eFlash #655 New
Date: 01-May-2026
In this edition: Latest qldwater Submissions | Wastewater Quality and Trade Waste Event | Australian Water Awards Finalist Announcement | Queensland Water Careers Resources | Ozwater'26 Flood Resilience Game | Harnessing AI: Empowering regional and remote water utilities | Nature-Based Solutions Bus Tour and Networking Drinks | WIOA QLD Conference | Draft Guidance for ADWG | Call for submissions on Queensland's drinking water quality standards | QPC Review into Environmental Regulation
qldwater Submissions
Two new submissions have been added to our website, including:
qldwater Submission on IChEMS Scheduling Decisions
In our submission to the Department of Client Change, Energy, the Environment and Water's consultation on 14 proposed standards for IChEMS, we raise ongoing concerns that scheduling decisions are not consistently aligned with state regulations and/or misaligned with the environmental and management risks experienced by the urban water sector. Several PFAS compounds of concern remain unaddressed and there are no clear mechanisms to enforce import bans for chemicals listed on Schedules 6 and 7 of the register.
qldwater Submission to PC on National Water Reform 2026
Our submission to the Productivity Commission outlines the growing pressures on Queensland’s urban water sector and the reforms needed to deliver secure, resilient and sustainable services. The submission highlights ageing infrastructure, climate impacts, population growth and funding and regulatory constraints, particularly for regional, remote and First Nations communities. It calls for action on First Nations water services, priority investment in high risk infrastructure, transparent risk and affordability data, fairer pricing and cost recovery, fit for purpose regulation, and stronger support for climate adaptation and workforce capability.
All previous reports and submissions are availableon our website.
Wastewater Quality and Trade Waste
Registrations are now open for the qldwater Wastewater Quality and Trade Waste workshop to be held on 22-23 July 2026 at the qldwater offices in Eagle Farm, Brisbane.
Building on the success of the Emerging Contaminants Workshop held in Townsville in November 2024, this event will bring together the latest research insights and outcomes from qldwater’s Trade Waste Uplift Project – an initiative designed to strengthen trade waste management across regional Queensland through practical resources and knowledge sharing.
The event will explore the three themes:
- Why focus on trade waste for known and emerging contaminants?
- Sector perspectives on trade waste
- Best practice case studies from Queensland
The program will begin with a site tour on Wednesday, 22 July, followed by the full-day, in-person workshop on Thursday 23 July.
If you work in or around trade waste and emerging contaminants — or are curious about the connection between the two — this is an event not to be missed. We hope to see you in Brisbane in July!
Awards Finalist Announcements
qldwater is proud to be a finalist in the Water Industry Safety Excellence Award at the Australian Water Awards, recognising our Grey Card – Asbestos Awareness Training. Winners will be announced at the Ozwater’26 Gala Dinner on 27 May in Brisbane.
The Australian Water Awards celebrate excellence across the sector, recognising leadership and innovation that support a safer, more sustainable and resilient water industry. We’re pleased to be acknowledged alongside so many outstanding initiatives.
Sarah Henry is also a finalist for the Safety Advocacy Award as part of the Women in Industry Awards 2026. These awards not only recognise the outstanding achievements but also create a space where leaders at every stage of their career can come together, share ideas and build connections that have a lasting impact on both individuals and the industry as a whole.
Queensland Water Careers Resources
qldwater, through the Industry Skills and Jobs Advisor and in partnership with the Australian Water Association (AWA), has released a new fact sheet designed to help open the door to water careers.
The guide provides practical tips to help water businesses connect with schools and introduce young people to career opportunities in the industry. It includes a simple employer checklist and links to a wide range of supporting resources—from podcasts and videos to interactive web content.
Download the fact sheet from the Careers Toolbox
Harnessing AI: Empowering regional and remote water utilities
qldwater CEO Georgina Davis and QWRAP Program Director Neil Holmes will represent Queensland’s water sector at Harnessing AI: Empowering rural, remote and regional water utilities, a free breakfast workshop being held alongside Ozwater on 26 May 2026 in South Brisbane.
The session will explore how artificial intelligence can be applied in practical, low cost ways to help smaller utilities respond to growing pressures such as workforce constraints, service expectations and water security challenges. As panellists, Georgina and Neil will share insights from Queensland, including how AI can support productivity, decision making and digital capability while maintaining appropriate safeguards around privacy, security and reliability.
Designed for small, regional and remote utilities, the workshop will combine case studies, panel discussion and interactive table conversations, providing attendees with real world examples and opportunities to connect with peers and sector leaders from across Australia.
Nature-Based Solutions Bus Tour and Networking Drinks
Final reminder for our Nature-Based Solutions Tour in partnership with Stormwater Queensland.
The tour on Thursday 7 May 2026 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 and Redland City Council’s Shoreline Mangrove Offset Project (SMOP).
Limited places available.
