. By combining advanced chemical analysis with innovative bioassay testing, the project evaluates both DBP formation and their overall toxic effects. Working with Australian water utilities, the research identifies treatment approaches that minimise DBP toxicity while maintaining effective pathogen control. The outcomes will provide practical guidance to help utilities optimise treatment processes and support the continued delivery of safe drinking water to communities.

Nature-Based Solutions Bus Tour and Networking Drinks

Stormwater Queensland and the Queensland Water Directorate will be hosting a Nature-Based Solutions Bus Tour on Thursday 7 May 2026.

The tour will include site visits to the two most iconic offsets-related nature-based solutions projects completed in Queensland in 2026 including:

The Urban Utilities Cannery Creek sewer upgrade project which included sediment basins, fish screens, a wet weather pump station, screening chamber, over two kilometres of new underground pipelines, riparian restoration, a constructed wetland and two bioretention basins.
Redland Bay Regional Council’s Shoreline Mangrove Offset Project (SMOP) delivered in partnership with Stockland which includes the construction of the Southern Redland Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant and offsetting nutrient loads from this plant via a recently completed 9.8-hectare mangrove wetland. The system works with natural tidal flows supporting water quality, biodiversity, and long-term shoreline resilience. This part of the tour will focus on the mangrove wetland rather than the treatment plant.

Presentations will include discussions about community engagement, design, approvals, construction, operation, establishment, maintenance and monitoring.

These projects have direct relevance to stormwater and wastewater practitioners alike with directly transferrable approaches adopted by these projects to both water streams. They exemplify the practical application of Total Water Cycle Management principles and while they may be a first of their kind nationally, the lessons to be shared can be applied broadly to many different types of projects.

Places are strictly limited and expected to fill quickly.

More info and register here.

qldwater Submissions

Two new qldwater submissions have been added to our website.

Our submission to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into the Determinants of Regional Airfares underscores the importance of aviation as critical enabling infrastructure for regional and remote Queensland. Affordable and reliable regional air services are essential to the delivery of safe drinking water and wastewater services, workforce training, regulatory compliance, environmental protection and economic development, particularly in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. For councils managing essential services across vast and remote areas, regional aviation is a fundamental operational lifeline that underpins community health, environmental protection and long-term regional sustainability.

qldwater has also lodged a submission to the National Health and Medical Research Council’s Recreational Water Quality Advisory Committee in response to the Draft Australian Recreational Water Quality Guidelines. While strongly supporting nationally consistent, evidence-based guidance aligned with international best practice, qldwater highlights concerns about the expanded documentation, assessment and communication requirements. These proposed changes would add further administrative and compliance pressures at a time when Queensland local governments are already resource constrained, underscoring the need for careful consideration of implementation expectations and proportionality.

Read our submissions here.

OTHER NEWS

WSAA Water in Transition Report Released

WSAA released a new report, Water in transition, developed with The UK Water Report (TUKWR), a specialist publication focusing on UK water policy, regulation and finance.

In this report, WSAA and TUKWR draw evidence from Australia and New Zealand, and England and Wales, to contend that the global water industry is undergoing a major transition akin to the energy transition. Water systems are changing to become sustainable, efficient and circular, as the fossil-based energy system is giving way to renewable, low carbon sources. As the air environment can no longer be used as a free disposal route for greenhouse gas emissions, the water environment can no longer be used to draw free resources from or to discharge waste to at minimal cost.

The decline of free environmental services is a landmark point of change and sets the global water industry on a path to sustained higher investment and bills.

Read the full report here.

Peter Cullen Trust Leadership Program

The Peter Cullen Water & Environment Trust invites applications from people who are actively involved in water and environmental science, systems, advocacy, policy or management, to participate in the Peter Cullen Trust Leadership Program.

Applications are now open for two 2026/2027 Leadership Programs.

More info here.

Drinking Water Regulation Workshop

The Water Supply Regulation team is conducting a Drinking Water Regulation workshop in Cairns on Tuesday 21 April 2026.

The agenda includes presentations by Water Supply Regulation on a range of topics including commissioning of new infrastructure, water quality results and incident reporting. Queensland Health and service providers will also deliver presentations about operational challengers and relevant current issues.

WIOA QLD Conference and Interest Days

Registrations are now open for the 2026 WIOA QLD Conference & Exhibition to be held at the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Precinct on 24 to 25 June.

More info and register here.

If you can’t wait that long to connect, then WIOA has two upcoming Interest Days in Queensland.

The first on Wednesday 8 April 2026 at the Kirra Hill Community Centre, with an exclusive afternoon tour of the Gold Coast Desalination Plant.

More info and register here.

On Thursday, 23 April they’ll be in Gympie with a program of practical presentations showcasing lessons learnt, project insights, and operational outcomes, complemented by networking with Putt Putt for on-the-ground knowledge sharing.

More info and register here.

Sunshine Coast Waterways Authority Bill 2026

The Queensland State Development, Infrastructure and Works Parliamentary Committee invites submissions from all interested parties on the new Sunshine Coast Waterways Bill. Submissions can be made directly to the Committee or please contact Georgina if you have any concerns. Submissions close at midday on Friday 20 March 2026.

Registrations of Interest

The Queensland Government is calling for registrations of interest in the $200 million North West Energy Fund. The North West Energy Fund, managed by Queensland Investment Corporation, has been established to support improved energy affordability and reliability for communities across the North West, including Mount Isa, Cloncurry, Julia Creek and Richmond while the CopperString transmission project progresses.

For more information visit https://www.qic.com/QLD-Energy.

Review of RAB-based irrigation prices 2027-29

The QCA has extended the due date for stakeholder submissions on the businesses' proposals and on issues relevant to transitioning to a Regulatory Asset Base (RAB) approach. The revised deadline for submissions is 7 April 2026.

Accelerating science and innovation for a better future discussion paper

Consultation is now open on theIdeas into impact: Accelerating science and innovation for a better future discussion paper (External link).

The Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation is inviting you to share your views on how Queensland can strengthen its science and innovation system; and to inform priorities that drive economic growth, job creation, and long-term sustainability. The document can be downloaded from their website, and consultation closes 31 March 2026.