Ozwater ’26: Test a Flood Resilience Training Game
If you’re heading to Ozwater this year, we invite you to take part in an interactive workshop focused on building community resilience to extreme weather events, and to explore how a practical learning game could be adapted for use with your own staff or local communities.
The workshop titled “Ready for Floods? A Game of Community Resilience” will be facilitated by the AWA Water Literacy & Education and Regional, Rural and Remote Water Specialist Networks at 10.50 am on Wednesday, 27 May in Room P10 — AWA Specialist Network Feature.
The session introduces a hands on, game based learning activity that explores two key concepts essential to the water sector:
- Preparedness — planning, training and coordination to prevent, respond to and recover from extreme events
- Resilience — the capacity of communities and services to absorb disruption, adapt and recover
The game materials will be made available via the AWA Water Literacy Specialist Network educational toolbox, allowing organisations to modify and use the activity as a workforce development or community engagement tool. This workshop provides a valuable opportunity to test the game, understand how it works, and see how it could be applied in your own context.
The workshop will also be delivered to two school groups on Thursday, 28 May, for those interested in seeing how the game works with a school audience and how it supports water literacy and resilience education.
qldwater members attending Ozwater ’26 are encouraged to consider how this practical learning activity could complement internal training, community preparedness programs or school engagement initiatives. Contact Des Gralton for more information.
WIOA QLD Conference
The Water Industry Operations Association (WIOA) is offering members an exclusive 30% delegate discount to attend the 2026 Queensland Water Industry Operations Conference & Exhibition, held on the Gold Coast across 24–25 June 2026.
Expect practical learning, a packed exhibition showcasing 120+ exhibitors, live industry competitions, and relaxed networking, all wrapped into two fully catered days celebrating water operations excellence.
Contact WIOA to check your membership status and get your 30% discount code before 1 May.
CURRENT CONSULTATIONS
Public Consultation on Draft Guidance for the ADWG on chlorate, nickel and ammonia
The National Health and Medical Research Council has opened a consultation on draft guidance for the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines on ammonia, nickel and chlorate and other minor changes. The consultation details can be found here.
The draft guidance material proposes retaining the current aesthetic guideline value for ammonia, raising the health-based guideline value for nickel and establishing a new health-based guideline value for chlorate in drinking water.
A key outcome of this proposed change is the introduction of a health-based guideline value for chlorate in drinking water of 0.8 mg/L that will apply to the ADWG.
This value is in line with existing interim guidance from Queensland Health provided through the Chlorate Position Statement from April 2022 which was published on the qldwater website.
That guidance, which was based on value is based on the World Health Organization’s 2016 drinking water guideline value for chlorate, required notification to the water supply regulator of detection at a concentration of greater than 0.8 mg/L.
The new guidance includes:
- Ammonia Aesthetic guideline value of 0.5 mg/L
- Nickel Health based-guideline value of 0.05 mg/L
- Chlorate Health based-guideline value of 0.8 mg/L
qldwater will be making a submission on this draft guideline. If you would like to share your experience of meeting compliance for any of the proposed guideline values, please reach out to Louise Reeves at lreeves@qldwater.com.au.
The consultation closes on 5 June 2026.
Call for submissions on Queensland’s drinking water quality standards
Queensland Health is consulting on proposed amendments to the Public Health Regulation 2018 to more accurately reflect the national guidelines for drinking water quality standards in relation to radioactivity.
It is proposed to remove the reference to a ‘guideline value’ to align with the language in the National Health and Medical Research Council’s Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
Water service providers may be interested in providing a submission in response, including to comment on the proposed wording of the new quality standard.
For more information on the proposal, please visit Stakeholder consultation | Queensland Health and download the consultation paper.
Submissions are due to Queensland Health by 5pm, 15 May 2026.
Queensland Productivity Review into Environmental Regulation
qldwater has welcomed the Queensland Government’s decision to direct the Queensland Productivity Commission (QPC) to conduct an inquiry into the impacts of recent changes to federal environmental regulation.
The inquiry into reforms to Commonwealth environmental laws – including the 2025 changes to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act – was an important opportunity to address long standing issues around assessment timeframes, duplication and regulatory burden for urban water (infrastructure) projects in Queensland.
The QPC will release further information on the inquiry shortly and the inquiry will run for 12 months.
CURRENT VACANCIES
Plan the work that keeps Cairns flowing
Cairns Regional Council is looking for a proactive and detail-focused Schedule Planner to support their Water Services Team.
As the Schedule Planner, you will provide critical scheduling, forecasting and reporting support to ensure water infrastructure projects are delivered efficiently, on time and within budget
If you’re a highly organised planner who thrives on coordinating complex projects and keeping everything running on track, they want to hear from you!
Applications close Sunday, 17 May 2026.
UPCOMING EVENTS
- 7 May - Nature-Based Solutions Bus Tour
- 26-28 May - AWA Ozwater'26
- 24-25 June - WIOA QLD Conference & Exhibition
- 22-23 July - Wastewater Quality and Trade Waste Workshop
- 19-20 August - qldwater Annual Forum